Ian Holm's Polonius is constantly giving advice to those around him. Whether he is consulting with Laertes before he sets off for France, or lecturing Ophelia about Hamlet's love, his characters seems to enjoy his status as the "wiseman." Seen in the picture on the left - anyone who listens to Holm's advice hangs on his every word. His advice evidently comes across as valuable to those around him. The scenes between Polonius and Ophelia show that she may not like Polonius's advice, but she respects his wisdom and therefore heeds his advice.
Hamlet Directed By Franco Zeffirelli (1990)
From Left: Ian Holm as Polonius, Alan Bates as Claudius, and Glenn Close as Gertrude
Reviews
“As Polonius, Ian Holm has the impossible line, "to thine own self be true," and he cannot conceal the strain of trying to make it sound fresh. But one of the film's best scenes includes him, when Hamlet is acting mad, with one boot off and his shirttail out, calling Polonius a fishmonger.”
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