Olivier is diabolically captivating as richard, duke of gloucester, who, through a series of murderous machinations, steals the crown from his brother edward. Richard switches tacticts and tries to earn annes sympathy. He flatters her in order to win her over, but anne resists and spits in his face. The classic shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15thcentury king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s england as clouds of fascism gather. Richard iii r 1h 50min drama, scifi, war 29 december 1995 usa the classic shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15thcentury king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s england as clouds of fascism gather. Richard iii is a 1955 british technicolor film adaptation of william shakespeares historical play of the same name, also incorporating elements from his henry vi, part 3.
In richard iii, the vice has been elevated to the title role, obscuring any potentially heroic characters in the plot such that, for this play and film, the villain is the hero of the tale in perhaps a very rare precursor to the antihero of twentiethcentury film and literature. Laurence olivier was the director, coscreenwriter with alan dent, and star of this robust adaptation of shakespeares drama, which, as bruce eder has written. Richard iii the 1995 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. Fur seine filmversion des beruhmten konigsdramas hat richard. But in this version, he first removes the ring from his own finger by sticking it in his mouth and lubricating it with. In 1955 sir laurence olivier played the title role in a more traditional film adaptation. It was based on an acclaimed royal national theatre stage production by richard eyre that also starred mckellen.
Reviewing richard iii in 1955, the monthly film bulletin hailed laurence oliviers performance in the title role as surely one of the classic interpretations. Richard iii and the supernatural the business of shakespeare. In richard iii, director, producer, and star laurence olivier brings shakespeares masterpiece of machiavellian villainy to ravishing cinematic life. Richard iii, 145285, king of england 148385, younger brother of edward iv edward iv, 144283, king of england 146170, 147183, son of richard, duke of york. Donated to the american film institute by film collector william buffum in 1995, this handtinted vehicle for noted thespian frederick warde was thought to have been lost forever. A shame, because richard iii is by far my favorite of the bards plays. Richard loncraines rendition of william shakespeares richard iii is memorable in its appeal to modern viewers partly because it relocates the action of the play to a fantasized nazi germanystyled england of the 1940s, rather than keeping fifteenthcentury england as. A murderous lust for the british throne sees richard iii ian mckellen descend into madness. Within beautiful art deco architectural sets much of the filming was done in central london landmarks including westminster and the university of london the bloody family drama unfolds. Mar 15, 2016 richard iii 1995 will return to cinemas across the uk and ireland on 28 april 2016 as bfi presents. Now look at a small touch added to the scene by richard iii, the new film by richard loncraine and ian mckellan. Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, england is torn by civil war, split between the.
He describes the story of richard ill as a roller coaster. Richard iii is the 1995 film adaptation of the shakespeare play starring ian mckellen as the title character. Bloom thought sir ian mckellen was the greatest richard iii he had ever seen, and richard loncraines 1995 film is based on mckellens famous 1990 national theater performance. And he surrounds himself with a royal supporting cast, which includes ralph. In 1955 sir laurence olivier played the title role in a more traditional film adaptation, setting the bar pretty high for modern actors. The film premiered in brazil on august 20, 1995, and was released in the united states on december 29, 1995, and in the united kingdom on april 26 of the following year. Of course, richard iii has also been adapted into some memorable films, including the 1995 movie starring ian mckellen a. The sets and costumes are so obviously poorly done that it is hard to lose yourself in the film. Richard iii is a 1995 film adaptation of the play by william shakespeare, directed by richard loncraine and starring ian mckellen. The film was criticallyacclaimed, 1 and won several accolades.
Oliviers performance, viewed as the greatest of his career, charges richard with magnetic malevolence as he steals his brother edwards crown through a murderous set of machinations. Richard iii 1995 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Though the story remains faithful to shakespeares play about the ambitious and twisted. Today, its considered so definitive that even highly acclaimed performances by the likes of antony sher, ian mckellen and simon russell beale are praised as much for their lack of resemblance to oliviers as for their own intrinsic merit. Richard iii movie article about richard iii movie by. Richard iii 1995 film is distributed by united artists. The film like the stage production before it updates the setting to 1930sera england, creating an alternate history where richard gloucester ian. Shakespeares classic play about the rise to power and subsequent short reign of king richard iil of england is set in an alternative 1930s, in this celebrated film.
Richard loncraines rendition of william shakespeares. Richard iii internet movie firearms database guns in. Richard iii 1995 rotten tomatoes this innovative, fastpaced, cinematic adaptation of shakespeares classic work transposes the setting to an imaginary nazilike 1930s england. For example, richard iii s logo on flags and banners, a tusky boars head, is red and black and looks a lot like nazi swastikas. Richard iii would be an important film even if it were barely visible and of poor quality as a film. Had not you come upon your cue, my lord 1975 william lord hastings had pronounced your part.
It sets the play in an england of an alternate timeline, which clearly evokes 1930s fascism. The most obvious example of this is the frequent prophetic and symbolic dreams of the characters as well as through the curse of queen margret which remains. Richard mckellan softens up anne kristin scott thomas with flattery, sophistry and lies, and finally offers her a ring, which she accepts. Richard iii is a 1995 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play of the same name, directed by richard loncraine. To be fair, putting the movie in an alternate 1930s fascist england doesn. Zweiter morder, anna drexler lady anne, rene dumont clarence, norman hacker richard, marcel heuperman catesby, max koch riversstanley, hanna scheibe. Richard iii opened at the leicester square theatre on december, 1955, with queen elizabeth ii and prince philip attending the premiere.
It was directed and produced by laurence olivier, who also played the lead role. However, richard iii turns out to be a remarkably entertaining film with good production values, fine. Adapted from the critically acclaimed stage production of shakespeares historical drama, this production of richard iii has sir ian mckellen as a weaselly royal usurper. Oliviers performance, viewed as the greatest of his career, charges richard with magnetic malevolence as he steals his brother edwards crown through a murderous set. Though the story remains faithful to shakespeares play about the ambitious and twisted richard of gloucester, the film s setting is an. Gandalf as richard, a world war ii military leader. The audience and the text richard loncraine, the director of the new film richard iii has said that he wanted to make a film that he would want to see, as a person who was not into shakespeare, in fact someone who had been put off by shakespeare at school. Ian mckellen richard loncraine william shakespeare pjas skadespelare. Since shakespeares richard iii is based on a historical person and events, i found it interesting that he still chose to include many supernatural happenings within the story. Richard iii 1955 original trailer from picture palace movie. Richard iii is a 1955 critically acclaimed british technicolor film adaptation of william shakespeares historical play also incorporating elements from his henry vi, part 3, directed and produced by sir laurence olivier, who also played the lead role. Richard loncraines rendition of william shakespeares richard iii is memorable in its appeal to modern viewers partly because it relocates the action of the play to a fantasized nazi germanystyled england of the 1940s, rather than keeping fifteenthcentury england as the setting as shakespeare originally intended.
Richard iii 1995 plot summary 4 the classic shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15thcentury king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s england as clouds of fascism gather. Richard iii is a 1995 british drama film adapted from william shakespeares play of the same name, starring ian. Richard iii, act iii, scene 4 open source shakespeare. Senate house, university of london, malet street with regime change underway, the film s settings become increasingly austere, typified by the cold but stylish bunker of the newlycrowned king, which is senate house, part of the university of london, malet street, in bloomsbury behind. Richard iii its shakespeare that has nothing to do with kenneth. Staring kristin scott thomas, nigel hawthorne, jim broadbent and john wood. Directed by richard loncraine, the film costars annette bening, kristin scott thomas, jim broadbent, robert downey, jr. Richard tells anne it was his love for her that made him kill her husband.
The most brilliant aspect of this film is that sir ian mckellen and richard loncraine transported the story of the 1480s to a fiction 1930s, with richard iii as a fascist. Luckily, the minds behind this adaptation of richard iii is more than up to the challenge. Richard iii 1955 original trailer from picture palace. Baylypare productions british screen productions first look international united artists. A genuine treasure for film collectors, this 1912 version of richard iii is an artifact to cherish. Film blog drama films richard iii a career in clips. The classic shakespearean play about a murderously scheming king staged in an alternative fascist england setting. Richard iii 1995 will return to cinemas across the uk and ireland on 28 april 2016 as bfi presents.
Richard aspires to a fascist dictatorship, but must first remove the obstacles to his ascension among them his brother, his nephews and his brothers wife annette. Ian mckellen annette bening jim broadbent robert downey jr. Director richard loncraine adapted richard iii into a film in 1995. Richard loncraines exciting and lucid shakespearean adaptation from 1995 returns to mark. Many movies not all but many movies from the 1950s are increasingly jarring to watch, and this one is no exception. Ian mckellen as richard, kristin scott thomas as lady anne, ian. The reason for this is that it was made in 1912 and is the earliest surviving american feature film. Richard iii 1995 stream and watch online moviefone. With ian mckellen, annette bening, christopher bowen, edward jewesbury. Featuring many noted shakespearean actors, including a quartet of actors who were later knighted, the film depicts richard plotting and. Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, england is torn by civil war, split between the rivaling houses of york and lancaster. Feb 04, 20 film blog drama films richard iii a career in clips.
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