Richard III is a 1995 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Richard III, starring Sir Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent, Robert Downey Jr., Nigel Hawthorne, Kristin Scott Thomas, Dame Maggie Smith, and John Wood.
The film relocates the play's events to a fictional version of England in what appears to be a fascist-inspired 1930s. Albeit including many historical anachronisms, the film's timing is easily recognizable to viewers.
The film's concept was based on a stage production directed by Richard Eyre for the Royal National Theatre, which also starred McKellen. The production was adapted for the screen by McKellen and directed by Richard Loncraine.
The film is notable for its unconventional use of famous English landmarks, often using special effects to move them to new locations. The transformed landmarks used include the following:
Perhaps the play's most famous line—"A Horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"—was recontextualised by the new setting; during the climactic battle, Richard's scout car becomes stuck, and his lament is cast as a plea for a mode of transport with legs rather than wheels.
Fitting the unconventional interpretation is also the 1930s-style music by Trevor Jones; the lyrics of the opening song, performed by Stacey Kent, are a poem by Christopher Marlowe. In a surprising ending, where Richard refuses to be captured and leaps down to his death with the "wrong" closing line "Let us to't pell-mell; if not to heaven, then hand-in-hand to hell", his falling into the inferno is followed by the eerily upbeat tune I'm Sitting On The Top Of The World (Ray Henderson, Joe Young and Sam Lewis).
Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's historical play Richard III, including elements of Henry VI, part 3. It was directed by Laurence Olivier, who also played the lead role. The cast includes many noted Shakespearean actors, including a quartet of acting knights. The film depicts Richard plotting and conspiring to grasp the throne from his brother King Edward, played by Cedric Hardwicke. In the process, many are killed and betrayed, with Richard's evil leading to his own downfall. The prologue of the film states that history without its legends would be "a dry matter indeed", implicitly admitting to taking artistic licence with the events of the time. The film, as the play did before it, has contributed to considerable debate among historians who alternately praise or vilify the actual Richard III. Critics note that Richard's life and times were much richer and more interesting than the one-dimensional villain Shakespeare and Olivier portrayed.
Of the three Shakespearean films directed by Olivier, Richard III received the least critical praise at the time, although it was still acclaimed, and it was the only one not to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, though Olivier's acting performance was nominated. The film gained popularity through a re-release in 1966, which broke box office records in many cities. Many critics now consider Olivier's Richard III his best screen adaptation of Shakespeare. The British Film Institute has pointed out that given the enormous TV audiences it received in 1955, the film "may have done more to popularize Shakespeare than any other single work".
Richard III is a film directed by Scott M. Anderson, based upon the play by William Shakespeare.
Richard III (1912) is a 55-minute film starring Frederick Warde as Richard III. The film, a French/U.S. coproduction, was produced by Film d'Art and released through the independent states rights film distribution system. The film was directed by French film director André Calmettes, who had previously directed the films The Assassination of the Duke of Guise (1908) with a music score composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, La Tosca (1909) based on the play by Victorien Sardou, and La Dame aux Camélias (1910) with Sarah Bernhardt. Richard III was adapted from the play by William Shakespeare by playwright James Keane.
In 1996, a pristine print of the film was found by a private collector and donated to the American Film Institute. It is considered to be the earliest surviving American feature film .
On June 26, 2001, Kino International released the film on DVD, which includes a 17-minute documentary film Rediscovering Richard: Looking Back on a Forgotten Classic.
Shakespeare's tragedy of the hump-backed Duke of Gloucester, who rises to the throne of England by chicanery, treachery, and brilliance, only to find that his own methods have prepared the groundwork for his downfall. Written by Jim Beaver
William Shakespeare's classic play is brought into the present with the setting as Great Britian in the 1930s. Civil war has erupted with the House of Lancaster on one side, claiming the right to the British throne and hoping to bring freedom to the country. Opposing is the House of York, commanded by the infamous Richard who rules over a fascist government and hopes to install himself as a dictator monarch. Written by Anthony Hughes
Based upon the famous National Theatre production Shakespeare's story of Richard III is set in a mythical fascist London of the 1930s. Richard seeks to gain the throne from his elder brother, Edward, by any means within his grasp including murder, marriage, and fratricide. But aside from Edward, his other brother (Clarence) and Edward's two young sons also stand between Richard and the crown of England. Written by Kathy Li
This film adaptation of Shakespeare's famous play is set into a hypothetical 1930's Europe. As sneering, leering Richard of Gloucester's ruthless machinations bring him ever nearer the throne of England, royal blood is mercilessly spilt. Finally, only one foe remains to challenge his grasping claim--valiant Richmond! Will he prevail? Heavy Nazi-like pageantry and iconography color this modern adaptation of a classic Shakespearean History. Written by Tad Dibbern
Although several others are ahead of him in the line of succession, Richard of Gloucester is determined to gain the throne. Through deceit, manipulation, and murder, he does become King Richard III of England. But once he becomes king, he soon finds out that the many enemies he has made will make it very difficult for him to remain on the throne for long. Written by Snow Leopard
"Now is the winter of our discontent..." With these timeless words, Duke Richard - lounging on his sun deck - sets his murderous plans in motion. His goal: to eliminate the hated rival Lancaster dynasty, and reign as undisputed king. Standing between him and the throne are his brothers Clarence and King Edward, his nephews the Princes, his bitter adversary Queen Elizabeth, and a host of enemies, rivals, and dubious allies. In the Los Angeles of "Shakespeare's Richard III", violence is the norm: every member of the nobility expects to kill or be killed, according to the code duel lo. They prefer death before dishonor. The women in this society are just as dangerous, courageous, and brutal as the men. The York and Lancaster families - rival branches of the former England Studios - exert a mafia-like control of the city and local politics/law enforcement. Aided by his sinister counselor Buckingham, Richard will stop at nothing - seduction, bribery, conspiracy, and wholesale slaughter - in his bloodthirsty quest, until finally just one adversary remains: his arch-rival Lord Richmond. But why, as the opposing forces join battle, is Richard smiling? What does he know that Richmond doesn't...? Written by Scott Anderson
Richard's military skills have helped to put his older brother Edward on the throne of England. But jealousy and resentment cause Richard to seek the crown for himself, and he conceives a lengthy and carefully calculated plan using deception, manipulation, and outright murder to achieve his goal. His plotting soon has tumultuous consequences, both for himself and for England. Written by Snow Leopard
The deformed Richrd of Gloucester cuts a bloody path to the throne in Shakespeare's historical tragedy. Determined to seize the French throne from his brother Edward IV, he rouses Edward's hatred from their brother Clarence, who is arrested and murdered while imprisoned. The cunning Richard woos Anne, widow of Henry VI's son whose death he has arranged. Following the death of the king from natural causes, Richard has the little princes murdered in the Tower. The vicious Gloucester removes all who stand between him and the crown. Henry of Richmond raises a army against Richard, drawing supporters from all over England. The two armies meet at Bosworth Field. Richard's horse is killed beneath him. Defiant and savagely brave, he cries out, "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" and is struck down by the attacking force of Richmond. Written by alfiehitchie
