For each film, we use the first date on which it was made available to the public, which might include international theatrical or domestic video releases that were a few days, or sometimes more, earlier than the domestic uscanada theatrical release. This long and bloody civil conflict is known as the war of the roses. 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. Now look at a small touch added to the scene by richard iii, the new film by richard loncraine and ian mckellan. Richard iii was a child when his family, the house of york, engaged in battle against the lancastrians for control of the country. Richard then imprisons the young princes in the tower and, in his bloodiest move yet, sends hired murderers to kill both children. Deformed in body and twisted in mind, richard is both the central character and the villain of the play. Richard iii is a 1995 british drama film adapted from william shakespeares play of the same name, starring ian. The r movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 45 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic. It is true that shakespeare is the author of richard iii of course, much of shakespeares authoring involved heavy borrowing, redaction and crafting.
In the beginning of the film, we see the crowning of a new king, oliviers richard character delivering one big soliloquy that pretty much sums up his lifes story and claire blooms lady anne. Find out where to watch, buy, and rent richard iii online on moviefone. Olivier is diabolically captivating as richard, duke of gloucester, who, through a series of murderous machinations, steals the crown from his brother edward. Richard iii 1995 film with ian mckellen as richard the hollow crown tv adaptation of the history plays with benedict cumberbatch as richard other productions and adaptations add examples of. Richard iii richard loncraine, ian mckellen, annette bening. Richard iii is reminiscent of lady macbeth in that they are both ambitious, murderous and manipulate others for their own ends. As sneering, leering richard of gloucesters sir ian mckellens ruthless machinations bring him ever nearer the throne of england, royal blood is mercilessly spilt. The future richard iii was the fourth son of richard, 3rd duke of york died 1460, and his duchess, cecily neville, to survive to adulthood. This list shows all films released in 1995, including films that went directtovideo, or only got an international theatrical release. To be fair, putting the movie in an alternate 1930s fascist england doesnt serve the sort of lofty purpose that, say, orson welles 1930s updating of julius caesar intended to condemn the fascist governments in europe at that time did. Richard iii is the kind of movie that earns the right to interpret the bards ideas through alternate perspectives because it does so without sacrificing its core values or integrity. With elizabeth and the princes now unprotected, richard has his political allies, particularly his righthand man, lord buckingham, campaign to have richard crowned king. Based on richard eyre s lauded national theatre production, richard loncraines cinematic realisation of william shakespeare s blackly comic history play makes boldly imaginative use of existing london and home counties locations to conjure up an alternative 1930s england the locations move from a florid victorian gothic style for the old order of king edward iv, to a brutalist. Featuring many noted shakespearean actors, including a quartet of actors who later became knights, the film depicts richard plotting and.
Richard iii is a 1995 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play of the same name, directed by richard loncraine. Awardwinning film adapation brings shakespeares richard iii into a twentieth century setting. Richard iii is the kind of movie that earns the right to interpret the bards ideas through alternate perspectives because it does so without sacrificing its. Staring kristin scott thomas, nigel hawthorne, jim broadbent and john wood. 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. It was directed and produced by laurence olivier, who also played the lead role. A synopsis of the film adaptation of shakespeares richard iii by ian mckellen and richard loncraine. While there have been many adaptations of shakespeares plays, to my mind, the 1995 version of richard iii is undoubtedly one of the best. But the movie is really mckellens, and with director loncraine, his cowriter, he comes up with one sly touch after another to. Richard also called the duke of gloucester, and eventually crowned king richard iii. A murderous lust for the british throne sees richard iii ian mckellen descend into madness. It sets the play in an england of an alternate timeline, which clearly evokes 1930s fascism. Throughout the play he casts an eye at the audience and reveals his inner thoughts.
But what makes this product so good is the second disc, where two decades ago, various historians mounted a trial of richard iii, to see if he is guilty of the murders of the princes in the tower. Taking the characters and action out of their original setting, the story has been reimagined in a europe of the 1930s. Of course, richard iii has also been adapted into some memorable films, including the 1995 movie starring ian mckellen a. Its a very colorful world olivier sets the movie in. Directed by richard loncraine university at albany, suny.
But in this version, he first removes the ring from his own finger by sticking it in his mouth and lubricating it with. Screenplay by richard loncraine and ian mckellen, based on the play richard iii by richard eyre, adapted from richard iii by william shakespeare. Richard iii 1995 stream and watch online moviefone. Though the story remains faithful to shakespeares play about the ambitious and twisted richard of gloucester, the films setting is an. Richard mckellan softens up anne kristin scott thomas with flattery, sophistry and lies, and finally offers her a ring, which she accepts. Richard was only 32 when he died at the battle of bosworth field.
Little, ian mckellen, joe simon, ian mckellen, richard loncraine, william shakespeare. Ian mckellen, annette bening, jim broadbent, robert downey jr. The notorious richard iii is remembered as a royal bully and murderous usurper in large part thanks to shakespeares play by the same name. Richard iii is ambitious and removes quite a few obstacles in his way to the throne of england by murdering them. Richard iii 1995 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. 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.
Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, england is torn by civil war, split between the. In one of his greatest screen roles, ian mckellen is reptilian and seductive as the deformed richard. Richard iii 1995 will return to cinemas across the uk and ireland on 28 april 2016 as bfi presents. 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. Both experience a sense of guilt at the end of their respective plays but lady macbeth redeems herself to an extent by going mad and killing herself. Released 1995, richard iii stars ian mckellen, annette bening, jim broadbent, robert downey jr. Richard iii trailer 1995 video detective movie trailers. May 14, 2018 richard iii is reminiscent of lady macbeth in that they are both ambitious, murderous and manipulate others for their own ends. Ian mckellen is great in the titular role and is the main reason why i rate the film up. Finally, only one foe remains to challenge his grasping claim, valiant richmond. Ian mckellen reprises his awardwinning stage performance in the title role.
Adapted from shakespeares tragedy by ian mckellen and richard loncraine annette bening is queen elizabeth jim broadbent is buckingham jim carter is hastings robert downey, jr. Richard speaks shakespeares famous lines, supported by media savvy, blackshirted thugs and heavy artillery. Bloom thought sir ian mckellen was the greatest richard iii he had ever seen, and richard loncraines 1995 film is based on mckellens. Richard loncraines exciting and lucid shakespearean adaptation from. Richard iii is a 1995 film adaptation of the play by william shakespeare, directed by richard loncraine and starring ian mckellen. He is evil, corrupt, sadistic, and manipulative, and he will stop at nothing to become king. Loncraine then produced the film, again starring ian mckellan as richard iii, updated into a nationalsocialist timeframe. We look at some of the actors who have played one of britains most infamous villains, richard iii. Directed by richard loncraine, the film costars annette bening, kristin scott thomas, jim broadbent, robert downey, jr. Shakespeares classic about brilliant, coldhearted richards bloody rise to the throne. And they get the highly rhetorical, almost overwrought texture of the verse, while at the same time olivier is a master of richard iiis lines, his seductiveness, his vicelike engagement with the audience. The 1955 movie is a classic, and well worth watching. York was the most prominent duke in england, of royal descent, and the most powerful nobleman of his day.
Gandalf as richard, a world war ii military leader. This triumphant take on the crookback king is as different from oliviers 50s historical pageant as chalk is from malmsey. Richard iii, the most notorious of shakespeares kings, manipulates his way through the court on a ruthless. Centuries before the term serial killer was invented, shakespeare created a particularly bloodthirsty and memorable one. 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. But the movie is really mckellens, and with director loncraine, his cowriter, he comes up with one sly touch after another to make richard a satisfactory villain. Richard iiis dna throws up infidelity surprise bbc news. Dec 02, 2014 richard iii was defeated in battle by henry tudor, marking the end of the plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of tudor rule, which lasted until queen elizabeth i died childless in 1603.
In 1955 sir laurence olivier played the title role in a more traditional film adaptation. In richard iii, director, producer, and star laurence olivier brings shakespeares masterpiece of machiavellian villainy to ravishing cinematic life. Jun 09, 20 one of most purely entertaining of all shakespeare films, richard loncraines richard iii is a giddy, thrilling explication of evil. Richard iii was defeated in battle by henry tudor, marking the end of the plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of tudor rule, which lasted until queen elizabeth i died childless in 1603. May 14, 2019 richard iii was a child when his family, the house of york, engaged in battle against the lancastrians for control of the country. Shakespeares classic about brilliant, coldhearted richard s bloody rise to the throne.
In 1955 sir laurence olivier played the title role in a more traditional film adaptation, setting the bar pretty high for modern actors. It was based on an acclaimed royal national theatre stage production by richard eyre that also starred mckellen. This movie production is so visually vivid that shakespeares. The film adapts the plays story and characters to a setting based on 1930s britain, with richard depicted as a fascist plotting to usurp the throne. One of most purely entertaining of all shakespeare films, richard loncraines richard iii is a giddy, thrilling explication of evil. This version sets the tale in 1930s britain, during the rise of fascism in europe. Richard iii internet movie firearms database guns in. Richard iii is the 1995 film adaptation of the shakespeare play starring ian mckellen as the title character. Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, england is torn by civil war, split between the rivaling houses of york and lancaster. As the original text of richard iii was one of the texts for my final year of alevel english literature, your film helped tremendously in familiarising myself with. Travel guide to film locations for richard iii 1995, with ian mckellen, in london and southeast england.
Its among my top five movies of all time and perhaps my favorite shakespeare adaptation. Review by carlo cavagna richard iii is a modern adaptation of the shakespeare play. The classic shakespearean play about a murderously scheming king staged in an alternative fascist england setting. With richard iii, laurence olivieras director, producer, and startransfigures shakespeares great historical drama into a mesmerizing vision of machiavellian villainy. This movie adaptation of shakespeares famous play is set into a hypothetical 1930s europe. Luckily, the minds behind this adaptation of richard iii is more than up to the challenge.
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