Richard III (1955)

Director:

Laurence Olivier

Writers:

William Shakespeare (plays) and
David Garrick (textual alterations for his production of the play)
(more)

Release Date:

11 March 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | War

Plot:

Shakespeare's powerful tale of the wicked deformed king and his conquests, both on the battlefield and in the boudoir.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Battlefield | Battle For Throne | Shakespeare's Richard III | Courtesan

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 10 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Cedric Hardwicke	...	King Edward IV of England
Nicholas Hannen	...	Archbishop
Laurence Olivier	...	Richard III
Ralph Richardson	...	Duke of Buckingham
John Gielgud	...	George, Duke of Clarence
Mary Kerridge	...	Queen Elizabeth
Pamela Brown	...	Jane Shore
Paul Huson	...	Edward, Prince of Wales
Stewart Allen	...	Page to Richard
Claire Bloom	...	The Lady Anne
Russell Thorndike	...	First Priest
Wallace Bosco	...	Monk (as Wally Bosco)
Norman Fisher	...	Monk
Andrew Cruickshank	...	Brackenbury
Clive Morton	...	The Lord Rivers
Terence Greenidge	...	Scrivener
Norman Wooland	...	Catesby
Alec Clunes	...	The Lord Hastings
Dan Cunningham	...	The Lord Grey
Douglas Wilmer	...	The Lord Dorset
Laurence Naismith	...	The Lord Stanley
Michael Gough	...	Dighton, 1st murderer
Michael Ripper	...	Forrest, 2nd murderer
Helen Haye	...	Duchess of York
Andy Shine	...	Young Duke of York
Roy Russell	...	Abbot
George Woodbridge	...	Lord Mayor of London
Esmond Knight	...	Ratcliffe
John Laurie	...	Lovel
Peter Williams	...	Messenger to Hastings
Timothy Bateson	...	Ostler
Willoughby Gray	...	2nd Priest
Ann Wilton	...	Scrub woman
Bill Shine	...	Beadle
Derek Prentice	...	Clergyman
Deering Wells	...	Clergyman
Richard Bennett	...	George Stanley
Patrick Troughton	...	Tyrell
Brian Nissen	...	Messenger to Richard
Alexander Davion	...	Messenger to Richard
Lane Meddick	...	Messenger to Richard
Robert Bishop	...	Messenger to Richard
John Phillips	...	Norfolk
Stanley Baker	...	Henry, Earl of Richmond
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bernard Hepton	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Howard Knight	...	Boy (uncredited)
Rosalind Knight	...	Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
Gareth Tandy	...	Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Laurence Olivier

Writing credits
William Shakespeare		(plays "Richard III" and "Henry VI: Part III")
Colley Cibber		textual alterations
David Garrick		textual alterations for his production of the play
Laurence Olivier		uncredited

Produced by
Laurence Olivier	....	producer
Alexander Korda	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Walton		(as Sir William Walton)

Cinematography by
Otto Heller

Film Editing by
Helga Cranston

Production Design by
Roger K. Furse		(as Roger Furse)

Art Direction by
Carmen Dillon

Makeup Department
Gladys Atkinson	....	hair stylist
Tony Sforzini	....	makeup artist
Gordon Bond	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Trevor Crole-Rees	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
George Partleton	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
John W. Gossage	....	production supervisor (as John Gossage)
Jack Martin	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerry O'Hara	....	assistant director
René Dupont	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Jack N. Green	....	third assistant director (uncredited)
Bert Pearl	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Roger Ramsdell	....	set dresser
Robert White	....	scenic artist
William Hutchinson	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Arthur Lawson	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Terence Morgan	....	assistant designer (uncredited)
James Sawyer	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Frank Willson	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Red Law	....	sound recordist
Bert Rule	....	sound editor
George Stephenson	....	sound recordist
Alan Blay	....	sound maintenance (uncredited)
Norman Daines	....	dubbing crew (uncredited)
Jack Davies	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Barbara Hopkins	....	dubbing crew (uncredited)
Bob Jones	....	dubbing crew (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Wally Veevers	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Bob Cuff	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Denys N. Coop	....	camera operator (as Denys Coop)
Frank Howard	....	camera grip
Jack Sullivan	....	chief electrician
John Cabrera	....	focus puller: second unit (uncredited)
Norman Hargood	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Alex Thomson	....	clapper loader (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John McCorry	....	wardrobe master (uncredited)

Editorial Department
John Poyner	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra	....	music played by

Other crew
Joan Bridge	....	technicolor color consultant
Anthony Bushell	....	associate director
Jack Curran	....	horse master
Pamela Davies	....	continuity
Alan Dent	....	text advisor
John Greenwood	....	sword play
Bernard Hepton	....	sword play
Laurence Olivier	....	presenter
Roger Ramsdell	....	titler
Luis Roberts	....	location associate
Roberto Roberts	....	location associate
Jeremy Taylor	....	horse master
Catherine O'Brien	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Tadeo Villalba	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• London Film Productions
• L.O.P. (uncredited)

Distributors

• Lopert Pictures Corporation (1956) (USA) (theatrical)
• Nederland NV (1956) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1956) (USA) (TV)
• Nelson Entertainment (1987) (USA) (VHS) (For Janus Films)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print Technicolor)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD) (2 disc widescreen)
• Criterion Collection, The (2006) (USA) (DVD) (Included with "Hamlet" and "Henry V" in "Olivier's Shakespeare")
• Concorde Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Included in "Essential Arthouse" Widescreen)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Quality Film Collection)
• Criterion Collection, The (2013) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Criterion Collection, The (2013) (USA) (DVD) (Full screen)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Janus Films (196?) (USA) (all media)
• London Films International

Other Companies

• Embassy Home Entertainment  vhs artwork and design
• L. & H. Nathan  costumes

Also Known As:

Runtime:

161 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:G | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 (DVD rating) (2011) | Netherlands:14 (original rating) (1956) | UK:U (DVD rating) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

Company:

London Film Productions

Trivia:

Michael Gough got his part (Dighton, the first murderer) by making a fuss to his fellow actor friends about only established stars getting cameo parts and leaving nothing for struggling actors like himself. One night he got a phone call, and a voice said "You've been stirring it, haven't you? Right little shit." Gough demanded to know, "Who is this?" only to be stunned by the response, "It's Larry", which of course was Olivier himself. Olivier in fact was just having some fun at Gough's expense, had taken on board his criticisms and was ringing to offer him the part of one of the murderers in Richard III. When asked which one he wanted to play, Gough quickly said "Whichever one has the most lines", and he got his wish. Olivier actually arranged matters so that Gough's scenes were split over several days, instead of all being done on the one day, so that he, Gough, would maximise his per diem fee.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: During the opening credits, the movie is introduced as "Laurence Olivier Present's Richard III by William Shakespeare". The word "Present's" should read "Presents" - the apostrophe is in error.

Quotes:

Richard III:I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall,/ I'll play the orator as well as Nestor,/ Deceive more slyly than Ulysses could,/ And, like a Sinon, take another Troy./ I can add colours to the chameleon, /Change shapes with Proteus for advantages, /And set the murderous Machiavel to school./ Can I do this,and cannot get a crown?/Tut, were it farther off,/ I'll pluck it down.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Goodbye Girl (1977)

Excellent , hilarious ,powerfull ,dark .vintage.

One of Olivier's most notable performances which set a precedent for how the role should be played. The eccentricity of the ambitious, crippled and sadistic, Richard of Gloucester makes for a surprisingly funny yet dark tragedy.

Olivier's expertise in stage technique, married with an exceptional talent, makes for shots that last for more than a minute before the cut while he delivers the goods to camera.Set mainly in a castle ,simple but true to stage, with powerful monologues from all concerned.The dialect used is easier for the novice Shakespearian to understand than it is in some other such plays.

The ultimate treacherer who can,"add colours to the camelian and set the murderous Machiavelli to school".He makes no secret to the audience of his villainous disposition.Likewise the role makes no secret of Sir Larry's brilliance. Filled with classic lines such as,"a horse ..my kingdom for a horse!" and ,"Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer..." . this film ,true to Shakespeare's other work has the mixture of tragedy and comedy, historic fact meets convenient fiction with a splash of romantic betrayal.. Utterly outrageous !