Richard III (TV 1983)
"The Tragedy of Richard III" (original title)

Richard Duke of Gloucester, youngest brother of King Edward IV, will stop at nothing to get the crown. He first convinces the ailing King that the Duke of Clarence, his elder brother, is a ... See full summary »

Director:

Jane Howell

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Peter Aldwyn, Peter Benson, Brian Binns

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Aldwyn	...	Second Company
Peter Benson	...	King Henry VI
Brian Binns	...	Second Company
Gerald Blackmore	...	Second Company
Stephen Brigden	...	Second Company
Anthony Brown	...	Sir Richard Ratcliffe
David Burke	...	Sir William Catesby
Michael Byrne	...	Duke of Buckingham
Anne Carroll	...	Jane Shore
Paul Chapman	...	Earl Rivers
Michael Cogan	...	Second Company
Ron Cook	...	Richard III
Rowena Cooper	...	Queen Elizabeth
Arthur Cox	...	Lord Grey, Lord Mayor of London
Stuart Cox	...	Second Company

Storyline

Richard Duke of Gloucester, youngest brother of King Edward IV, will stop at nothing to get the crown. He first convinces the ailing King that the Duke of Clarence, his elder brother, is a threat to the lives of Edward's two young sons. Edward has him imprisoned in the Tower of London; killers in Richard's pay then drown Clarence in a barrel of wine. When news of Clarence's death reaches the King, the subsequent grief and remorse bring about his death. Richard is made Lord Protector, with power to rule England while his nephew (now King Edward V) is still a minor. Before the young king's coronation he has his two nephews conveyed to the Tower, ostensibly for their safekeeping. Richard's accomplice, the Duke of Buckingham, then declares the two boys illegitimate and offers Richard the crown, which after a show of reticence he accepts. After Richard's coronation, he and Buckingham have a falling-out over whether or not to assassinate the two children.

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Plot Keywords:

resentment toward usurper | taking up with husband's killer | restless in peacetime | haunted by own murder victim | shakespeare's richard iii | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1983 (UK)

Also Known As:

Richard III

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Time-Life Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

239 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows The First Part of King Henry VI (1983)

User Reviews

Fantastic Tudor propaganda

I recently purchased the 4 DVD versions of the BBC TV 1980's 'Henry VI/Richard III' series and they have had me spellbound.

I agree withe the general view of other commentators that the excision of the British 'hammy' style does nothing but enhance the powerful sweep of this epic.

In the final play Ron Cook's deliberately paced and under-stated (by comparison with, say, Olivier) performance renders a powerful image of the 'toad'.

I was especially struck by the scene with the 3 women characters where they debate the evils wrought by their various male relatives on them and their offspring.

The last few scenes covering the night before the battle of Bosworth where the stream of ghosts taunting Richard then support Richmond, highlights what a great piece of pro-Tudor propaganda this play is.

I know that my comments are really about the original Shakespeare play but this production made it live for me.

The final scene with Margaret cackling on top of the heap of dead is a masterstroke!