Richard III (1995)

The classic Shakespearean play about a murderously scheming king staged in an alternative fascist England setting.

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play), Ian McKellen,

Stars:

Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ian McKellen	...	Richard III
Annette Bening	...	Queen Elizabeth, wife of Edward IV
Jim Broadbent	...	Duke of Buckingham
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Lord Rivers
Nigel Hawthorne	...	George, Duke of Clarence
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Lady Anne
John Wood	...	King Edward IV
Maggie Smith	...	Duchess of York
Jim Carter	...	Lord William Hastings
Edward Hardwicke	...	Lord Thomas Stanley
Adrian Dunbar	...	James Tyrell
Tres Hanley	...	Rivers' Mistress
Dominic West	...	Earl of Richmond
Roger Hammond	...	Archbishop Thomas
Tim McInnerny	...	Sir William Catesby

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

england | 1930s | murder | king | taking up with husband's killer | 

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Taglines:

Power Conquers All

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and sexuality

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 December 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ricardo III

Filming Locations:

Battersea Power Station, Battersea, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

£6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

£403,233 (UK) (17 May 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mayfair Entertainment International, British Screen, Bayly/Paré Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Since the film is set in the alternate 20th-century, Ian McKellen had some trouble of setting the location for Act 3 Scene 1, where the Prince of Wales meets Richard before being sent to the Tower. Someone suggested that the royals usually arrive in London by rail. The scene was eventually known to everyone in the film as the 'Victoria Station' scene.

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Goofs

As Richard finishes his dance with the queen (at the beginning) and they walk off the dance floor, the young prince slips and falls.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Prince of Wales: Goodnight Father.
King Henry: Goodnight son.
Prince of Wales: Goodnight your majesty.

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Connections

Version of Richard III (2008)

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Soundtracks

"I'm Sitting On The Top Of The World"
Performed by Al Jolson
Composed by Ray Henderson, Joe Young and Sam Lewis
Published by EMI United Partnership Ltd.
Redwood Music Corp.
Angle-Pic Music Co. Ltd.
EMI Catalog Partnership/EMI Feist Catalog Inc.
Ray Henderson Music Corp.
Cherio Corporation
(c) MCA Records Inc. Licensed courtesy of
MCA Strategic Marketing Ltd.

User Reviews

Shakespearean tragedy in 1940s Europe

This film sets Shakespeare's Richard III in an alternative to WWII era England, where fascists and royalists maintain their own militias and play power games with kings and thrones. The first scene sets the tone for the entire film. A young officer is settling down to dinner with his dog chewing on a bone nearby. The building begins to shake and a low rumbling is heard. Soon enough, a tank erupts through the fireplace and stormtroopers charge in automatic rifles ablaze. Ian McKellan removes his gas mask and spouts a few lines of Shakespearean dialog.

The action and the intrigue never really let up, as the film follows Richard's (McKellan) rise to infamy and power. Neither does the Shakespearean dialog. Somehow the cast manages to make the dialog fit the action and setting effortlessly.

Richard III is jarringly strange - perhaps the most innovative of the recent Shakespeare updates - very well acted and directed. Although I recommend the film, I have to warn you - it's not for everyone.