Richard III (1995)

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Ian McKellen ...
(more)

Release Date:

29 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

What Is Worth Dying For... Is Worth Killing For.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

England | 1930s | Murder | King | Taking Up With Husband's Killer

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

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
Stacey Kent	...	Ballroom Singer
Bill Paterson	...	Sir Richard Ratcliffe
Denis Lill	...	Lord Mayor
Ryan Gilmore	...	George Stanley
Andy Rashleigh	...	Jailer in Tower
Marco Williamson	...	Prince of Wales
Edward Jewesbury	...	King Henry VI
Christopher Bowen	...	Prince Edward
Matthew Groom	...	Richard of York
Kate Steavenson-Payne	...	Princess Elizabeth
Donald Sumpter	...	Brackenbury
Bruce Purchase	...	City Gentleman
James Dreyfus	...	1st Subaltern
David Antrobus	...	2nd Subaltern
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Derek Lyons	...	Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Madeleine Mora	...	Dream Angel (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Loncraine

Writing credits
William Shakespeare		(play)
Ian McKellen		and
Richard Loncraine

Produced by
Maria Apodiacos	....	executive producer
Stephen Bayly	....	producer
Lisa Katselas	....	producer (as Lisa Katselas Paré)
David Lascelles	....	line producer
Ellen Dinerman Little	....	executive producer
Ian McKellen	....	executive producer
Mary Richards	....	associate producer
Joe Simon	....	executive producer
Michele Tandy	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Trevor Jones

Cinematography by
Peter Biziou

Film Editing by
Paul Green

Casting by
Irene Lamb

Production Design by
Tony Burrough

Art Direction by
Richard Bridgland
Choi Ho Man

Costume Design by
Shuna Harwood

Makeup Department
Kathy Ducker	....	makeup artist
Sallie Evans	....	makeup artist (as Sally Evans)
Richard Glass	....	contact lens optician
Pat Hay	....	key makeup artist
Chris Lyons	....	special effects teeth
Liz Michie	....	hair stylist
Daniel Parker	....	makeup designer: Ian McKellan
Daniel Parker	....	prosthetics designer
Stephen Rose	....	hair stylist
Jemma Scott-Knox-Gore	....	contact lens technician

Production Management
Ken Holt	....	unit manager
Mike Nunn	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Todd Austin	....	second assistant director
Marios Hamboulides	....	trainee assistant director
Mark Layton	....	second assistant director
Ken Tuohy	....	first assistant director
Neil Tuohy	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Michael Bates	....	carpenter
Jon Billington	....	assistant art director
Paul Cheesman	....	property storeman
Sarah Jane Cornish	....	assistant art director
Michael Davis	....	carpenter
Kevin Day	....	stagehand
Gary Dyer	....	stagehand
Steve Furneaux	....	carpenter
John Godfrey	....	construction manager
John Greaves	....	storyboard artist
Charles Hammett	....	carpenter
Ken Hawkey	....	stand-by painter
Arthur Healey	....	painter
Jonathan Hurst	....	chargehand stand-by propman
Douglas Ingram	....	storyboard artist
Martin Kingsley	....	chargehand dressing propman
Adam Kyriakou	....	carpenter
Rebecca Loncraine	....	art department assistant
David Lowen	....	carpenter
Steve Malin	....	stagehand
Brian Mitchell	....	stand-by stagehand
Keith Muir	....	chargehand stagehand
Con Murphy	....	stand-by rigger
Peter Murray	....	carpenter
Tony Musk	....	carpenter
Brian Neighbour	....	assistant construction manager
Keith Pitt	....	dressing propman
Harry Portlock	....	carpenter
Butch Roper	....	painter
Dominic Smithers	....	production buyer
Tony Snook	....	carpenter
Alan Tagg	....	painter
Ty Teiger	....	property master
Dave Thompson	....	painter
Nick Turnbull	....	stand-by propman
Peter Watson	....	dressing propman
Tommy Westbrook	....	stand-by carpenter
Steve Williamson	....	supervising painter
Nick Wood	....	painter
Ginger McCarthy	....	construction rigger (uncredited)

Sound Department
John Lewis Aschenbrenner	....	sound trainee (as John Lewis)
Gerry Bates	....	sound maintenance
Philip Bothamley	....	sound editor
David Brady	....	assistant foley editor
Michael Harris	....	playback operator (as Mike Harris)
John Iles	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Eric Jordan	....	assistant sound engineer
James Manning	....	assistant sound engineer
Chris Nuttall	....	sound
William Parnell	....	dialogue editor
Rocky Phelan	....	foley editor
David Stephenson	....	sound recordist
John Taylor	....	stereo sound consultant: DTS
Lee Taylor	....	dubbing mixer
Elaine 'Chucks' Thomas	....	adr editor
Aad Wirtz	....	dubbing mixer
Toby Wood	....	assistant sound engineer
Garry Fiferman	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Philip Clark	....	special effects technician (as Phil Clark)
John Coyle	....	special effects assistant
Paul Dimmer	....	special effects technician
John Evans	....	special effects supervisor
David Eves	....	special effects assistant
Matthew Horton	....	special effects technician
Robert Nugent	....	senior special effects technician
Peter Skehan	....	senior special effects technician
James Skipsey	....	special effects assistant
David Watkins	....	special effects technician
Barry Whitrod	....	senior special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Richard Bain	....	compositor
Jon Bunker	....	digital effects director (as John Bunker)
Frazer Churchill	....	film recording
Matthew Holben	....	visual effects producer
Charlie Noble	....	compositor
Mark Stannard	....	compositor
Richenda Wheeler	....	CG artist
Arthur Windus	....	visual effects producer

Stunts
Jonathan Cohen	....	stunts
David Cronnelly	....	stunt fall performer
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt coordinator
Steve Griffin	....	stunts
Paul Heasman	....	stunts (as Paul Heaseman)
Mark Henson	....	stunts
Nick Hobbs	....	stunts
Mark Lisbon	....	stunts
Gary Powell	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunts
Julian Spencer	....	stunts
Danny Ray Cook	....	precision driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Atherfold	....	key grip
Alex Bailey	....	still photographer
John Barry	....	lighting rigging crew
Robert Binnall	....	focus puller
Craig Bloor	....	clapper loader
Peter Bloor	....	chief lighting technician
Peter Bloor	....	gaffer
Sam Bloor	....	lighting technician
Gary Blowfield	....	video operator
Rosalyn Ellis	....	camera trainee
Mark Evans	....	lighting technician (as Mark 'Rocky' Evans)
Joe Felix	....	second camera grip
Darren Gatrell	....	lighting rigging crew
Alan Grosch	....	generator operator
Colin Hazell	....	crane operator
Françoise Higson	....	video assistant
Ron Lyons	....	lighting rigging crew
Ray Meehan	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Mark Moriarty	....	focus puller: second camera
Tim Murphy	....	electrical rigger
John Palmer	....	second assistant camera
Annie Phillips	....	lighting technician
Ronnie Phillips	....	electrician
Clive Prior	....	clapper loader: second camera
Dave Ridout	....	best boy
Sid Skinner	....	rigger
Peter Taylor	....	camera operator
Danny Webster	....	rigger
Frankie Webster	....	chargehand rigger
Dean Wilkenson	....	lighting rigging crew
Alan Williams	....	electrical rigger

Casting Department
Lisa Beach	....	casting consultant: USA
Ray Knight	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sheila Cullen	....	wardrobe assistant
Elvis Davis	....	key set costumer
Alan Flyng	....	wardrobe supervisor
Victoria Harwood	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
James Carew	....	second assistant editor
Sandra Frieze	....	post-production assistant
Peter Hunt	....	grader
Elaine 'Chucks' Thomas	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Paul Golding	....	music mixer
Paul Golding	....	music recordist
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestral contractor
Julian Kershaw	....	orchestrator
James Manning	....	assistant music engineer
Victoria Seale	....	music coordinator for cmmp
Kirsty Whalley	....	music mixer
Kirsty Whalley	....	music recordist
Gavyn Wright	....	orchestra leader (as Gavin Wright)

Transportation Department
Mike Bartlett	....	location driver
Bob Dean	....	location driver
Terry English	....	unit driver
Gerry Floyd	....	unit driver
Tony Foster	....	location driver
Bert Griffin	....	location driver
Mike Harris	....	location driver
Scott Henley	....	location driver
John Ott	....	location driver
Terry Reece	....	unit driver
Albert Smith	....	location driver
Mike Smith	....	unit driver
Barry Stone	....	location driver
Dennis Swan	....	location driver
Charlie Thomas	....	location driver
Bob Valles	....	location driver

Other crew
Maria Apodiacos	....	script supervisor
Anushka Athaide	....	assistant to producer
Rosie Bedford-Stradling	....	unit nurse
Erica Bensly	....	production coordinator
Charles Bodycomb	....	armorer
Etienne Bol	....	consultant: aviation
Sarah Booth	....	assistant accountant
Dale Clarke	....	armorer
Steve Dent	....	horse master
Richard Eyre	....	original stage production
Simon Fraser	....	assistant production coordinator
Andy Hennigan	....	post-production accountant
Charles Hubbard	....	location manager
Andrew Jack	....	dialogue coach
Patricia Johnson	....	unit publicist
Mig Kimpton	....	assistant: Mr. Mckellen
Grainne Marmion	....	production executive
Charles Mcdonald	....	unit publicist
Caroline Moore	....	production assistant
Steve Morphew	....	stand-in
Rajeshree Patel	....	assistant accountant
Huw Phillips	....	rushes grader
Timothy R. Price	....	production assistant
François Prins	....	consultant: aviation
Adam Richards	....	co-location manager
Jocelyn Skottowe	....	military advisor
Joss Skottowe	....	military advisor
Charlie Somers	....	floor runner
Tony Stanton	....	copyist
Emma Stokes	....	stand-in
Phil Todd	....	sax and flute solo
Ken Whitfield	....	military extras supplier
Jon Bunker	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
James Middleton	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Mayfair Entertainment International (presents)
• British Screen (participation)
• Bayly/Paré Productions
• United Artists Pictures (in association with)
• First Look International (in association with)

Distributors

• United Artists (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bac Films (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Argentina Video Home (1998) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Nea Kinisi Video (1998) (Greece) (VHS)
• Video Quattro (1998) (Greece) (video)
• Aquarius TV (2008) (Greece) (TV)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (The Robert Downey, Jr. Star Collection)
• Filmayer (Spain)
• Rizzoli Corriere della Sera Home Video (RCS) (Italy) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Moving Picture Company (MPC)
• ReelEye Company (special effects contact lenses)

Other Companies

• National Theatre  original stage production
• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• London Records  soundtrack
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and sexuality

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:18 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Battersea Power Station, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

Mayfair Entertainment International

Trivia:

Marisa Tomei had to quit the project when delays meant that filming clashed with Unhook the Stars (1996).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): As Richard finishes his dance with the queen (at the beginning) and they walk off the dance floor, the young prince slips and falls.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References Triumph of the Will (1935)

Soundtrack:

I'm Sitting On The Top Of The World

Starring Richard III as A.Hitler, and A.Hitler as W.Churchill

Shakespeare's tragedy set in 1940s war-torn England.

As someone who loves Shakespeare, I grant a lot of latitude and respect to any person who can get these modern versions produced. The vogue now is to alter the time period, while still holding, generally speaking, to the original plot and language. As usual with the movies, its now done so often that traditional Shakespeare has become a custom more honored in the breach than in the observance. (forgive me!) This is ok, it takes the evil Richard III and plops him into the role of fascist usurper and dictator, during the notorious fascist period of England's history. I know, try and not overthink it. The acting and collection of performers are both first rate, and the film offers interesting moments for both the novice and expert Shakespearean student. There is one thing and it is what prompted me to even write this. If you notice during Richard's ascendance, a formal ball is thrown and a Vera Lynn type woman is shown singing a Glenn Miller type tune. You know you have never heard it, but yet is eerily memorable. I find out years later (today in fact) it is a Christopher Marlowe poem, clevely fitted to a WW2 sounding musical number. Somehow, its just real creepy and its in keeping with the mood of the entire movie. Upsetting and unnerving, with the evil spread just a little too generously over the characters. If you have a big blender, and throw in a copy of 1984, Richard III, and Godfather III, this is what you would end up with.