SHOP LOOKING FOR...
IMDb >
Looking for Richard (1996)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsnews articlesPromotional
taglinestrailers and videospostersphoto galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsLooking for Richard (1996)
| Photos (see all 14 | slideshow) |
Overview
Release Date:
11 October 1996 (USA) moreTagline:
A four hundred year old work-in-progress.Plot:
Al Pacino's deeply-felt rumination on Shakespeare's significance and relevance to the modern world through interviews and an in-depth analysis of "Richard III." full summary | add synopsisAwards:
2 wins & 2 nominations moreUser Comments:
Cinematic meditation on Shakespeare play moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Penelope Allen | ... | Herself / Queen Elizabeth | |
| Gordon MacDonald | ... | Himself / Dorset | |
| Madison Arnold | ... | Himself / Rivers | |
| Vincent Angell | ... | Himself / Grey | |
| Harris Yulin | ... | Himself / King Edward | |
| Alec Baldwin | ... | Himself / Duke of Clarence | |
| Al Pacino | ... | Himself / Richard III | |
| Timmy Prairie | ... | Prince Edward | |
| Landon Prairie | ... | Young Prince | |
| Kevin Conway | ... | Himself / Hastings | |
| Larry Bryggman | ... | Himself / Lord Stanley | |
| Kevin Spacey | ... | Himself / Earl of Buckingham | |
| Estelle Parsons | ... | Margaret | |
| Winona Ryder | ... | Lady Anne | |
| Phil Parolisi | ... | Halberd / Messenger |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parentsRuntime:
112 min | USA:111 minCountry:
USALanguage:
EnglishColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 moreSound Mix:
Dolby SRCertification:
Iceland:12 | South Korea:15 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Italy:T | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13MOVIEmeter: 
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The film was shot over four years during and around Al Pacino's filming schedule, also while he was not working on any major film projects. This is visible during the film because he is seen growing a beard and hair cut for the film Carlito's Way (1993) as one example. moreQuotes:
Vanessa Redgrave: In England you have had centuries when words are totally divorced from truth. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Looking for Richard (1996) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Add a recommendation |
Show more recommendations
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
| Richard III | Chicago | Romeo + Juliet | Shakespeare in Love | 10 Things I Hate About You |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Documentary section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |

















Looking for Richard frames the essential postmodern question in its own terms: Is this a film about Richard III, or is this a film about a film about Richard III? Cameras follow Al Pacino as he wanders New York, sometimes on foot, but more often in the back of a limousine. We're not sure what he's doing, except it has something to do with Shakespeare's play Richard III. There are rehearsals with familiar actors, and actual performances, some seemingly on stage, some on sets, some on location, all of it interspersed with discussion about the play. Is the play actually to be staged, or is it all a show for the film? We don't know, and really, it doesn't matter. For the most part, this is a pleasant meditation on its subject.
Pacino has chosen a treacherous path: on one side stands the dauntingly complex Shakespeare play, and on the other the patronizing attempts to simplify it for the modern audience. There were several times when I felt talked down to by the actors, but just as many where I felt I benefited from the expanded explanation. Also, with Pacino so vibrantly at the center of every scene and little attention given to others, the film unavoidably has the flavor of a vanity project.
What the film does convey effectively is the power of theater to transport people intellectually and emotionally. The contrast between Pacino's stuttering attempts to summarize certain plot points and his magnificent animation as Richard is fascinating. Like the story (possibly apocryphal) about how Picasso, when asked to explain the meaning of one of his paintings, replied that if he could do that, he wouldn't need to paint, even inarticulate actors possess remarkable powers when inhabiting their roles. This insight was the film's central revelation for me.