The classic Shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15th-century king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s England as clouds of fascism gather.
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Title: Richard III (1995)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Christopher Bowen | ... | Prince Edward of Lancaster | |
| Edward Jewesbury | ... | King Henry VI | |
| Ian McKellen | ... | Richard III - Duke of Gloucester | |
| Bill Paterson | ... | Ratcliffe | |
| Annette Bening | ... | Queen Elizabeth | |
 |
Matthew Groom | ... | Young Prince Richard of York |
| John Wood | ... | King Edward IV | |
| Nigel Hawthorne | ... | Duke of Clarence | |
| Maggie Smith | ... | Duchess of York | |
| Kate Steavenson-Payne | ... | Princess Elizabeth of York | |
| Robert Downey Jr. | ... | Lord Rivers | |
| Tres Hanley | ... | Air Hostess | |
| Tim McInnerny | ... | Catesby | |
|
|
Stacey Kent | ... | Ballroom Singer |
| Jim Carter | ... | Lord William Hastings | |
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Plot Summary
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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 III (Sir Ian McKellen), who rules over a fascist government and hopes to install himself as a dictator monarch. Written by Anthony Hughes <husnock31@hotmail.com>
Taglines:
...I am determined to prove a villain, and hate the idle pleasures of these days... See more »Parents Guide:
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Prince Edward: Goodnight, your majesty.
King Henry: Goodnight, son.
Prince Edward: Father.
See more »
(uncredited)
Composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Richard's black uniform is actually the tunic of an S.S.-Oberst-Gruppenführer (Colonel General), minus the swastika insignia. See more »Goofs
As Edward finishes his dance with Queen Elizabeth (at the beginning) and they walk off the dance floor, the young prince slips and falls. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Prince Edward: Goodnight, your majesty.
King Henry: Goodnight, son.
Prince Edward: Father.
See more »
Alternate Versions
The UK (video) release has the cast credits in order of appearance. See more »Soundtracks
Te Deum: Marche en rondeau prelude(uncredited)
Composed by Marc-Antoine Charpentier
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Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
29 December 1995 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Richard III See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
GBP6,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$91,915, 1 January 1996Gross USA:
$2,684,904Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$2,748,518Company Credits
Production Co:
Mayfair Entertainment International, British Screen Productions, Bayly/Paré Productions See more »
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IMDbPro »
When I see how wonderful this Richard III is, it immediately makes me question what in the world has Kenneth Branagh been doing all these years? Certainly nothing as imaginative, as provocative as this.
Deprived of Shakespeare as a child, I have been forced to catch up piece meal through film. Al Pacino's "Looking for Richard" gives attention to Richard III, from a far different perspective, but both that film and this agree that it has all the key elements of great drama: evil ambition, betrayal, rivalry.
The casting is tremendous with Ian McKellen (from his own stage play) and Kristen Scott-Thomas in the leads-thankfully there is no Kenneth Branagh to be found. And is this guy Jim Broadbent any good, or what? For my money he steals every scene he plays in "Little Voice", he's subtly brilliant here in a lesser role. Only Annette Benning seems a little overmatched in her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth, but that's hardly surprising.
The accessibility of the current version, the setting in 1930's Fascist Europe, gives the story a vibrancy that is present from the first frame to the last.
Challenging, fun, and educative-far more than most films deliver. I highly recommend.