Richard III (1912)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Directors:

André Calmettes (co-director)
James Keane (co-director)

Writers:

James Keane (writer)
William Shakespeare (play)

Release Date:

15 October 1912 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Shakespeare's tragedy of the hump-backed Duke of Gloucester, who rises to the throne of England by chicanery...

Plot Keywords:

William Shakespeare | Resentment Toward Usurper | Mistrust Of Husband | Grimness | Shakespeare's Richard III

Cast

Robert Gemp	...	King Edward IV
Frederick Warde	...	Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterward Richard III
Albert Gardner	...	Prince Edward of Lancaster
James Keane	...	Earl of Richmond
George Moss	...	Tressel
Howard Stuart	...	Edward
Virginia Rankin	...	York, brother of Edward
Violet Stuart	...	Lady Anne Plantagenet
Carey Lee	...	Queen Elizabeth
Carlotta De Felice	...	Princess Elizabeth

Also Known As:

Mr. Frederick Warde in Shakespeare's Masterpiece 'The Life and Death of King Richard III' (International: English title) (long title)
The Life and Death of King Richard III (International: English title)

Runtime:

55 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White | Colour (hand-tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Filming Locations:

City Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Le Film d'Art

Trivia:

Thought lost for decades, but a pristine print (believed to be the oldest known complete surviving feature film made in the US) was discovered by a private collector in 1996 and donated to the American Film Institute.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hidden Hollywood: Treasures from the 20th Century Fox Film Vaults (1997) (TV)

Not horrible for 1912, but pretty much unwatchable today

This was a very, very early full-length film. According to the video box, it was the first full-length American-made film, but that is debatable--as several films have made that claim and exactly what constitutes "full-length" is pretty vague. Regardless, I have to commend the cast for trying something unique and epic, though in today's light the film is a totally boring mess and only of interest to cinephiles. Instead of the modern notion of story-telling and action, the crew was breaking new ground and made a bizarre film that appears more like a series of vignettes instead of a coherent film. Instead of a moving and evolving narrative like we are used to, the film was made with a real-life traveling acting troop. But, instead of having them act out the story, the film shows inter-title cards that describe what has occurred and the cast pose like they are going to be photographed or just make a few minimal movements or actions until the next card appears to describe an all-new scene. It's almost like looking at a series of stereoscope cards that move just a little and all together tell a very, very dull story. Very static and horrid to watch, it DID try something different and this is an amazingly important film historically--I just would NEVER want to have to watch it again!