Amazon.com reviews for
Richard III (1912) More at IMDbPro »

Richard III (dvd):

Amazon.com video review: A genuine treasure for film collectors, this 1912 version of Richard III is an artifact to cherish. Donated to the American Film Institute by film collector William Buffum in 1995, this hand-tinted vehicle for noted thespian Frederick Warde was thought to have been lost forever. Restored to remarkably good condition (despite some ghostly shimmering due to nitrate deterioration), it now survives as the oldest American feature, still impressive in the way it distills Shakespeare's play, through action and descriptive title cards, while retaining its dramatic essence. Director James Keane's camera is hopelessly static compared to D.W. Griffith's innovative work from the same period, and in the title role Warde is prone to grandiose theatrics that were unnecessary even in 1912 (after all, film acting was still in its infancy). And yet, with its evocative latter-day score by Ennio Morricone, this is a vivid and valuable film, offering ample proof that movies were rapidly maturing. --Jeff Shannon