Richard III (1995)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Richard Loncraine

Writers:

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

Release Date:

29 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

1930s | William Shakespeare | Haunted By Own Murder Victim | Mistrust Of Husband | Resentment Toward Usurper

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 8 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 Hastings
Edward Hardwicke	...	Lord Stanley
Adrian Dunbar	...	James Tyrell
Tres Hanley	...	Rivers' Mistress
Dominic West	...	Henry, Earl of Richmond
Roger Hammond	...	Archbishop
Tim McInnerny	...	Catesby

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Battersea Power Station, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

Bayly/Paré Productions

Trivia:

Tyrell (Adrian Dunbar) was not scripted to hand the apple to Richard (McKellen) in the stable, but improvised it on the spot. McKellen took the hint and pelted the apple (supposedly at the pig).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Elizabeth is summoned to talk with Richard in the train car, her coat unbuttons between shots.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

References Citizen Kane (1941)

Soundtrack:

Come Be My Love

Brilliantly thought out, superbly played and totally gripping

I'm not always comfortable with Shakespeare in modern dress, nor with Ian McKellen's apparent assumption of the mantle of Olivier and Gielgud. Neither did I think that anything could top the experience of seeing Antony Sher play the role on the 500th anniversary of the Battle of Bosworth.

So after all the unfavourable comment, I was shocked to find this version comprehensively squashing all such reservations. It's brilliantly thought out, superbly played and totally gripping from start to finish.

The updating to a non-specific inter war period is not just apposite but genuinely illuminating. The games McKellen plays with the changing techniques of warfare in the period, the rise of fascism, realpolitik and the undermining of royalty by the Wallis Simpson affair, push back the boundaries of Shakespeare on film in all directions.

For example, at the very moment you're thinking that all this mayhem is a bit much in English period costume, the helmets change, then the uniforms get darker, the red flags appear and Richard's acceptance speech turns into an underground Nuremburg Rally - a stark reminder of just how deeply the country flirted with fascism in the 30s and just how short and steep the descent can be. Stanley's troops, crucially uncommitted, stood off overlooking the real Battle of Bosworth. McKellen's Richard has control of the railway network here, but Wing Commander Stanley denies him the all-important air support in a superb piece of updated analogy. Throughout, modernity is so carefully and relevantly overlaid on the plot structure that it becomes one of the great pleasures and achievements of the piece.

Lots of surprises, not the least of which comes as the play's most famous line is perfectly re-engineered and delivered and lots of great players at the top of their form.

McKellen, Scott Thomas, Broadbent, Downey Jnr and Annette Bening are all worth the price of admission individually, but there's hardly a flaw in any of the performances.

I simply can't see what the detractors are on about at all. Really. An epic piece of work. Easily the best version on film. Easily the most thought provoking Shakespeare on film.