Looking for Richard (1996)

Director:

Al Pacino

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Al Pacino (narration) ...

Release Date:

11 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Drama

Tagline:

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."

Plot Keywords:

Birthplace | Shakespearean Quote | Interview | Rehearsal | Stratford Upon Avon

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

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

Runtime:

112 min | USA:111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

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-13

Filming Locations:

Globe Theatre, Bankside, Southwark, London, England, UK

Company:

Chal Productions

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.

Quotes:

Richard III: I'll have her, but I will not keep her long.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Frankie and Johnny Are Married (2003)

Shakespeare to the "common man."

Al Pacino brings Shakespeare to the common man in this documentary exploring the complexities of Richard III. If you can get past the insinuation that the "every day ordinary man (or woman)" is too slow to understand the intricacies of Shakespeare, you are left with quite an interesting, entertaining film. I have to be honest and say that many people do find Shakespeare a little bewildering, and tackling Richard III, one of his deepest, confusing plays, is no easy task. Therefore, let down your guard, and let the actors and scholars give us their interpretation of this most fascinating play. I found much irony in this simple effort, which made the film all the more enjoyable. In telling us of a story of a man, who wants so badly to become king as to betray all those he knows and loves, we learn the story of a singular, power hungry man, with an urge to rule his people. In his own admission, Pacino himself is on a quest to be the ultimate monarch of his own film, and tell us all, us commoners, the true meaning of this classic work. Whether or not the parallel is intentional, I don't know, but it still makes for interesting story telling. And the ultimate irony of all is that some of the deepest and most intelligent quotes come from interviews with Joe Q. Public; the man on the street.