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<title>Richard III (1955 film)</title>
<authors>Wikipedia</authors>
<publisher>wikipedia.org</publisher>
<publishedplace>network</publishedplace>
<publishedyear>2010</publishedyear>
<edition></edition>
<category>Epic films</category>
<section id="29601" fatherid="0" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="1">
Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's  historical play Richard III, including elements of Henry VI, Part 3. It was directed and produced by Laurence Olivier, who also played the lead role. The cast includes many noted Shakespearean actors, including a quartet of acting knights. The film depicts Richard plotting and conspiring to grasp the throne from his brother King Edward IV, played by Cedric Hardwicke. In the process, many are killed and betrayed, with Richard's evil leading to his own downfall. The prologue of the film states that history without its legends would be "a dry matter indeed", implicitly admitting to taking artistic licence with the events of the time.
Of the three Shakespearean films directed by Olivier, Richard III received the least critical praise at the time, although it was still acclaimed, and it was the only one not to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, though Olivier's acting performance was nominated. The film gained popularity through a re-release in 1966, which broke box office records in many cities. Many critics now consider Olivier's Richard III his best screen adaptation of Shakespeare. The British Film Institute has pointed out that given the enormous TV audiences it received in 1955, the film "may have done more to popularize Shakespeare than any other single work".

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<section id="29602" fatherid="0" title="Production" lv="" priority="2" level="1">
<section id="29603" fatherid="29602" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
Of Olivier's three Shakespeare films, Richard III had the longest gestation period - Olivier had created and been developing his vision of the character Richard since his portrayal for the Old Vic Theatre in 1944. After he had made Shakespeare films popular with Henry V and Hamlet, the choice of his next adaptation was simple: his Richard had been widely praised on stage. For the stage production, Olivier had modelled some of the crookback king's look on a well-known theatrical producer at the time, Jed Harris, whom Olivier called "the most loathsome man I'd ever met". Years later Olivier discovered that Walt Disney had used Harris as his basis for the Big Bad Wolf in the film The Three Little Pigs., Chapter 20 Alexander Korda, who had given Olivier his initial roles on film, provided financial support for the film.
Most of the dialogue was straight from the play, but Olivier also drew material from alterations made by Colley Cibber and David Garrick, including Cibber's line on the death of Buckingham, "Off with his head. So much for Buckingham!". The opening scenes were taken from the final scenes of Henry VI, Part III, to introduce the rest of the film. Some of the key changes include the seduction of Anne being split into two scenes instead of one, Queen Margaret being cut entirely, and the execution of Clarence being abridged. These cuts were made to maintain the pace of the film and to cut down the running time, as a full performance of the play can run upwards of four hours.
During filming, Olivier's portrait was painted by Salvador Dalí. The painting remained one of Olivier's favourites until he had to sell it to pay for his children's school fees. The production moved to Spain to film the battle sequences. During one sequence, Olivier suffered an arrow wound to the shin. Fortunately, it was on the leg Richard was supposed to limp on, allowing the scene to continue. Though for most of the film he kept the story in the confines of a filmed play, the Battle of Bosworth Field towards the end abruptly opens up the setting, being shot in the Spanish countryside. Olivier made the controversial decision to directly address the audience, something not often done before. He made this choice to make the audience feel as though they were a part of Richard's schemes. Gerry O'Hara was Olivier's assistant director, on hand to help since Olivier was acting in many, if not most, of the scenes.

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<section id="29604" fatherid="29602" title="Cinematography" lv="" priority="2" level="2">
The cinematography for the film was by Otto Heller, who had worked on many European films before coming to the UK in the early 1940s. Olivier's choice of Technicolor resulted in b, vibrant colours - some have even commented that the film looks like an oil painting.DVD Beaver review of Richard III - Criterion Collection Edition, DVD Beaver, Review written by Gary W. Tooze, retrieved on 7-13 2006 Korda had suggested to Olivier the use of CinemaScope, but Olivier thought it was nothing more than a gimmick designed to distract the audience from the true quality of the film, using VistaVision instead. After a row with them concerning Hamlet, Olivier also used Technicolor. Filming commenced at Shepperton Studios.
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<section id="29605" fatherid="29602" title="Music" lv="" priority="3" level="2">
The score was composed by Sir William Walton, who worked on all of Olivier's films except The Prince and the Showgirl. He composed a rousing score filled with pomp and circumstance, to add to the feel of pageantry. The music was conducted by Muir Mathieson, who collaborated on all of Olivier's films. The film's music was also used for a reading of the play on audio cassette featuring John Gielgud. Walton used the main theme throughout the film, especially towards the closing scenes.
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<section id="29606" fatherid="0" title="Plot" lv="" priority="-3" level="1">
King Edward IV of England (Cedric Hardwicke) has been placed on the throne with the help of his brother, Richard (Laurence Olivier). After Edward's coronation in the Great Hall, Richard contemplates the throne, before advancing towards the audience and then addressing them, delivering a speech that outlines his physical deformities, including a hunched back and a withered arm. He goes on to describe his jealousy over his brother's rise to power in contrast to his lowly position.
He dedicates himself to task and plans to frame his brother, George, Duke of Clarence (John Gielgud), for conspiring to kill the King, and to have Clarence sent to the Tower of London. Having confused and deceived the King, Richard proceeds with his plans and Clarence is murdered, drowned in a butt of wine by enlisting two ruffians (Michael Gough and Michael Ripper) to carry out his dirty work. Richard goes on to woo and seduce the Lady Anne (Claire Bloom), and though she hates him for killing her husband and father, she cannot resist and ends up marrying him.
Richard then orchestrates disorder in the court, fuelling rivalries, and setting the court against the Queen consort, Elizabeth (Mary Kerridge). The King, weakened by exhaustion, appoints his brother, Richard, as Lord Protector, and dies. Edward's son, soon to become Edward V (Paul Huson), is met by Richard whilst en route to London. Richard has the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Hastings (Alec Clunes) arrested and executed, and forces the young King, along with his younger brother the Duke of York (Andy Shine), to have a protracted stay at the Tower of London.
With all obstacles now removed, Richard enlists the help of his "cousin Buckingham (Ralph Richardson)" to alter his public image, and to become popular with the people. In doing so, Richard becomes the people's first choice to become the new King.
Buckingham had aided Richard on terms of being given yet another title and the income from the accompanying land grant, but balks at the idea of murdering the two princes.  Richard then asks a minor knight, Sir James Tyrrell (Patrick Troughton), eager for advancement, to have young Edward and the Duke of York killed in the Tower of London. On requesting his earldom at Richard's coronation, Buckingham is met with Richard's response: "I'm not in the giving vein today!" Buckingham then fears for his life and joins the opposition against Richard's rule.
Richard, now fearful due to his dwindling popularity, raises his army to defend his throne and the House of York against the House of Lancaster, led by Henry of Richmond (Stanley Baker), at Bosworth Field. Before the battle, however, Buckingham is captured and executed.
Before the battle, Richard is haunted by the ghosts of all those he has killed in his bloody ascent to the throne, and he wakes screaming. Richard composes himself, striding out to plan the battle for his generals, and gives his motivational speech to his forces:
"Conscience is but a word that cowards use,
Devised at first to keep the strong in awe!
Conscience avaunt!
(Aside) "Richard's himself again."
"March on! Join bravely! Let us to it pell mell.
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell!"
The two forces engage in battle, with the Lancastarians having the upper hand. Lord Stanley (Laurence Naismith), whose loyalties had been questionable for some time, betrays Richard, and allies himself with Henry. Richard sees this and rushes out to fight Henry. However, Richard is knocked off his horse, loses his cherished crown, and is soon lost in the battle, searching desperately for Henry. He then cries out: "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"
Richard then spots Lord Stanley, and engages him in single combat. Before a victor can emerge, the Lancastarian troops charge Richard, and fatally wound him. Richard convulses in several spasms and offers his sword to the sky before dying. Stanley orders Richard's body to be taken away, and then finds Richard's crown in a thorn bush. He then proceeds to offer it to Henry, leaving the crown of England in safe hands once again.

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<section id="29607" fatherid="0" title="Cast" lv="" priority="4" level="1">
<section id="29608" fatherid="29607" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
Olivier elected to cast only British actors. Since the film was financed by Alexander Korda and produced by his London Films, obtaining the required actors was not difficult, as many actors were contractually obliged to London Films. As with most films with ensemble casts, all the players were billed on the same tier. However, Olivier played the title character and occupies the majority of screen time and therefore could be considered the lead actor.
When casting the supporting roles, Olivier chose to fortify the already impressive cast with seasoned veterans, such as Laurence Naismith, and with promising newcomers, such as Claire Bloom and Stanley Baker. For the murderers, Olivier originally wanted John Mills and Richard Attenborough. However, Mills thought the idea might be regarded as "stunt casting", and Attenborough had to pull out due to a schedule clash. The film's marketers in the US picked up on the fact that the cast included four knights (Olivier, Richardson, Gielgud and Hardwicke) and used this as a selling point.

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<section id="29609" fatherid="29607" title="The House of York" lv="" priority="-2" level="2">
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<section id="29610" fatherid="29607" title="The House of Lancaster" lv="" priority="-3" level="2">
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<section id="29611" fatherid="0" title="Reception" lv="" priority="-5" level="1">
<section id="29612" fatherid="29611" title="" lv="" priority="-1" level="2">
Richard III was released in the UK on 16 April 1955, with Queen Elizabeth II attending the premiere. Alexander Korda had sold the s to the film to NBC in the U.S. for $500,000 and the film was released in the U.S. on 11 March 1956 both on television and in cinemas. It was not shown during prime time on television, but rather in the afternoon. The film was generally well received by critics, with Olivier's performance earning particular notice, but due to its simultaneous release through television and cinemas in the U.S., it was a box office failure. However, the airing on U.S. television received excellent ratings, estimated at between 25 and 40 million. In addition, when the film was reissued in 1966, it broke box office records in many US cities.
On the film review site Rotten Tomatoes, the film obtained a 100 percent fresh rating from both critics and users. Some claim that Olivier's performance was too theatrical, resulting in little more than a filmed play. Olivier's direction is also sometimes criticized, due to the fact that it is far more restricted in its style in comparison to the bold filming of Henry V, or the moody photography of Hamlet. There has been an implication that Olivier dominates the production too much, though the character of Richard certainly dominates Shakespeare's original play. There were some complaints about geographical inaccuracies in the film. In response, Olivier wrote in The New York Times: "Americans who know London may be surprised to find Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London to be practically adjacent. I hope they'll agree with me that if they weren't like that, they should have been."
The film's failure at the U.S. box office, however, along with Korda's death, ended Olivier's career as a Shakespeare film director. Olivier had been planning to make Macbeth, but one of his other major backers, producer Mike Todd, died in a plane crash.

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<section id="29613" fatherid="29611" title="Awards" lv="" priority="2" level="2">
In contrast to Olivier's previous work, Richard III was only nominated for a single Academy Award: Academy Award for Best Actor. It was Olivier's fifth nomination in the category, though the award was won by Yul Brynner for his performance in The King and I. Richard III was the second film to have won both Best Film awards at the BAFTAS. It dominated that year's awards ceremony, winning, in addition to the two Best Film awards, the award for Best British Actor. It was also the first winner of the newly created Golden Globe Award for Best English - Language Foreign Film, which had been split from the Best Foreign Film Award. Other awards won by the film include the Silver Bear Award at the 6th Berlin International Film Festival and the David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Production. The Jussi Award was given to Olivier for Best Foreign Actor.
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<section id="29614" fatherid="29611" title="Influence" lv="" priority="3" level="2">
Olivier's Richard III may have done more to popularize Shakespeare than any other piece of work. According to the British Film Institute, the 25–40 million viewers during its airing on US television, "would have outnumbered the sum of the play's theatrical audiences over the 358 years since its first performance."
Johnny Rotten from the Sex Pistols stated in his autobiography, Rotten: No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs, that Olivier's performance as Richard had a large influence on him. Scenes from the film were used in the Sex Pistols' documentary The Filth And The Fury.
The film was the inspiration and source of parody for the BBC Television series, Blackadder. For instance, Peter Cook's performance in the first episode of The Black Adder was a parody of Olivier's Richard III. The crown motif shown throughout the film is also quoted. "Additional Dialogue by William Shakespere" was a credit to the bard that lasted until Season 3.

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<section id="29615" fatherid="0" title="DVD release" lv="" priority="6" level="1">
The film has been released outside the U.S. on DVD several times, but these releases are copies of the unrestored and cropped film. In 2004, Criterion digitally restored the film in its original anamorphic format and re-constructed it to match the release script. It was released in a 2-disc special edition, including an essay by film and music historian Bruce Eder, an interview with Olivier, and other numerous special features. The DVD is subtitled in English, with a Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio track. The DVD also contains a commentary by Russell Lees and John Wilders. The second disc of the DVD features a 1966 BBC interview with Olivier by Kenneth Tynan entitled Great Acting: Laurence Olivier. It also contains a gallery of posters, production stills and two trailers.
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<section id="29616" fatherid="0" title="Notes and References" lv="" priority="-7" level="1">
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<section id="29617" fatherid="0" title="See also" lv="" priority="-8" level="1">
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<section id="29618" fatherid="0" title="External links" lv="" priority="-9" level="1">
Category:1955 films
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Category:Films shot in VistaVision
Category:Films directed by Laurence Olivier
Category:Epic films

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