Nov 21, 2008

William Shakespeare | Richard III (1954)

As Olivier film treatments of Shakespeare go, this one is average, but even so, it has developed into a legend. The cause of this is the affectation of Olivier's voice in a whiny, staccato pitch that after the first five minutes of the film wears on the ear. The voice overshadows Olivier's deeply moody, truly evil depiction of the notorious king. Surrounded as he had been in the 1940s by the elite of the British acting establishment, Olivier pulls out all the stops, especially in the 'wooing' scene with the newcomer Claire Bloom. In the space of about 100 lines, Richard must convince the Lady Anne, as she is on her way to bury her husband, that he killed the man because of his love for her, that he will die if she does not marry him, and even offers her the knife with which to slay him. It is a most unusual marriage proposal and even more unusual acceptance, causing Richard himself to wonder 'Was ever woman in this humour wooed? Was ever woman in this humour won?' Some accounts say that this was Olivier's favourite role, but as Richard's shadow falls on the wall, it falls over the film as well, making excellent supporting performances brighter by contrast. Of particular note is the smothering of the Princes in the Tower by Tyrell. After these images, many viewers will be glad that Richard is slaughtered horribly on the battlefield. - J.R. Costa

Cast: Edward Plantagenet, King Edward IV: Cedric Hardwicke; Archbishop of Canterbury: Nicholas Hannen; Richard III: Laurence Olivier; Henry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham: Ralph Richardson; George, Duke of Clarence: John Gielgud; Elizabeth Woodville, Queen Elizabeth: Mary Kerridge; Jane Shore: Pamela Brown; Page to Richard: Stewart Allen; Lady Anne Neville: Claire Bloom; Priests: Russell Thorndike; Monks: Wally Bascoe, Norman Fisher; Brackenbury: Andrew Cruickshank; Antony Woodville, Earl Rivers: Clive Morton; Scrivener: Terence Greenridge; Sir William Catesby: Norman Wooland; Thomas, Lord Hastings: Laurence Naismith; Dighton: Michael Gough; Forrest: Michael Ripper; Duchess of York: Helen Hayes; Richard, young Duke of York: Andy Shine; Abbot: Roy Russell; Lord Mayor of London: George Woodbridge; Sir Richard Ratcliffe: Esmond Knight; Lord Lovell: John Laurie; Messenger to Hastings: Peter Williams; Ostler: Timothy Bateson; Scrubwoman: Ann Wilton; Beadle: Bill Shine; Clergymen: Derek Prentice, Derring Wells; George Stanley: Richard Bennett; Tyrell: Patrick Troughton; Messengers to Richard: Brian Nissen, Lane Meddick, Robert Bishop; John Howard, Duke of Norfolk: John Phillips; Henry Tudor: Stanley Baker.

Director: Laurence Olivier; Writers: William Shakespeare, Alan Dent (uncredited), Laurence Olivier (uncredited); Producer: Laurence Olivier; Production Company: London Film Productions.

Colour. Runtime: 161 mins.