RICHARD III - Laurence Olivier - Claire Bloom - John Gielgud - 1955 - Remastered - 4K

1955 British Technicolor film adaptation of William Shakespeare's historical play of the same name, also incorporating elements from his Henry VI, Part 3. The prologue of the film states that history without its legends would be "a dry matter indeed", implicitly admitting to the artistic licence that Shakespeare applied to the events of the time.
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CAST
Richard III: Laurence Olivier
Lady Anne: Claire Bloom
George, Duke of Clarence: John Gielgud
Duke of Buckingham: Ralph Richardson
The Lord Hastings - Lord Chamberlain: Alec Clunes
King Edward IV of England: Hardwicke, Sir Cedric
Queen Elizabeth, wife to Edward IV: Mary Kerridge
Sir Robert Brackenbury: Andrew Cruickshank
Lord Rivers: Clive Morton
Lord Dorset: Douglas Wilmer
Lord Stanley: Laurence Naismith
George Stanley: Richard Bennett
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 Richard III for his next adaptation was simple, as his Richard had been widely praised on stage.
Screenplay
Most of the dialogue is taken straight from the play, but Olivier also drew on the 18th century adaptations by Colley Cibber and David Garrick, including Cibber's line, "Off with his head. So much for Buckingham!". Like Cibber and Garrick, Olivier's film opens with material from the last scenes of Henry VI, Part 3, to introduce more clearly the situation at the beginning of the story.
A key change in the story involved the seduction of Anne. It is split into two scenes instead of one, and an element of perversity is added-whereas in the original play she is following a coffin with the corpse of her father-in-law, in this film the coffin contains the corpse of her husband. John Cottrell has been quoted as saying this makes "the young widow's seduction even more daring and revolting than it is in the original, and [gives] Anne's capitulation" in the second part after a passionate kiss "a new and neurotic twist".This is accomplished by cutting lines, changing lines, and changing the sequence of some lines.
The character of Queen Margaret is cut entirely, the role of the Duchess of York (Helen Haye) is significantly reduced, the role of Edward IV's wife Elizabeth is also reduced, and the execution of Clarence and other scenes are abridged.
This recording is for educational purposes only and is covered under Fair Use doctrine - Copyright - All rights reserved to their respective owners.
Read the unabridged plays online: shakespearenetwork.net/works/...
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Screen Adaptation - Co-Production : MISANTHROPOS - Official Website - www.misanthropos.net
Adapted by Maximianno Cobra, from Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens", the film exposes the timeless challenge of social hypocrisy, disillusion and annihilation against the poetics of friendship, love, and beauty.
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[@paulineandrews1301]

i first saw this when the school took us all to see the movie iam now eighty and still love to watch it

[@katyalacrua6793]

It's a great cast 👏👏👏😊

[@christanner3761]

I don't mind Olivier's editing of the original play, which unabridged is about 4 hours long. This version is what I grew up with. EPIC. Classic.

[@sivdar]

Thank you so much for putting this up for all of us to watch, learn and enjoy. Sir Olivier… at his best.

[@davidcrisell9679]

This performance is as immortal as the glorious memory of the blessed son of York himself...

[@ReggioReggio-rp9kz]

Lo ho visto per la prima volta appena uscito nelle sale italiane 1955/1956 non ricordo bene ..a quel tempo si diceva prima visione .... ,la sinistra figura di Riccardo terzo,personificazione del male , il genio italo/inglese di Shakespeare , la forza drammatica della pellicola e la magistrale interpretazione di sir Olivier .,le torri di londra..tutte cose che restarono impresse nella mia memoria di bambino di cinque/sei anni !

[@siralexandersequeira3rdcou12]

Olivier is the only one that uses colour as it was in the middle ages, vibrant colourful clothing, houses. Everything colorful!

[@natafreydorf6962]

Thank you very much! I have just watched it in Russian language und was serching in English! Lawrence Oliver is unsurpassed in this role. The whole Film is a masterpiece.

[@ShakespeareNetwork]

Our pleasure! Cheers!

[@carmencollor1224]

Excellent. I always thought that Olivier was born to play villains. His Richard III is so perfect. He makes it impossible to dislike him. Every intonation, every flicker of the eye, every complexity of the human soul. Gielguld, on the other hand, I never really warm up to. He seems the same, no matter what he is performing. Distant and too teatrical. Richard III was probably less of a villain and more what a patriot would be, I believe. But that is a discussion for scholars. Thanks for this gem.

[@jeremyweeks3324]

Sir Ralph stole the film for me! His Buckingham is perfect, especially when he is telling Richard about the quiet Citizens, speech and movement in perfect harmony!

[@taffbanjo]

Everybody who imitates Richard 3 uses Olivier's voice - how's that for immortality? Brilliant stuff!

[@Calucifer13]

I wonder how the real Richard would feel about this.

[@namishusband818]

@@Calucifer13Remembered for all of eternity as a villain, when reality was very different. I suppose he’d feel ambivalent. At least he got a proper burial as a king should from a few years ago.

[@katyalacrua6793]

Absolutely love his incredible voice!

[@davidhouston4810]

Of all the plays, my favourite.

[@use_1994]

📽️ What a great masterpiece,and sir Olivier nailed it, beautiful,no words,no more movies like this, with passion and soul ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@alonicamaeestioco9367]

English is not my first language so i have a hard time in listening and understanding this. I barely follow what the actors are saying but i still love this masterpiece.

[@tylertrotter7707]

English is my first language and I have a hard time lol

[@ellataylor6178]

Many thanks for this treat. I have wanted to see the whole production for ages. A nice act of altruism in a world sadly lacking.

[@waldonunez8311]

Notable actuación de estos gigantes del teatro inglés.... desde Sudamérica , gracias 🌈🌴🌄

[@asakama4]

This man is Richard the third rather than Laurence Olivier.

[@gayleyee5723]

Bravo Sir Laurence Olivier ! I think Lord Farquaar of Shrek 1 is based on this Richard III portraiture. I do miss the part of Queen Margaret from the play though. I just watched the Hollow Crown series, and read the 8 history plays and I liked the way Shakespeare had intended the plays to be acted.

[@KmT81]

Thanks for Uploading I seeked the Movie for a moment,I saw it years ago as I studied the play at University. Laurence Olivier,great Actor

[@rociomiranda5684]

I know there is Richard the literary character and Richard the real person. I love them both. But when I think Richard III I see Olivier's face in this movie. No other actor has managed the menace, the charm, the sex appeal, the deviousness, in quite the same way. As a woman, I completely understand why Anne falls for him against her best judgment. "Was ever woman in this humor won?"

[@bebaguette766]

Oh, can't wait to watch this! This channel has so much gold, will have to dedicate a chunk of my time to all of this. Thank you very much.

[@ShakespeareNetwork]

Dear Henry, Thank you for your kind message and interest. Best regards, Shakespeare Network - KZbin Team

[@mtelectrical8068]

My father as a teenager was in the same play with Laurence Olivier at the Stratford memorial theatre.

[@spareoom5023]

@@mtelectrical8068 wow, just wow

[@zofiachylaszek3921]

Amazing masterpiece 👍👍👍

[@crawfordtilling-ghast1129]

Methinks this be best drama and acted so superbly I am speechless and can say no more except thank you very much for posting it.

[@ShakespeareNetwork]

Our pleasure!

[@anthonymokelkie9360]

This is acting , superb acting. I enjoy this very much. thanks for the video

[@iaf4454]

Thanks for uploading!! What a masterpiece 💗💗💗

[@SeanJones-le1fk]

Excellent film

[@silvinaprioris5207]

❤❤❤❤OMG , AT LAST !!!

[@user-ji1nm6in2k]

c'est très curieux ,j'avais appris il y a longtemps le monologue de Richard Duke of Gloucester scene 1 acte 1 ,j'ai alors suivi avec interet ce monologue mais à ma grande surprise à partir de :That dogs bark at me as Ihalt by them ,il y a autre chose ,puis il reprend :Why, ,I,in this weak piping time of peace ..et ensuite cela change de nouveau ???Mon père etait un connaisseur ,et un amoureux de Shakespeare ,il était professeur de langue et de littérature anglaise à l'Ile Maurice ,certainement le meilleur et j'avais écouté la voix de Laurence Olivier enregistrée sur un disque vinyle et cela m'avait plu ...bon c'est ainsi

[@yoyaman9897]

Thank you for uploading. The performance is amazing.

[@williamrobinson7435]

A classic!

[@telemachus53]

The monologue:: "Now is the winter of our discontent..", wonderful as it is, has been spoofed so many times that this version of Richard III is a bit dated. Especially now that history has revealed a very different Richard than that which Shakespeare portrayed.

[@hoodplays9380]

In my class at school were watching this

[@kingamoeboid3887]

How was it?

[@hoodplays9380]

@@kingamoeboid3887 good just finished the last part today

[@aaron90omar]

1:54:43 My favorite line of the play "Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull. Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead, And I would have it suddenly performed."

[@katyalacrua6793]

From the first time I even didn't recognized Laurence, and then I did. Brilliant job, such a roles as this suited him the best way! 👏

[@avalonjustin]

Laurence Olivier portrayed a murderous conniving monster worthy of Shakespeare's work.

[@shiroamakusa8075]

"This is the summer of our sweet content made overcast autumn by those Tudor clouds..."

[@lengthmuldoon]

Fond memories of the school taking us to the flicks for this. Undoubtedly a great help in understanding the tale but feeling girls arses from other schools whilst brushing past us in the dim light was a tremendous bonus. Broughton Hall Catholic girls school Liverpool just loved it.

[@akanyijukagilbert8420]

Blessed be thy work

[@angelaa8118]

Grandioso filme! Gracias postar-lo

[@cambs0181]

Ah, GCSE English class all over again. When reading the book outloud makes no sense, so the teacher brings in the TV and video.

[@dizzydino1]

Me thinks me like the superbly played Serpent 😉💞

[@brianbarnard7004]

They don't ever make the medieval costumes like this any more. Even though we know this is how they were.

[@nicoleroth3127]

So true! The costumes are fantastic, and the film would be worth watching just for the costumes alone. It might not be 100% accurate, sure, but still so much closer to the actual aesthetics than how the middle ages are depicted nowadays.

[@mariaantoniadifelippo9369]

Maravilhosa peça.

[@matthew09ify]

Lawrence olivier as Henry V and Richard III brought elegance to the characters of both Kings

[@nanitani1501]

1997 un año que marcó mi vida junto con esta película.

[@LouisSmith1776]

Richard III was the first 4th wall breaker

[@anthonymokelkie9360]

Richard is pretty ruthless

[@dburgess287]

And that is why Richmond sausages are the nations favourite. All joking aside what a cast.

[@inesborstel5592]

❤

[@thomassloan9072]

Brilliant.

[@TheGreatWent1]

awesome movie

[@ShakespeareNetwork]

Please consider subscribing to our channel - kzbin.info New Film adaptation - MISANTHROPOS - www.misanthropos.net - Timon of Athens - Shakespeare on Film! Adapted by Maximianno Cobra, from Shakespeare's "Timon of Athens", the film exposes the timeless challenge of social hypocrisy, disillusion and annihilation against the poetics of friendship, love, and beauty. IMDb page: www.imdb.com/title/tt6946736/

[@richyrodriguezberezov2052]

When you have a certain level of maturity you can enjoy a good film where the Protagonist is also the Villain once you learn that nothing is good or bad you can start to see how complex human being can be

[@mrpool8565]

Question 🙋‍♂️ Is this Film was shoot in 1955?

[@ShakespeareNetwork]

Thank you for your message and interest. This film was released in 1955. We do not have the information regarding actual period related to its Principal Photography. Given all of the phases of production, an average “Major Film Studio” movie from beginning of development i.e. pre-production to the end of post-production typically takes around 4 to 5 years to produce. Best regards, SN - KZbin Team

[@countravid3768]

I wonder where George could have gotten the inspiration for Tyrion from. And to those who doubt me look no further than the Arya sample chapter for winds, where she stars in a play about tyrion, which begins with a monologue about how evil and misshapen tyrion is, and how he wants to kill his family.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Why not from real history rather than Shakespeare?

[@mariaconsuelodoglio7630]

Bellissimo Dall'Italia

[@fuferito]

01:17:08 The kid's definitely not acting there; that's a genuine attempt to manage actual fear, and failing.

[@kingamoeboid3887]

I actually had goosebumps when I rewatched this film at that exact moment.

[@hunting69doehle62]

Same here. It's great dramatic timing, just in the middle of a child's innocent fooling around you have Richard's look that cuts it short. And the boy who at one second is one heart and soul with his uncle he thinks he knows and loves, the next second feels like being stared in the eyes be death incarnate. You witness the scene and share the boy's absolute terror.

[@karlydoc]

"And consign his parts most private to a Rutland tree."

[@hoodplays9380]

Question 🙋‍♂️ is that how Richard the third Face would have looked back in 1500's

[@ShakespeareNetwork]

Thank you for your message and interest. Please refer to these articles for further information: University of Leicester - le.ac.uk/richard-iii/ BBC News - www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21328380 Best regards, Shakespeare Network - KZbin Team

[@cycleSCUBA]

Dear, dear Larry, Johnny, Larry gonny, Johnny, gonny!

[@johnminshell7595]

thanks for this Remarkable Perfomance England was and is the Greatest Country let's Preserve what we have because it is under attack .

[@BLTKellys]

You can’t stop the tide of change. What do you propose to do?

[@HeroHoundoom]

Under attack you say, from whom dare I ask?

[@Edward-jn5pl]

@@HeroHoundoom I'm with you. But as for me, I daren't.

[@tulthor2967]

@@HeroHoundoom multiculturalism!

[@sarax3967]

A horse a horse my kingdom for a horse...

[@tokhron9897]

What's the meaning of the servant dropping the stuff at 6:41? Is it just for comic relief?

[@emaarredondo-librarian]

Greetings. Definitely not for comic relief. As far as I remember, Olivier doesn't mention the why of this detail in his autobiography, but maybe it's a foreboding of sorts of what comes: Richard's struggle to grab the royal crown. He already had one as Duke of Gloucester, but didn't care for it. Even in his last moments, he still reached for the crown. That's how I see it. Maybe in contemporary interviews there was an explanation.

[@nedanahani792]

Hello there, according to wikipedia page on this movie, they were shooting this scene few times, and Olivier liked the one where he drops the stuff and kept it,

[@user-ji1nm6in2k]

ah oui je devais avoir 14 ou 15 ans ??

[@user-cs7po4ze1c]

Richard III Henry IV, Romeo and Juliet >>>>>>> All his plays

[@urass3737]

hose!!! horse....my kingdom...

[@robertlonghi7949]

Great film. Shakespeare’s propaganda play for the Tudors