Richard III (1995 film)
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| Richard III | |
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| Directed by | Richard Loncraine |
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| Produced by | Stephen Bayly Lisa Katselas Paré |
| Written by | William Shakespeare (play) Ian McKellen Richard Loncraine |
| Starring | Sir Ian McKellen Annette Bening Jim Broadbent Robert Downey Jr. |
| Music by | Trevor Jones |
| Cinematography | Peter Biziou |
| Editing by | Paul Green |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | 29 December 1995 |
| Running time | 104 min |
| Country | UK/USA |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £6,000,000 |
Richard III is a 1995 film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play of the same name, starring Ian McKellen, Annette Bening, Jim Broadbent, Robert Downey Jr., Nigel Hawthorne, Kristin Scott Thomas, Dame Maggie Smith, John Wood and Dominic West.
The film relocates the play's events to a fictional version of England in what appears to be a fascist-inspired 1930s. Albeit including many historical anachronisms, the film's timing is easily recognizable to viewers.
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[edit] Concept
The film's concept was based on a stage production directed by Richard Eyre for the Royal National Theatre, which also starred McKellen. The production was adapted for the screen by McKellen and directed by Richard Loncraine.
The film is notable for its unconventional use of famous English landmarks, often using special effects to move them to new locations. The transformed landmarks used include the following:
- St Pancras railway station is relocated to Westminster and becomes King Edward's seat of government.
- Battersea Power Station is relocated to the coast of Kent and becomes a bombed-out military base.
- Bankside Power Station becomes the Tower of London where Clarence is imprisoned.
- Brighton Pavilion is relocated to a coastal clifftop and becomes King Edward's country retreat.
- Senate House of the University of London is Richard's seat of government and is used for interior and exterior scenes.[1] The famous art deco facade and clock of Shell Mex House is also featured in exterior shots.
Perhaps the play's most famous line—"A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!"—was recontextualised by the new setting; during the climactic battle, Richard's scout car becomes stuck, and his lament is cast as a plea for a mode of transport with legs rather than wheels.
In a surprising ending, where Richard refuses to be captured and leaps down to his death with the "wrong" closing line "Let us to't pell-mell; if not to heaven, then hand-in-hand to hell", his falling into the inferno is followed by the eerily upbeat tune I'm Sitting On The Top Of The World (Ray Henderson, Joe Young and Sam Lewis) in the classic version sung by Al Jolson.
The film enlarges the role of the Duchess of York considerably by combining her character with that of Queen Margaret.The roles of Rivers, Grey and Vaughan are combined into Rivers. The death scenes are shown rather than implied as in the play, and changed to suit the time (Hastings is hanged rather than beheaded) or historical accuracy (Clarence is drowned in a bath instead of a wine barrel). Each character's pre-death monologues is also removed, except that of Clarence.
[edit] Awards
- Academy Awards
- Art Direction
- Costume Design
- BAFTA
- Best British Film
- Best Actor - Ian McKellen
- Adapted Screenplay
- Best Costumes - WON
- Best Production Design - WON
[edit] Cast
- Ian McKellen as King Richard III
- Annette Bening as Queen Elizabeth
- Jim Broadbent as The Duke of Buckingham
- Robert Downey, Jr. as Earl Rivers
- Nigel Hawthorne as The Duke of Clarence
- Kristin Scott Thomas as Lady Anne
- John Wood as King Edward IV
- Maggie Smith as The Duchess of York
- Jim Carter as Baron Hastings
- Edward Hardwicke as Lord Stanley
- Adrian Dunbar as James Tyrrell
- Tres Hanley as Rivers' Mistress
- Dominic West as The Earl of Richmond
- Roger Hammond as The Archbishop
- Tim McInnerny as William Catesby
- Stacey Kent as Ballroom Singer
[edit] See also
- Richard III for a list of other film adaptations of the play
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- McKellen's website about the film including an annotated copy of the screenplay.
- Richard III at the Internet Movie Database
- Richard III at Allmovie
- Interactive video interview with McKellen on Shakespeare, Richard III and Richard's opening speech. Includes McKellen introducing a clip from his film.
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