Richard III (1955)
Composite Score: 81.8
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Cedric Hardwicke, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Mary Kerridge, Pamela Brown, Paul Huson, Claire Bloom, and Stanley Baker
Director: Laurence Olivier
Writers: William Shakespeare, David Garrick, and Colley Cibber
Genres: Biography, Drama, History, War
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Box Office: $2.6 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Laurence Olivier’s adaptation of Richard III combines Shakespeare’s play with parts of its predecessor, Henry VI Part II. It brings the works to life on the screen with beautiful set pieces, well-crafted costuming, and a slew of Shakespearian actors delivering high-quality performances as the historical figures of England. The story is one of historical legend, tracing the rise and fall of the mad King Richard III as he schemes and murders his way to the throne only to be overthrown and killed by yet another aspirant as the last English king to be killed in battle. It is a film full of Shakespeare’s iconic lines that has inspired other works and adaptations. Olivier’s performance as Richard carries the film throughout and has been the subject of many parodies and copycats over the years due to its over-the-top nature and Olivier’s commitment to the madness and depravity of his anti-hero.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Richard III is Shakespeare on a screen pure and simple. There are no major changes to the source material – no alternate settings, no modernized dialogue, no newly gendered characters or anything to really jazz it up. As such, the film feels very much like the modern PBS Masterpiece Classics adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays. It is undoubtedly well-acted and a solid performance of Shakespeare, but it brings nothing new to its subject. This is undoubtedly Olivier’s desire in making the film, and it works for him and seemingly worked in the 1950s, but with so many modern adaptations and twists on classic Shakespeare, it feels basic to an extent.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Richard III is a visually impressive film. The sets and costumes built and designed by the filmmakers to adapt Shakespeare’s play to the screen are a marvel. Everything is big and bright and almost otherworldly in the way that it creates this medieval English world. The set helps tell the tale of the tragic end to the War of the Roses in English history. By having the action take place in such grand settings, the film draws the audience in and holds their attention as it essentially gives a dramatized history lesson, a commendable feat for the design departments.
Olivier’s and the rest of the cast’s performances also help make Richard III one of the greats. Olivier delivers another of his classic Shakespearian performances as Richard alongside several others who are well-versed in the style and deliver the difficult dialogue with the fluidity and emotionality of native speakers. In particular, Cedric Hardwicke’s King Edward IV, Ralph Richardson’s Duke of Buckingham, Claire Bloom’s Lady Anne, and John Gielgud’s Duke of Clarence each bring a believability to the characters that fits well within the medieval/Renaissance setting against Shakespeare’s complex dialogue. By delivering such well-acted performances, the cast elevates the film above later television adaptations and keeps this as the quintessential Shakespearian performance of the play Richard III.
High-class Shakespearian actors and breathtakingly beautiful sets and costumes make Laurence Olivier’s Richard III one of the Greatest Films of All Time in spite of its limited deviation from the original text and lack of originality. The film was and remains a visual achievement and one of the most well-acted Shakespeare adaptations that I have ever seen. A quality film adaptation that is worth catching at some point while it streams on HBO Max right now.
