Richard III [Blu-ray]

Director: Richard Loncraine Richard Loncraine

Overview

Richard Loncraine takes Shakespeare's classic tale of treachery, Richard III, and transplants it to the 1930s. Ian McKellen is Richard who, as the film opens, begins plotting against his brother Edward, who has just ascended to the throne after a bloody civil war. Richard begins by seducing and wedding Lady Anne (Kristin Scott Thomas), whom he made a widow during the war. With the help of some loyal henchmen, Richard succeeds in murdering his older brother Clarence (Nigel Hawthorne), which so upsets Edward that he dies. Eventually, the crown falls to the young Prince of Wales (Marc Williamson). Richard is assigned to be the young king's protector, but instead, he has the boy and his brother jailed in the Tower of London. Richard seizes control over the country, but his ruthless quest for power eventually makes him powerful enemies, led by Henry Richman (Dominic West), who attempt to stop him.

Product Details

Release Date:	06/21/2022
UPC:	0850035985748
Original Release:	1995
Rating:	R
Source:	Sandpiper Pictures
Language:	English
Time:	1:44:00
Sales rank:	1,684

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Ian McKellen	Richard III
Annette Bening	Reina Elizabeth
Jim Broadbent	Buckingham
Robert Downey Jr.	Earl Rivers
Nigel Hawthorne	Clarence
Kristin Scott Thomas	Doña Anne
Maggie Smith	Condesa de York
Jim Carter	Lord Hastings
Bill Paterson	Richard Ratcliffe
Adrian Dunbar	Corporal James Tyrell
Edward Jewesbury	King Henry
Christopher Bowen	Prince Edward
Marco Williamson	Prince of Wales
Kate Steavenson-Payne	Princess Elizabeth
Dominic West	Richmond
Tim McInnerny	Catesby
Dennis Lill	Lord Mayor
Edward Hardwicke	Stanley
Ryan Gilmore	George Stanley
Donald Sumpter	Brackenbury
Roger Hammond	Archbishop
Tres Hanley	Air Hostess
Stacey Kent	Ballroom Singer
Andy Rashleigh	Jailer
Bruce Purchase	City Gentleman
James Dreyfus	1st Subaltern
David Antrobus	2nd Subaltern
John Wood	Edward IV
Dennis Lili	Lord Mayor
Michael Elphick	NCO
Matthew Groom	Prince James
Trevor Jones	Composer

Technical Credits

Richard Loncraine

Ian McKellen

Richard Loncraine	Director,Screenwriter
Ian McKellen	Screenwriter,Executive Producer
William Shakespeare	Playwright
Maria Apodiacos	Executive Producer
Stephen Bayly	Producer
Jim Dowdall	Stunts
John Evans	Special Effects
Irene Lamb	Casting
Ellen Dinerman Little	Executive Producer
Lisa Katselas Pare	Producer
Joe Simon	Executive Producer
Lisa Katselas	Producer
David Lascelles	Producer
Nick Hobbs	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

Visually striking and highly imaginative, Richard Loncraine's screen adaptation of William Shakespeare's Richard III ranks as one of the best -- or at least the most cinematic -- versions of the bard's work to ever appear on screen. Here, the story is moved into the 1930's as a neo-fascist government has taken power in England, and Richard (Ian McKellen) ruthlessly climbs through its ranks, using murder, marriage, seduction, and deception to get to the top. While the staging takes certain minor liberties with the story, and at 105 minutes the text has been condensed a bit, Loncraine's direction gives this production a dynamic visual strength that matches the power of its story, and McKellen's performance as Richard is nothing short of superb, with Jim Broadbent, Nigel Hawthorne, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, and (most surprisingly) Robert Downey, Jr. all delivering fine support.

All Movie Guide - Mark Deming