Richard III

Name: Richard III
Genre: Drama, History
Released: 1955-12-13
Duration: 2 h 35 min
Rating: 7.3
Cast: Laurence Olivier, Cedric Hardwicke, Nicholas Hannen, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud

Conscience is a word that cowards use.

Richard III (1955)

Timing: 2:35 (155 min)

7.3/10
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7.2/10
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7.3/10
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Everything about the movie

Video 2

Photo 27

Actors and characters

Video for the film Richard III — Richard III - Restoration Demonstration

8:15

Photo 27

Release date

1955-12-13

Country

United Kingdom

Production

London Films Productions, L.O.P.

Genre

Drama, History

Budget

Box office

Website

Director

Laurence Olivier

Actors

Laurence Olivier, Cedric Hardwicke, Nicholas Hannen, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Mary Kerridge, Pamela Brown, Paul Huson, Claire Bloom, Wallace Bosco
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Colley Cibber, David Garrick

Producer

Laurence Olivier, Alexander Korda

Camera operator

Otto Heller

Composer

William Walton

Artist

Roger K. Furse

Audition

Editing

Helga Cranston, John W. Gossage
Whole Team (28)

Short description

Having helped his brother King Edward IV take the throne of England, the jealous hunchback Richard, Duke of Gloucester, plots to seize power for himself. Masterfully deceiving and plotting against nearly everyone in the royal court, including his eventual wife, Lady Anne, and his brother George, Duke of Clarence, Richard orchestrates a bloody rise to power before finding all his gains jeopardized by those he betrayed.

What's left behind the scenes

Before the start of each filming day, applying makeup to Laurence Olivier (including the hump and the shriveled hand) took three hours.
After filming this movie, several large-scale adaptations of Shakespeare's works were planned, starting with 'Macbeth,' in which Vivien Leigh was to play the leading female role. However, the death of the project's principal financier and producer, Alexander Korda, shattered these plans.
In the role of Richard III (1452-1485), Laurence Olivier incorporated many traits of the theatrical producer and director Jed Harris (1900-1979), who was not popular among his colleagues. A few years later, he learned that animators at Walt Disney Studios had used Harris's persona as inspiration for the Big Bad Wolf in the story of the Three Little Pigs.
Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) used long takes in the film to give the actors and actresses the opportunity to perform in a more theatrical manner. His opening dialogue was filmed in a single long take lasting 9 minutes.
In portraying Richard III (1452-1485), Laurence Olivier reflected many of the traits of theatrical producer and director Jed Harris (1900-1979), who was not popular with his colleagues. Several years later, he learned that Disney animators had parodied Harris's image when creating the Wolf character from the Three Little Pigs.
After the filming of this movie, several other large-scale adaptations of Shakespeare's works were planned, starting with Macbeth, in which Vivien Leigh was to play the lead female role. However, the death of the project's chief financier and producer, Alexander Korda, ruined these plans.
Applying makeup to Laurence Olivier (including the hump and withered arm) took three hours before the start of each shooting day.
Laurence Olivier (1907-1989) used long takes in the film to allow the actors and actresses to perform in a more theatrical style. His opening dialogue was shot in a single long take lasting 9 minutes.
The most dangerous were the battle scenes, and they were generally fraught with various mishaps. During the filming of one scene, Olivier himself was injured when an arrow was shot directly into his leg. Fortunately, it was his left leg, and Richard III limped on his left leg.
The Battle of Bosworth (which took place on August 22, 1485) could not be filmed in Leicestershire, where it actually occurred, due to the area's modern development. Instead, assistant director Anthony Bushell (1904-1997) found a bull farm near Madrid where the vegetation was green enough to pass for English countryside, and secured the support of the national army. This was a decade before Spain gained popularity among film directors as a filming location.
The Battle of Bosworth (which took place on August 22, 1485) could not be filmed in Leicestershire, where it actually occurred, due to modern development in the area. Instead, assistant director Anthony Bushnell (1904-1997) found a bull farm near Madrid, where the vegetation was green enough to pass for English, and secured the support of the national army. This happened a decade before Spain became a popular filming location for directors.