Richard III

Synopsis
Film version of Shakespeare’s play derived from Richard Eyre’s National Theatre production. Set in a context of 1930s’ fascism, where Mosley’s troops have taken power.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Film; Video
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Year of release
1995
Duration
104 mins; 9,359 feet

Credits

Director
Richard Loncraine
Producer
Lisa Katselas Pare; Stephen Bayly
Cinematographer
Peter Biziou
Writer
William Shakespeare
Screenplay
Ian McKellen; Richard Loncraine
Music
Trevor Jones
Costume
Shuna Harwood
Art Direction
Tony Burrough
Cast
John WoodKing Edward IV
Maggie SmithDuchess of York
Nigel HawthorneGeorge, Duke of Clarence
Adrian DunbarSir James Tyrrel
Annette BeningQueen Elizabeth
Bill PatersonSir Richard Ratcliffe
Dominic WestEarl of Richmond
Donald SumpterSir Robert Brackenbury
Edward HardwickeStanley, Earl of Derby
Ian McKellenRichard, Duke of Gloucester, later King Richard
Jim BroadbentDuke of Buckingham
Jim CarterHastings
Kate Steavenson-PayneClarence’s daughter
Kristin Scott-ThomasLady Anne
Mathew GroomClarence’s son
Michael ElphickNCO
Robert Downey JrLord Rivers
Roger HammondCardinal
Tim McInnernySir William Catesby

Additional Details

Theatre
National Theatre, London
Production type
Fiction Films
Historical period
1930s
Plays
Richard III
Subjects
Drama; Shakespeare
Keywords
drama in English; performances; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Related items
Maya Angelou: Ian McKellen
Richard III

Notes

Notes
Budget estimated £6,000,000.

New commentary by Ian McKellen and Richard Loncraine
New trailer (2016)
'Play the Devil - Making Richard II’I (2016, 6 mins)
'Shakespeare on Stage, Screen and Elsewhere’ with Ian McKellen (2016, 79 mins)
Ian McKellen and Richard Loncraine in Conversation (2016, 21 mins)
Complete annotated screenplay with full credits (Downloadable PDF - DVD only)
Illustrated booklet with an extensive essay by Ian McKellen
Figures
$2,684,904 (US domestic gross) Box Office Mojo 2005
Awards
BAFTA Film Award 1996 - Best Costume Design, Best Production Design
Berlin Silver Bear 1996 - Best Director
Documentation
The annotated screenplay by Ian McKellen published separately (Doubleday, £8.99)
Reviews
Loehlin, James N. `"Top of the World, Ma": Richard III and Cinematic Convention’ in Burt, Richard and Boose, Lynda E. Shakespeare the Movie, II: Popularizing the Plays on Film, TV, Video and DVD (New York & London: Routledge, 2003), pp. 173-85.

McKellen, Ian and Richard Loncraine
William Shakespeare’s Richard III: a Screenplay. (London: Doubleday, 1996). [Ian McKellen’s introduction gives a detailed account of how and why he edited Shakespeare’s text and the difficulties of selling the screenplay to the production company].

`Cinema and the Kingdom of Death: Loncraine’s "Richard III’. Peter S. Donaldson. Shakespeare Quarterly, Vol. 53, No. 2, Screen Shakespeare (Summer, 2002), pp. 241-259.

Production Company

Name

Mayfair Entertainment

Distributor

Name

BFI Video

Email
video.films@bfi.org.uk
Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7957 8957
Fax
020 7957 8968
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Distributor (Hire)

Name

BFI Film Bookings Unit

Email
bookings.films@bfi.org.uk
Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/about-bfi/help-faq/film-bookings External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7957 8938 / 8935
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

Guild Pathe Cinema Ltd

Phone
020 7323 5151
Fax
020 7631 3568
Address
4th Floor
Kent House
14-17 Market Place
Great Tichfield Street
W1N 8AR

Distributor (Sale)

Name

Retail outlets

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Richard III". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/18331 (Accessed 27 Dec 2024)