SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Documentary film on the punk band, The Sex Pistols, narrated primarily in voiceover from band members. They discuss how and why it all happened and how far their manager, Malcolm McLaren, (not interviewed) is responsible for their triumphs and disasters. Within the film are extracts from Olivier’s HAMLET (1948) and RICHARD III (1955). The RICHARD III extract acknowledges the influence that Olivier’s portrayal had on Rotten.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain; United States

Medium

Film

Technical information

Colour / Sound

Year of release

1999

Duration

107 mins; 9,660 feet

Credits

Director

Julien Temple

Producer

Amanda Temple; Anita Camarata

Contributor

Glen Matlock; Paul Cook; Sid Vicious; Steve Jones (2)

Additional Details

Production type

Documentary/Educational/News

Plays

Richard III

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Olivier, Laurence (1907-1989); Sex Pistols, The

Notes

General

Some reviewers have observed that Richard III (as portrayed by Olivier) is a punk icon, a deformed malcontent; others interpret the interpolation as Temple’s wit, contrasting the Elizabethan world order with the screaming, spitting world of 70s punk. In John Lydon’s (Johnny Rotten) autobiography, Rotten: No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs: he writes "best of all I loved the way Laurence Olivier played Richard II. He portrayed the character as so utterly vile, it was great...Johnny Rotten definitely has tinges of Richard III in him. I saw it long before conceiving Rotten. No redeeming qualities. Hunchback, nasty, evil, conniving, selfish. The worst of everything to excess. Having seen it aeons ago, I took influences from Olivier’s performance’.

Production Company

Name

Jersey Shore Production

Name

Nitrate Film Production