Richard II

Synopsis
First full-length television adaptation of the play broadcast by the BBC in a version produced by Royston Morley. With Alan Wheatley as Richard and Clement McCallin as Bolingbroke.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Transmission details
29 Oct 1950 at 20:00 (Channel: BBC)
Duration
145 mins
Availability
Unavailable

Credits

Producer
Royston Morley
Writer
William Shakespeare
Art Direction
Barry Learoyd
Cast
Alan WheatleyKing Richard II
Joy SheltonQueen Isabel
Henry OscarJohn of Gaunt
Clement McCallinBolingbroke
Eileen ThorndikeDuchess of Gloucester
Arthur WontnerEdmund of Langley, Duke of York
Brian NissenDuke of Aumerle
Cecil BrockLord Berkeley
Cecil BrockLord Fitzwalter
Denis HolmesLord
Denis HolmesGreen
Frederick RossGaoler (Keeper of the prison at Pomfret)
Geoffrey WearingHerald
Geoffrey WearingLord Willoughby
George SkillanBishop of Carlisle
George WoodbridgeGardener
Horace SequeiraEarl of Salisbury
Hugh MunroGroom of King Richard’s stable
Hugh MunroServant
James WellmanServant
James WellmanCaptain of the Welsh army
John WittyLord Ross
John WittyHerald
Leonard SachsThomas Mowbray
Leonard SachsDuke of Surrey
Mary HintonDuchess of York
Oliver BurtLord Marshal
Oliver BurtSir Stephen Scroope
Patricia GilderLady
Patrick Barr (2)Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland
Philip DaleSir Piers Exton
Philip DaleBagot
Richard BebbHenry Percy (Harry Percy)
Richard GilbertBushy
Viola JohnstoneLady

Additional Details

Production type
Television and Radio Drama
Plays
Richard II
Subjects
Drama
Keywords
Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes
Production cost: £ 2.000 (BBC Play Library)
History
Like all other Shakespeare television adaptations of the time, this production was broadcast live and no copy was recorded. It was ‘repeated’ live for three broadcasts.
Reviews
Lionel Hale, reviewer for Radio Times: "Mr. Wheatley, is not, I think, the ideal Richard. The part, especially in front of the revealing camera, needs a personal youthful beauty. But he was sensitive and sincere, and rose as the poetry rose. Not all the cast spoke the Shakespeare as it demands: Bolinbroke fairly hammered out the stresses of the verse. But it was a fine production." (17 November 1950, p. 46).

Online Availability

Online URL
http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/1027840/index.html

Production Company

Name

BBC

Notes
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Richard II". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av37024 (Accessed 26 Nov 2024)