Film Review
Of the three Shakespearean films that Laurence Olivier directed,
Richard III is now considered to be
the finest, although it was the least successful when it was first
released. Lacking the grand cinematic bravado of
Henry V (1944) and the brooding
stylisation of
Hamlet (1948), Olivier's
Richard III is much closer to a
traditional stage production of the play, although the camera is used
very effectively to bring the audience over to the side of the evil
protagonist. What makes it the best of the three films are the
exceptional performances from a legendary cast comprising some of
England's greatest actors.
At the height of his powers, Olivier gives what is regarded the
definitive portrayal of Richard III, convincingly portraying a man who
has become consumed by political ambition and lacks any vestige of
humanity. It is a towering performance that has daunted every
actor who has played the part since. The famous limp that Olivier
adopts for the film was the result of an injury he sustained in Spain
during the location shoot of the final battle scenes: the actor was
accidentally struck by an arrow intended for a horse. Olivier's
co-stars, Ralph Richardson, Cedric Hardwicke and John Gielgud, are
almost as impressive, and so well-constructed is the film that you
hardly notice that a third of the play has been excised.
When the film failed to make a profit in the UK in 1955, producer
Alexander Korda entered into an agreement with NBC to broadcast the film on
US television in 1956, coinciding
with the film's American release. Although the film attracted a huge TV
audience (estimated to be in the region of 30 million), it again failed
at the box office. This dismal outcome, together with Korda's
death in 1956, scuppered Olivier's plans to make a film adaptation of
Macbeth, in which Vivien Leigh was
to have played Lady Macbeth.
© James Travers 2009
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Laurence Olivier film:
The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
Film Synopsis
England, 1461. The rivalry between the royal houses of York and
Lancaster that has resulted in bloody civil wars appears to be at an
end when Edward IV is crowned king of England. But Edward's
brother, Richard Duke of Gloucester scorns this new-found peace and
secretly covets the crown. Resolving to succeed Edward, Richard
sets his mind to removing the obstacles that stand between him and the
throne. The first to die is his brother, the Duke of
Clarence. How easy it is to convince the king that Clarence is a
traitor, to have him arrested and killed, drowned in a butt of
Malmsey. When Edward himself dies from exhaustion, Richard wastes
no time in spreading rumours that his heir, the child Prince Edward, is
illegitimate. Thanks to some good P.R. and help from his image
consultants, the Duke of Gloucester becomes the people's favourite and
he is crowned Richard III. Realising that the deposed
Edward is still a threat, Richard has him and his younger brother
murdered. Alas, Richard's popularity soon begins to wane and his
once-loyal supporters desert him in droves, lending their
support to his enemies. When Henry of Richmond arrives in England
with an army, Richard knows that his number is up. But he isn't
about to go without a fight...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.