#213: OLIVIER, Laurence: Richard III (1955)

OLIVIER'S SHAKESPEARE BOX SET {Henry V -- #41 / Hamlet -- #82 / Richard III -- #213} OOP

OLIVIER, Laurence (United Kingdom)

Richard III [1955]

Spine #213
DVD

With Richard III, Laurence Olivier — as director, producer, and star — transfigures Shakespeare's historical drama into a mesmerizing vision of Machiavellian villainy. Olivier's performance, one of the most impressive of his career, charges Richard with magnetic malevolence as he steals his brother Edward's crown through a set of murderous machinations. His inspired direction brings to the screen superlative performances by veteran theater actors Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud and the young Claire Bloom. The Criterion Collection is proud to present Olivier's Technicolor tour de force, for which he received the 1956 British Academy Film Awards for Best British Actor and Best Film.

158 minutes
Color

Monaural

1:66:1 aspect ratio

Criterion Release 2006

Director/Writers

William Shakespeare was about 30 when he wrote Richard III.

Screenplay adapted by Laurence Olivier and Alan Dent.

Olivier was 48 when he directed Richard III.

Other Olivier films in the Collection:

#41: Henry V (1944)
#82: Hamlet (1948)

The Film

Film Rating (0-60):

60

The Extras

The Booklet

Twelve-page wraparound featuring an essay by Bruce Eder.

Commentary

By playwright and stage director Russell Lees, joined by John Wilders, former governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Great Acting: Laurence Olivier

A 1966 BBC interview with Olivier hosted by renowned theater critic Kenneth Tynan.

Gallery

Of on-set and production stills and posters, featuring excerpts from Olivier’s autobiography, On Acting.

Television trailer

Twelve minutes, including footage of Olivier, producer Alexander Korda, production designer Roger Furse, and other crew members at work at Shepperton Studios.

Original theatrical trailer

Extras Rating (0-40):

39

60 + 39 =

99

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