Saturday, August 22, 2015

August 22 - Richard III (1955)

Today’s movie is drama with a scene that happens on August 22. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

RICHARD III               

Edward IV is King of England and his deformed younger brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester is jealous. Richard frames his older brother George, Duke of Clarence for conspiring to kill the King and Clarence is killed. Richard woos the Lady Ann, who though she hates Richard for killing her father and husband can’t resist him and eventually agrees to marry him. Richard works to fuel rivalries at the court and the exhausted King dies, after appointing Richard Lord protector of the new King Edward V. Richard has the new king declared illegitimate. The Duke of Buckingham is promised the title and income of Earl of Hereford and he helps Richard become popular and Richard is made King. But when Buckingham comes to claim his reward Richard refuses, causing Buckingham to fear for his life and joins the opposition to Richard.  His popularity dwindling Richard raises an army to combat the invasion by Henry, Duke of Richmond. Richard dreams of all those he had killed. The next day, August 22, 1485  at the Battle of Bosworth, Lord Stanly changes sides and defects to Henry. Richard loses his crown and his horse and utters his famous line, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!”. Richard is killed and Henry becomes king. [2:17:40 to 2:34:25]   

Olivier gives one of his best performances as the creepy and cynical Richard. He often seems to break the fourth wall by apparently addressing the audience. I was sorry to see that the Battle of Bosworth looked
like it was filmed in southern California and not England.

Blood and Roses by Helen Castor (HarperCollins, New York, 2006) p. 363

Producer -  Laurence Olivier

Director - Laurence Olivier

Screenplay - William Shakespere:

Awards – The movie was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar (Olivier) at the29th Academy Awards

Running Time – 2 hours 41 minutes

Released - April 16, 1955

Starring – Sir Cedric Hardwicke as King Edward IV of England, Sir John Gielgud as George, Duke of Clarence, Sir Laurence Olivier as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, Paul Huson as the Prince of Wales, Andy Shine as Richard of Shrewsbury, 1st Duke of York, Helen Haye as the Cecily Neville,Duchess of York, Pamela Brown  as Jane Shore, Sir Ralph Richardson as Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, Alec Clunes as William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, Laurence Naismith as Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby, Mary Kerridge as Elizabeth Woodville, Clive Morton as Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers, Claire Bloom as Anne Neville, Stanley Baker as Henry, Earl of Richmond,       

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015

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