The classic shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15thcentury king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s england as clouds of fascism gather. Finally, only one foe remains to challenge his grasping claim, valiant richmond. To me, this film is a terrific story with great actors, and it should just be an. Human beings, reflects sir ian mckellen in joe stephensons winsome new. As sneering, leering richard of gloucesters sir ian mckellens ruthless machinations bring him ever nearer the throne of england, royal blood is mercilessly spilt. Oliviers performance, viewed as the greatest of his career, charges richard with magnetic malevolence as he steals his brother edwards crown through a murderous set of machinations. Richard iii is a 1995 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play of the same name, directed by richard loncraine. It was based on an acclaimed royal national theatre stage production by richard eyre that also starred mckellen.
Richard iii will be simulcast to uk cinemas from bfi southbank on 28 april, alongside a live onstage discussion between ian mckellen and director richard loncraine. Closedcaptioned, color, full screen, letterboxed, ntsc. The 1995 film adaptation of richard iii, starring ian mckellen, annette bening, jim broadbent and robert downey jr. Ive spent most of my acting career in the theatre, mckellen notes. Richard loncraines exciting and lucid shakespearean adaptation from. This reimagining of shakespeares crookback king relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star turn for ian mckellen as the monstrous and magnetic king richard. Richard eyre, director of the royal national theatre of great britain rnt, spoke this as a warning but with a twinkle in his eye, knowing that i. The film makers know that with richard iii the bigger, the wilder, the crazier things get, the better, so long as the actors can match the movies scale yet play it straight. Scenes from king richard iii by william shakespeare.
This version of richard iii, directed by richard loncraine from a screenplay by loncraine and mckellen, sets the action between the two world wars. This movie adaptation of shakespeares famous play is set into a hypothetical 1930s europe. If youre looking for a compelling portrait of british royalty, try ian mckellen and richard loncraines gutsy, 30sset adaptation. Richard, in summer linen and a panama, ignores her. Ian mckellen first became intrigued with the idea of bringing a new interpretation of richard iii to the screen while still thrilling theatre audiences with his performance in the royal national theatres world tour of the play. Sir ian mckellen, long recognized as great britains foremost shakespearean actor, triumphs in one of the theatres richest and most challenging roles in this unique screen version of richard iii. She swallows a couple of tranquillizers with iced water in a crystal tumbler. Bloom thought sir ian mckellen was the greatest richard iii he had ever seen, and richard loncraines 1995 film is based on mckellens famous 1990 national theater performance.
I am very happy, and would definitely do business with this seller. Ian mckellan is mesmerizing as the ruthlessly ambitious richard, who rises. A s a special event to mark the 400th anniversary of shakespeares death, here for one night only 28 april is richard loncraines terrifically exciting and lucid movie version of richard iii. Ian mckellens 10 best movies third a tv production from the bbc. Long before he was gandalf or magneto, ian mckellen was a shakespearean actor, frequently performing with the u. Directed by richard loncraine university at albany, suny.
Joe simon, ian mckellen, richard loncraine, william shakespeare. Ian murray mckellen may 25, 1939 burnley, lancashire, england, uk. So it shouldnt be a huge surprise that he coproduced and cowrote a film version of richard iii. Mckellens work spans genres ranging from shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction. With richard iii, laurence olivieras director, producer, and startransfigures shakespeares great historical drama into a mesmerizing vision of machiavellian villainy. A synopsis of the film adaptation of shakespeares richard iii by ian mckellen and richard loncraine.
Awardwinning film adapation brings shakespeares richard iii into a twentieth century setting. It is true that shakespeare is the author of richard iii of course, much of shakespeares authoring involved heavy borrowing, redaction and crafting. Ian mckellen portrays the titular richard, as well as cowriting the screenplay with loncraine. His close aides and confidants know full well the enormity of his.
Adapted by ian mckellen and richard loncraine, from the national theatres acclaimed stage production by richard eyre, richard iii features an allstar cast, including. The dvd itself, was brand new in the box, and a very clean copy. Sir ian mckellen looks back on a rich career and his years of gay activism in joe stephensons firstperson documentary. Annette bening and ian mckellen in richard iii 1995 ian mckellen in. How king richard iii remains were discovered and confirmed duration. The film like the stage production before it updates the setting to 1930sera england, creating an alternate history where richard gloucester ian. Richard iii is a 1995 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play of the same name. Ian mckellens favourite shakespeare roles on film film.
Sir patrick stewart and sir ian mckellen play the newlywed game duration. Ian mckellen won the bafta for his role as king richard. How shakespeares richard iii was brought to the silver screen in a modern dress. In this compelling story of power and political intrigue, richard is a charismatic malcontent who fights for the throne with a delicious mix of. Richard iii starring sir ian mckellen, set in england during a fictionalized fascist version of the 1930s.
His notable film roles include gandalf in the lord of. Although he played maggie smiths son in richard iii 1995, he is less than five years her junior in real life. The film adapts the plays story and characters to a setting based on 1930s britain, with richard depicted as a fascist plotting to usurp the throne ian mckellen portrays the titular richard, as well as cowriting the screenplay with loncraine. William shakespeare 15641616, english poet and playwright, composed richard iii before he joined lord chamberlains company in 1594. Ian mckellen as richard iii in richard iii 1990 nt production hd. Behind are richard and lady anne, she, got up for a royal garden party and looking perfectly composed, yet perfectly unhappy, in her wide brimmed hat. The british monarchy has its darker sides in history.
Steeped in fascist iconography, the film openly draws from the aesthetic of the third reich, a stylistic choice that emphasizes the pure evil at the heart of richards agenda. He is the recipient of six laurence olivier awards, a tony award, a golden globe award, two academy award nominations, four bafta nominations and five emmy award nominations. This movie lost its two oscar nominations best art direction and best. Worth comparison against oliviers version but on the whole olivier comes off best. Richard iii 1995 stream and watch online moviefone. Anne neville wife of king richard iii 14561485 duration. A murderous lust for the british throne sees richard iii ian mckellen descend into madness. Then populating it with stars of the calibre of sir ian mckellen. Directed by sharon huff robinson, a newcomer to actors ensemble, but a veteran of marin shakespeare festival, s. Engl 276 richard the third trailer by thebeiminator. Directed by richard loncraine, with ian mckellen, annette bening, jim broadbent, robert downey jr. Imagine taking william shakespeares richard the third, and setting it in modern times, circa 1930. This oscar nominated adaptation stars ian mckellen as the despotic richard, duke. With laurence olivier, cedric hardwicke, nicholas hannen, ralph richardson.
With ian mckellen, annette bening, christopher bowen, edward jewesbury. Richard iii is a 1995 film adaptation of the play by william shakespeare, directed by richard loncraine and starring ian mckellen. Loncraine then produced the film, again starring ian mckellan as richard iii, updated into a nationalsocialist timeframe. Over the course of the play, richard and his minions dress increasingly in black with uniforms like those of hitlers ss, and the monumental art direction is right out of leni riefenstahls nazi. Directed by richard loncraine, with ian mckellen, annette bening, j. The most brilliant aspect of this film is that sir ian mckellen and richard loncraine transported the story of the 1480s to a fiction 1930s, with richard iii as a fascist dictator in the style of mussolini. Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, england is torn by civil war, split between the.
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