Richard III (1955)
| Release Date | 13 December 1955 |
| Genre | Drama, War, History |
| Country | UK |
| Filming Locations | La Mancha, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain |
| Language | English, Latin |
| Sound Mix | Mono |
| Color | Color |
| Film Type | Feature |
| Film Class | Tragedy, Historical Epic |
| Niche Genre | Historical Film |
| Themes | Rise and Fall Stories, Crowned Heads, Rise To Power, Great Battles |
| Tones | Literate, Sweeping, Talky |
| Tags | Aristocrat, Battle [war], Betrayal, Britain, Kill, King, Maniac, Mental Illness, Overthrow, Scheme, Succession, Throne |
Richard III is a 1955 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's historical play of the same name, also incorporating elements from his Henry VI, Part 3. It was directed and produced by Sir Laurence Olivier, who also played the lead role. The cast includes many noted Shakespearean actors, including a quartet of acting knights. The film depicts Richard plotting and conspiring to grasp the throne from his brother King Edward IV, played by Sir Cedric Hardwicke. In the process, many are killed and betrayed, with Richard's evil leading to his own downfall. The prologue of the film states that history without its legends would be "a dry matter indeed", implicitly admitting to the artistic licence that Shakespeare applied to the events of the time.
Cast and Crew
Cast
Mary Kerridge
Queen Elizabeth
Paul Huson
Edward, Prince of Wales
Stewart Allen
Page to Richard
Russell Thorndike
First Priest
Wallace Bosco
Monk
Norman Fisher
Monk
Andrew Cruickshank
Brackenbury
Terence Greenidge
Scrivener
Norman Wooland
Catesby
Alec Clunes
The Lord Hastings
Dan Cunningham
The Lord Grey
Douglas Wilmer
The Lord Dorset
Michael Ripper
Forrest, 2nd murderer
Helen Haye
Duchess of York
Andy Shine
Young Duke of York
Roy Russell
Abbot
George Woodbridge
Lord Mayor of London
John Laurie
Lovel
Peter Williams
Messenger to Hastings
Willoughby Gray
2nd Priest
Ann Wilton
Scrub woman
Bill Shine
Beadle
Derek Prentice
Clergyman
Deering Wells
Clergyman
Richard Bennett
George Stanley
Brian Nissen
Messenger to Richard
Alexander Davion
Messenger to Richard
Lane Meddick
Messenger to Richard
Robert Bishop
Messenger to Richard
John Phillips
Norfolk
Howard Knight
Boy
Gareth Tandy
Boy
Director
Writer
Colley Cibber
textual alterations
David Garrick
textual alterations for his production of the play
Producer
Original Music
William Walton
Cinematographer
Otto Heller
-
Editor
Helga Cranston
-
Production Designer
Roger K. Furse
Art Director
Carmen Dillon
-
Makeup Department
Gladys Atkinson
hair stylist
Tony Sforzini
makeup artist
Gordon Bond
hair stylist
Trevor Crole-Rees
makeup artist
George Partleton
makeup artist
Production Manager
John W. Gossage
production supervisor
Jack Martin
production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerry O'Hara
assistant director
René Dupont
second assistant director
Jack N. Green
third assistant director
Bert Pearl
second assistant director
Art Department
Roger Ramsdell
set dresser
Robert White
scenic artist
William Hutchinson
draughtsman
Arthur Lawson
assistant art director
Terence Morgan
assistant designer
James Sawyer
draughtsman
Frank Willson
draughtsman
Sound Department
Red Law
sound recordist
Bert Rule
sound editor
George Stephenson
sound recordist
Norman Daines
dubbing crew
Jack Davies
boom operator
Bob Jones
dubbing crew
Special Effects
Wally Veevers
special effects
Visual Effects
Bob Cuff
matte painter
Camera and Electrical Department
Denys N. Coop
camera operator
Frank Howard
camera grip
Jack Sullivan
chief electrician
John Cabrera
focus puller: second unit
Norman Hargood
still photographer
Alex Thomson
clapper loader
Costume and Wardrobe Department
John McCorry
wardrobe master
Editorial Department
John Poyner
second assistant editor
Music Department
Muir Mathieson
conductor
Other Crew
Joan Bridge
technicolor color consultant
Jack Curran
horse master
Pamela Davies
continuity
Alan Dent
text advisor
John Greenwood
sword play
Roger Ramsdell
titler
Luis Roberts
location associate
Roberto Roberts
location associate
Jeremy Taylor
horse master
Catherine O'Brien
unit publicist
Tadeo Villalba
production assistant
Production Company
L.O.P.
London Film Productions
-
Distributor
Chapel Distribution
Criterion Collection, The
,
London Films International
-
Lopert Pictures Corporation
MGM Home Entertainment
National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Miscellaneous
L. & H. Nathan Ltd.
costumes
Related Lists
Navigation Boxes
Laurence Olivier
Hamlet (1948)
Richard III
The Beggar's Opera (1953)
The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
Three Sisters (1970)
BAFTA Award for Best Film
All About Eve (1950)
Ben-Hur (1959)
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Breaking the Sound Barrier (1952)
Forbidden Games (1952)
Genevieve (1953)
Gervaise (1956)
Hamlet (1948)
Hobson's Choice (1954)
La Ronde (1950)
Odd Man Out (1947)
Reach for the Sky (1956)
Richard III
Room at the Top (1959)
Sapphire (1959)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)
The Blue Lamp (1950)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
The Fallen Idol (1948)
The Lavender Hill Mob (1951)
The Third Man (1949)
The Wages of Fear (1953)
