Richard III Overview:

Richard III (1955) was a Historical - Drama Film directed by Laurence Olivier and produced by Laurence Olivier and Alexander Korda.

Academy Awards 1956 --- Ceremony Number 29 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorSir Laurence OlivierNominated
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BlogHub Articles:

Richard III and Disinformation in TOWER OF LONDON (1939)

By Jennifer Garlen on May 8, 2019 From Virtual Virago

One probably doesn't go looking for timely political commentary in a film like Tower of London (1939), which offers a mashup of history and horror in its retelling of the bloody rise and fall of England's most reviled monarch. Much of the plot is familiar to viewers thanks to broad cultural awarenes... Read full article


“Is There a Murderer Here?”: The Great Villainy of Richard III

By Margaret Perry on Apr 17, 2015 From Margaret Perry

It is no secret how much I love the Shakespeare – the Immortal Bard has been the subject of many a post on this blog. Shakespeare’s plays are timeless in that they are often rejuvenated in film form. Movie lovers who wrestled with the gruelling texts during their high school years have r... Read full article


Richard III (Laurence Olivier, 1955)

By Judy on Apr 25, 2014 From Movie Classics

This is my contribution to the Great Villain Blogathon, hosted by the Silver Screenings, Shadows & Satin and Speakeasy blogs. Please do visit and read?the?great range of postings for this event. For millions who were never lucky enough to see Laurence Olivier?play Shakespeare on stage, the near... Read full article


SIFF 2013: Olivier Plots in Bold Color, Richard III (1955)

By KC on Jun 2, 2013 From Classic Movies

(d: Laurence Olivier c: Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, Claire Bloom, Cedric Hardwicke, United Kingdom 1955, 161 min) That English battlefield looked a lot like Southern California to me! The above was said loudly in the line for the ladies' loo after a screening of the... Read full article


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Quotes from

Richard III: Conscience is a word that cowards use.


Richard III: And therefore since I cannot prove a lover,To entertain these fair well-spoken days,I am determined to prove a villain,and hate the idle pleasures of these days.


Richard III: A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!


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Facts about

The failure of the film to earn a profit in the U.S. during its theatrical release, together with the untimely death of Alexander Korda , who had backed the production of Richard III, effectively ended Olivier's dream of filming Shakespeare as a director. He is accorded the honor of being the greatest Macbeth of the 20th century, but he could never raise the financing to make the film after the financial failure of this film.Michael Todd expressed interest in financing an Olivier version of Macbeth, but Todd was killed in a plane crash before those ideas could come to fruition. Olivier never again directed a Shakespearean film, possibly the result of the fabled actors' curse attached to "The Scottish Play".
The first widescreen film version of a Shakespeare play. The shape used, however, was not especially wide; it was VistaVision, not Cinemascope.
The only Shakespeare film made in VistaVision (so far).
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Best Actor Oscar 1956






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