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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Richard III 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

Dighton, 1st murderer: Talkers are no good doers.


The Lord Hastings: The cat, the rat, and Lovell the dog / Rule all England under the hog.


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


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Facts about Richard III

The liner notes on the Criterion Collection's DVD of this film states mistakenly that NBC-TV's premiere broadcast of the film in March 1956 was in black-and-white. Actually, NBC, the network that prided itself as the color pioneer of the three major U.S. TV networks at the time, did indeed run the movie in color. In fact, the Arts and Leisure section of the New York Times, dated March 11, lists numerous advertisements by Manhattan merchandisers for new color television sets, coinciding with the Sunday afternoon broadcast of the movie.
Esmond Knight, who plays Ratcliffe, wanted to make his appearance at Richard's tent (at dawn during the Battle of Bosworth) longer by "loosening his sword in the scabbard, then look over the shoulder through the flap in the tent towards the horses, and then say it." However, Olivier refused his request and told him to "Play straight and piss off!"
Olivier wanted to cast Orson Welles in the role of Buckingham, but life-long friend Sir Ralph Richardson wanted the role, and Olivier gave it to him. In his autobiography, Olivier says he wishes he had disappointed Richardson and cast Welles instead as he would have brought an extra element to the screen, an intelligence that would have gone well with the plot element of conspiracy.
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Best Actor Oscar 1956






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