Richard III (1955)

All Critics (16) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (14) | Rotten (3) | DVD (4)

Laurence Olivier's classic rendition (1956) of Shakespeare's total villain contains one of his most engaging performances and reveals some of his best spatial manipulation of action.

July 9, 2008 Full Review

Don Druker

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

It becomes almost laughable when it tries to transcend its own timidity in the dramatic climaxes.

June 24, 2006 Full Review

Time Out

Top Critic

The quality of production was superb, and a viewer had a true sense of pageantry and court grandeur.

March 17, 2004 Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Top Critic

Director and star Sir Laurence Olivier doesn't shy away from center stage in this adaptation... nor would any sane person want him to.

May 22, 2013 Full Review

Christopher Long

Movie Metropolis

Laurence Olivier's venomous take on Richard III ascends from Criterion's already impressive DVD treatment to Blu-ray with a characteristically stunning A/V transfer and hugely insightful supplements.

April 29, 2013 Full Review

Chris Cabin

Slant Magazine

The conception and execution of this film is not as bold as Henry V or Hamlet (also by Olivier), but the cast, headed by Olivier as the malevolent hunchbacked monarch, Gielgud and Richardson, is superb.

July 29, 2011 Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

It's fascinating to note that Richard is almost always portrayed by middle-aged actors - Olivier was 48, and actually comes in at the low end. In reality, Richard was only 32 when he died.

September 6, 2010 Full Review | Comments (2)

Christopher Lloyd

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

This filmed record of Olivier's Richard has intimidated generations of actors -- how can they hope to compete with an interpretation both so brilliant and so familiar to audiences?

July 9, 2008 Full Review

TV Guide's Movie Guide

Olivier's is a turgid rendition with little regard for how the medium of cinema might lend alternative perspectives to the text.

March 17, 2004 Full Review

Film4

how can you not dig a movie that offers John Gielgud and Ralph Richardson on top of Olivier?

February 21, 2004 Full Review | Comment (1)

Christopher Null

Filmcritic.com

Esta grandiosa produção traz Olivier em uma performance inesquecível. Infelizmente, como diretor, Olivier não conseguiu evitar que a narrativa soasse excessivamente teatral.

September 8, 2003

Pablo Villaca

Cinema em Cena

Well worth seeing.

January 1, 2000 Full Review

Steve Rhodes

Internet Reviews

• 1. Richard III: Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious summer by this sun of York. And all the clouds that glowered upon our house in the deep bosem of the ocean, buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, our bruised arms hung up for monuments, our stern alarums changed to merry meetings. Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim visaged war has smoothed his wrinkled front. And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds to fright the souls of fearful adversaries, he capers nimbly in a lady's chamber, to the lascivious pleasing of alute. But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, nor made to court an amorous looking glass, I that am rudely stamped, and want love's majesty to strut before a wanton ambling nymph, I that am curtailed of this fair proportion, cheated of feature by dissembling nature. Deformed! Unfinished. Sent before my time into this breathing world scarce half made-up! And that so lamely and unfasionable that dogs bark at me as I halt by them. Why, love foreswore me in my mother's womb. And for I should not deal in her soft laws, should it corrupt frail nature with some bribe to shrimp mine arm up like a withered shrub. To heap a hidious mountain on my back. To shake my legs upon unequel size. To disproportion me in every part. Like to a chaos! Or an unlicked bare fret that carries no impression like the d*mned. Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, have no delight to pass away the time. Except to spy my shadow in the sun, and descant on mine own deformity. Then, since this earth provides no joy for me, but to command, to check, to forebare such an hour of better persons than myself, I'll make my heaven to dream... upon the crown. And while I live, I shall account this world but h*ll, until this misshaped trunk that bears this head givin this glorious crown. But, yet, I know not how to get the crown, for many lives stand between me and it. And thus, I am like one lost in a thorny wood, that rends the thorns and is caught with the thorns, seeking away and straying from the way, not knowing how to find the open air, but toiling desperately to find it out! Torment myself to catch the English crown! And by that torment I will free myself, or hew my way out with the bloody axe! Why, I can smile, and murder while I smile. I can wet my cheeks with artificial tears, and frame my face to all occasions. Why, I'll drown more sailors than the mermaids shall. Decieve more slyly than Ureses could, and like a siron, take another troy. I can add colors to the canyons, change shape with many advantages, and set the murderous bell to through! Can I do this? Can I get a crown? Tut, were it further off, I'll pluck it down.
  – Submitted by Jed G (12 months ago)
• 1. Edward Plantagenet (King Edward IV): Sound drums and trumpets! Farewell, sour annoy! For here I hope begins our lasting joy!
  – Submitted by Jed G (12 months ago)
• 1. Richard III: Here, pitch our tents. Even here, in Bosworth Field.
  – Submitted by Jed G (12 months ago)
• 1. Richard III: Teach not thy lips such scorn, for they were made for kissing, Lady.
  – Submitted by Jed G (12 months ago)
• 1. Sir William Catesby: My liege! The Duke of Buckingham is taken!
  2. Richard III: Off with his head. So much for Buckingham.
  – Submitted by Jed G (12 months ago)

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