This is the Laurence Olivier version, which is still easily the most famous single version of the play even for those who have never watched any film or TV adaptation of it. I've seen several, from 1960's An Age of Kings where Richard was played by Paul Daneman, through versions with Ian Holm, Ron Cook, Ian McKellen, to the 2016 Benedict Cumberbatch-starring Hollow Crown, and this is still the go to version for references and impersonators* (Red Dwarf's Marooned, the overacting hospital in Monty Python's Flying Circus), not to mention the source of Peter Cook's oh dear Richard the third (plus inspiring much of the portrayal of Bosworth Field) in the first episode of The Black Adder.
At 2 hours and 30 minutes it's as abridged as most versions tend to be when they're intended to stand alone, as opposed to following on from the preceding Henry vi plays, since this allows a number of subplots (such as anything involving Queen Margaret) to be easily dropped. What did surprise me is how much this film rearranged scenes and dialogue - probably the most of any of those I'm familiar with. It doesn't even begin with the fabulous, unforgettable "Now..." speech, instead placing that a few scenes further in.
The abridging and rearranging is done with one thing in mind - the producer, director and star Olivier wants his character to be on screen at all times, always the centre of attention, even more so than Shakespeare had him. You're not for one moment allowed to forget who's in charge here, he overshadows every other actor and character - sometimes literally, since the motif of Richard's distinctive humpbacked silhouette is repeatedly used to fall upon and thus indicate his next victim.
Other actors of note include Stanley "Zulu" Baker as Henry Richmond, the future King Henry vii, who is allowed the merest trace of a Welsh accent, unlike everyone else who all speak in pure RP. Laurence "Fall of Eagles" Naismith is Lord Stanley who, unusually, is the one to kill Richard at the end - normally it is Richmond who does this. Perhaps Olivier thought it better coming from a character we had become familiar with throughout the film rather than one introduced only a couple of scenes earlier? Yes, clearly Olivier knows better than Shakespeare; no megalomania to be seen here. Mew.
A young-looking Douglas "what do you mean he's not Basil Rathbone?" Wilmer appears, as does Claire Bloom, the latter because there was a time when it was obligatory for her to appear in every Shakespeare adaptation made in Britain. The same can be said of John Gielgud who is here playing Clarence (I'm only surprised Mary Morris wasn't in this as well). And finally, it would be remiss of me not to mention Clive "Trenchard" Morton, looking much the same as he did in The Sea Devils even though that was made nearly 20 years later, and a young actor called Patrick Troughton took the small role of Tyrrell, the manny who murders the Princes in the Tower on behalf of their usurping uncle Dickie. I wonder whatever became of him?
Justifiably famous for being a lavish, technicolour production from out of the austere 1950s, but not really, if we're being honest, the best version of Richard iii. You all know by now I'm not normally a cat to praise modern television without cause, but I'd put the (relatively) recent Cumberbatch version above this, and it's not even the one I'd say was the best of the Thirds. I'd rate the 1983 Ron Cook BBC TV version as the one that deserves that crown, though being nearly unabridged and so running at about 4 hours in length you need to be prepared for a marathon not a sprint. Better yet, get a horse.
A horse.
My kingdom for a horse.
Mew.
* Some have even claimed that Paul Darrow was impersonating Olivier when he played Tekker in Timelash, including Darrow himself (on the DVD commentary). Personally I can't see much of a resemblance, because Paul Darrow is far too handsome. Unless it's the hair?
Yes, maybe that's it - it's his hair that's doing the impression. Mew.
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