Criterion has announced an April 9th release date for Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1955) on standard DVD & Blu-Ray.

[deedee gauzot]

Criterion has announced an April 9th release date for Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1955) on standard DVD & Blu-Ray.
Both come with all the bonus features from the previous standard 2-disc release, with the exception of an essay by historian Bruce Eder. Exclusive the Blu release is a featuring an essay by film critic Amy Taubin.

 

With Richard III, Laurence Olivier-as director, producer and star-transfigures Shakespeare's great historical drama into a mesmerizing vision of Machiavellian villainy. Olivier's performance, viewed as the greatest of his career, charges Richard with magnetic malevolence as he steals his brother Edward's crown through a murderous set of machinations.

His inspired direction brings to the screen superlative performances by veteran theater actors Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud and the young Claire Bloom.

Filmed in Vista Vision and Technicolor, The Criterion Collection is proud to present the restored film for which Olivier received the 1956 British Academy Film Award for the Best Actor and Best Film.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Audio Commentary by Playwright and Stage Director Russell Lees, Joined by John Wilders, Former Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company
• Great Acting: Laurence Olivier, a 1966 BBC Interview with Olivier, Hosted by Renowned Theater Critic Kenneth Tynan
• Gallery of On-Set and Production Stills and Posters, featuring excerpts from Olivier's Autobiography on Acting
• 12 Minute Television Trailer, including footage of Olivier, Producer Alexander Korda, Production Designer Roger Furse, and Other Crew Members at Work in Shepperton Studios
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Amy Taubin (BLU-RAY ONLY)

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 license that Shakespeare applied to the events of the time.

Of the three Shakespearean films directed by Olivier, Richard III received the least critical praise at the time, although it was still acclaimed. It was the only one not to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, though Olivier's acting performance was nominated. The film gained popularity through a re-release in 1966, which broke box office records in many cities.[1] Many critics now consider Olivier's Richard III his best screen adaptation of Shakespeare. The British Film Institute has pointed out that, given the enormous TV audiences it received in 1955, the film "may have done more to popularize Shakespeare than any other single work".[2]

 

 

[deedee gauzot]

[editor's note: Unfortunately, the person who posted this video [over there on you-tube] in its entirety, removed the video...However, I was lucky to find this film [Richard III ] again and re-post this film in 16 parts.I'm so sorry about the inconvenient and Thanks,]

[deedee gauzot]

How very apropos...wouldn't you say?

Richard III dig: DNA confirms bones are king's

[deedee gauzot]

Criterion has announced an April 9th release date for Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1955) on standard DVD & Blu-Ray.
Both come with all the bonus features from the previous standard 2-disc release, with the exception of an essay by historian Bruce Eder. Exclusive the Blu release is a featuring an essay by film critic Amy Taubin.

 

With Richard III, Laurence Olivier-as director, producer and star-transfigures Shakespeare's great historical drama into a mesmerizing vision of Machiavellian villainy. Olivier's performance, viewed as the greatest of his career, charges Richard with magnetic malevolence as he steals his brother Edward's crown through a murderous set of machinations.

His inspired direction brings to the screen superlative performances by veteran theater actors Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud and the young Claire Bloom.

Filmed in Vista Vision and Technicolor, The Criterion Collection is proud to present the restored film for which Olivier received the 1956 British Academy Film Award for the Best Actor and Best Film.

BONUS FEATURES:

• Audio Commentary by Playwright and Stage Director Russell Lees, Joined by John Wilders, Former Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company
• Great Acting: Laurence Olivier, a 1966 BBC Interview with Olivier, Hosted by Renowned Theater Critic Kenneth Tynan
• Gallery of On-Set and Production Stills and Posters, featuring excerpts from Olivier's Autobiography on Acting
• 12 Minute Television Trailer, including footage of Olivier, Producer Alexander Korda, Production Designer Roger Furse, and Other Crew Members at Work in Shepperton Studios
• Original Theatrical Trailer
• PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by film critic Amy Taubin (BLU-RAY ONLY)