He spent three years working for the bbc before moving into commercials. The audience and the text richard loncraine, the director of the new film richard iii has said that he wanted to make a film that he would want to see, as a person who was not into shakespeare, in fact someone who had been put off by shakespeare at school. Richard loncraine takes shakespeares classic tale of treachery, richard iii, and transplants it to the 1930s. Richard loncraines films include band of brothers, richard iii, wimbledon, the haunting of julia. You can buy richard iii on apple itunes, amazon video as download or rent it on apple itunes, amazon video, bfi player online. Sir ian mckellen reflects on playing shakespeares richard iii. Richard loncraines rendition of william shakespeares richard iii is memorable in its appeal to modern viewers partly because it relocates the action of the play to a fantasized nazi germanystyled england of the 1940s, rather than keeping fifteenthcentury england as the setting as shakespeare originally intended. Though 1995s richard iii made a unique attempt to meld classic shakespeare with a speculative historical setting, the film drew mixed responses from audiences despite earning several bafta and oscar nominations.
Id like to come back to it to explore some of the interesting details we skipped. Loncraine then produced the film, again starring ian mckellan as richard iii, updated into a nationalsocialist timeframe. Richard iii,written in about 1591, is said to be shakespeares first great play. Apple itunes cut, content production cost presumably quite. So first off, im really looking forward to seeing richard iii on the big screen as part of shakespeare on film. Before his career in film, he was a sculptor and the first to create a chrome newtons cradle.
Subscribe to the cinema junkie podcast on itunes or your. Loncraine received early training in the features department of the bbc, including a season directing items for tomorrows world. He describes the story of richard ill as a roller coaster. Set in a makebelieve 1930s england replete with fascist symbols and codes, richard iii stars mckellen as a genuine.
Over 4000 free audio and video lectures, seminars and teaching resources from oxford university. Richard loncrainestateexpanded to show the template expanded, i. Richard loncrainestatecollapsed to show the template collapsed, i. Video of kevin spacey taking the brooklyn academy of musics harvey stage for. It is true that shakespeare is the author of richard iii of course, much of shakespeares authoring involved heavy borrowing, redaction and crafting. If youre looking for a compelling portrait of british royalty, try ian mckellen and richard loncraines gutsy, 30sset adaptation. Indeed, though richard iii contains plenty of bloodshed, its most insidious violence occurs in language. Subscribe to the cinema junkie podcast on itunes or your favorite podcatcher. Richard iii the films the mckellanloncraine 1995 version.
We can only speculate about the effect it had on its first audiences. Heuristic shakespeare with sir ian mckellen kathy li medium. But in this version, he first removes the ring from his own finger by sticking it in his mouth and lubricating it with. A murderous lust for the british throne sees richard iii ian mckellen descend into madness. King richard iii by william shakespeare free ebook. Paul bettany, kirsten dunst, sam neill, jon favreau, austin nichols harmless rom com from the people who gave us notting hill and four weddings about a bumbling tennis player who finds his tournament interrupted by a luscious american female player. Ahead of a special, oneoff screening of his baftawinning film adaptation of richard iii, which is due to take place at cinemas across the uk, liam fleming sat down with director richard loncraine to talk film, shakespeare, and working with sir ian mckellen the metropolist.
It is the culmination of shakespeares earlier three plays about henry vi, and chronicles the. He studied sculpture at the central school of art before attending the royal college of art film school. This version of richard iii, directed by richard loncraine from a screenplay by loncraine and mckellen, sets the action between the two world wars. Richard iii university of oxford podcasts audio and. In this thirteenth lecture in the approaching shakespeare series the focus is on the inevitability of the ending of richard iii. Large cuts are made in the text to transform this into a movie in which the visuals are more important than the words.
Loncraine basically drew the parallel that richard iii is to victorian englands history the same way hitler is to 1930s history. A rare director with the ability to shift between shakespeare and spy films at the drop of the hat, richard loncraine has been turning out fine movies in nearly every genre since the mid70s. Met ian mckellen, annette bening en robert downey jr. It is the culmination of shakespeares earlier three plays about henry vi, and chronicles the bloody career of richard, duke of gloucester. As directed by richard loncraine, richard iii brilliantly showcases. Richard loncraine has earned great acclaim for his work in film, television and commercials. Ed pettit shakespeare september continues with a look at the 1995 film richard iii. Richard begins by seducing and wedding lady anne kristin scott thomas, whom he made a widow during the war. Richard aspires to a fascist dictatorship, but must first remove the obstacles to his ascension among them his brother, his nephews and his brothers wife annette. I never saw the stage play, so ive no idea what it was like, but i believe we took the idea and ran with it, and extended it on, which is what.
As richard iii opens, richard is duke of gloucester and his brother, edward iv, is king. Meanwhile, richard succeeds in marrying lady anne, even though he killed her fatherinlaw, henry. Richard iii university of oxford podcasts audio and video. A s a special event to mark the 400th anniversary of shakespeares death, here for one night only 28 april is richard loncraines terrifically exciting and lucid movie version of richard iii. Richard loncraines rendition of william shakespeares. There is no disputing that richard iii is a murderer whos only interested in ascending to the throne.
Richard loncraines rendition of william shakespeares richard iii is memorable in its appeal to modern viewers partly because it relocates the action of the play to a fantasized nazi germanystyled england of the 1940s, rather than keeping fifteenthcentury england as. The elizabethan drama was a great popular art form, created not for royal courts but for poor groundlings who paid a penny to stand in the pit beneath the stage, or bourgeois such as pepys, who. Richard iii is a 1995 british film adaptation of william shakespeares play of the same name, directed by richard loncraine. Opening scene from ian mckellans turn as richard iii in 1995. Set in a makebelieve 1930s england replete with fascist symbols and codes, richard iii stars mckellen as a genuine monster. On the occasion of a special screening in 2016 and the release of a shakespeare ipad app, loncraine recalled the making of the movie. It starts by focusing on shakespeares underlying tone regarding richard as somewhat an. Richard iii, king of england, 14521485 drama subject. Over the course of the play, richard and his minions dress increasingly in black with uniforms like those of hitlers ss, and the monumental art direction is right out of leni riefenstahls nazi.
Finding your feet the 2018 movie, trailers, videos and more at yidio. While there have been many adaptations of shakespeares plays, to my mind, the 1995 version of richard iii is undoubtedly one of the best. Richard loncraine born 20 october 1946 is a british film and television director loncraine was born in cheltenham, gloucestershire loncraine received early training in the features department of the bbc, including a season directing items for tomorrows world. Watch richard iii 1995 online full hd free, richard iii 1995 full movie watch online free download hd.
Now look at a small touch added to the scene by richard iii, the new film by richard loncraine and ian mckellan. The film adapts the plays story and characters to a setting based on 1930s britain, with richard depicted as a fascist plotting to usurp the throne ian mckellen portrays the titular richard, as well as cowriting the screenplay with loncraine. Orchestrating his rise to power with his tongue, richard can be seen as a kind of director. Directed by richard loncraine with a screenplay by both loncraine and actor sir ian mckellen, the story is transplanted from preelizabethan england to an imaginary 1930s preworld war ii london. In 2002, loncraine received an emmy for his contributions to the acclaimed hbo miniseries band of brothers. Oliviers performance, viewed as the greatest of his career, charges richard with magnetic malevolence as he steals his brother edwards crown through a murderous set. Richard iii is an early history play probably written and performed around 159293.
Mckellan and loncraine set this film of richard iii in 1930s britain with richard as a fascist dictator transformation of the play. Adapted from the critically acclaimed stage production of shakespeares historical drama, this production of richard iii has sir ian mckellen as a weaselly royal usurper. Ian mckellen is richard who, as the film opens, begins plotting against his brother edward, who has just ascended to the throne after a bloody civil war. Drama oorlog film geregisseerd door richard loncraine. Apr 21, 2016 a s a special event to mark the 400th anniversary of shakespeares death, here for one night only 28 april is richard loncraines terrifically exciting and lucid movie version of richard iii. With ian mckellen, annette bening, christopher bowen, edward jewesbury. Directed by richard loncraine university at albany, suny. With richard iii, laurence olivieras director, producer, and startransfigures shakespeares great historical drama into a mesmerizing vision of machiavellian villainy. It was not my idea to set richard iii in the thirties that was decided by richard eyre, who directed it as a stage play, with ian mckellen. In 1996, he won the silver bear for best director at the 46th berlin international film festival for richard iii. With richard iii, laurence olivieras director, producer, and startransfigures shakespeares great historical drama into a mesmerizing vision of machiavellian. Richard iii soundtrack from 1995, composed by trevor jones. Sir ian mckellen and richard loncraine first met whilst producing the movie adaptation of richard iii starring mckellen, annette bening, robert downey jr, maggie. Kevin spaceys interview on playing richard on stage ian mckellens interactive site.
Its a position that some people might find uncomfortable to think about, but its being made extremely apparent to the audience in this movie. If anyone would like to hear that kind of episode, let us know. Released by polygram in 1996 containing music from richard iii 1995. Richard iii 1995 stream and watch online moviefone. Richard loncraine celebrity profile check out the latest richard loncraine photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Jan 25, 2012 in this thirteenth lecture in the approaching shakespeare series the focus is on the inevitability of the ending of richard iii. Though the setting is transposed to the 1930s, england is torn by civil war, split between the rivaling houses of york and lancaster. Richard iii dual format edition film by richard loncraine. The classic shakespearean play about the murderously scheming 15thcentury king is reimagined in an alternative setting of 1930s england as clouds of fascism gather. Feb 16, 2016 adapted from the critically acclaimed stage production of shakespeares historical drama, this production of richard iii has sir ian mckellen as a weaselly royal usurper. I never saw the stage play, so ive no idea what it was like, but i believe we took the idea and ran with it, and extended it on, which is what id hoped we would do. Director richard loncraine claims not to be an expert on shakespeare, but he obviously had a grasp of richard iii when he collaborated with ian mckellen on the making of the 1995 film version. As equally adept as he may be at all kinds of films, its precisely his wide versatility that has likely kept the director from gaining widespread notice outside the world of cinema scholars.
Librivox recording of richard iii by william shakespeare. I beseech your grace to pardon me, and withal forbear your conference with the noble duke. This reimagining of shakespeares crookback king relocates the story in 1930 and features an indelible star. Richard loncraine biography, movie highlights and photos.
Directed by richard loncraine, with ian mckellen, annette bening, jim broadbent, robert downey jr. This oscar nominated adaptation stars ian mckellen as the despotic richard, duke of gloucester as he plots his murderous. Shakespeares classic play about the machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of king richard iii of england is set in an alternative 1930s, in this celebrated film adaptation. Loncraine said,i think both are valid, both have their place.
1523 948 23 1122 335 229 106 572 564 1588 1533 181 912 752 1231 652 1260 1330 916 340 1221 1493 233 1048 434 1025 427