Laurence Olivier

Richard III

Richard III

In Richard III, director, producer, and star Laurence Olivier brings Shakespeare’s masterpiece of Machiavellian villainy to ravishing cinematic life. Olivier is diabolically captivating as Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who, through a series of murderous machinations, steals the crown from his brother Edward. And he surrounds himself with a royal supporting cast, which includes Ralph Richardson, John Gielgud, and Claire Bloom. Filmed in VistaVision and Technicolor, Richard III is one of the most visually inspired of all big-screen Bard adaptations.


Restoration funding provided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and The Film Foundation. Restored by The Film Foundation and Janus Films, in association with the BFI National Archive, ITV Studios Global Entertainment Ltd., the Museum of Modern Art, and Romulus Films.

Film Info

  • United Kingdom
  • 1955
  • 158 minutes
  • Color
  • 1.66:1
  • English
  • Spine #213

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

  • New digital master of The Film Foundation’s 2012 4K restoration with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • Audio commentary by playwright and stage director Russell Lees and John Wilders, former governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Interview with actor Laurence Olivier from a 1966 episode of the BBC series Great Acting, hosted by theater critic Kenneth Tynan
  • Gallery of behind-the-scenes and production stills and posters, accompanied by excerpts from Olivier’s autobiography, On Acting
  • Twelve-minute television trailer featuring footage of Olivier, producer Alexander Korda, and other cast and crew
  • Restoration demonstration hosted by director Martin Scorsese
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: A new essay by film critic Amy Taubin

Covers based on theatrical posters

Purchase Options

Collector's Sets

Collector's Set

Olivier’s Shakespeare

Olivier’s Shakespeare

DVD Box Set

4 Discs

$63.96

Out Of Print

Collector's Set

Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films

Essential Art House: 50 Years of Janus Films

DVD Box Set

50 Discs

$650.00

Out Of Print

BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

  • New digital master of The Film Foundation’s 2012 4K restoration with uncompressed monaural soundtrack
  • Audio commentary by playwright and stage director Russell Lees and John Wilders, former governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company
  • Interview with actor Laurence Olivier from a 1966 episode of the BBC series Great Acting, hosted by theater critic Kenneth Tynan
  • Gallery of behind-the-scenes and production stills and posters, accompanied by excerpts from Olivier’s autobiography, On Acting
  • Twelve-minute television trailer featuring footage of Olivier, producer Alexander Korda, and other cast and crew
  • Restoration demonstration hosted by director Martin Scorsese
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
  • PLUS: A new essay by film critic Amy Taubin

Covers based on theatrical posters

Richard III
Cast
Laurence Olivier
Richard, Duke of Gloucester, later, King Richard III
Ralph Richardson
Duke of Buckingham
John Gielgud
George, Duke of Clarence
Claire Bloom
The Lady Anne, later, queen to Richard III
Cedrick Hardwicke
King Edward IV of England
Alec Clunes
The Lord Hastings
Laurence Naismith
The Lord Stanley
Mary Kerridge
Queen Elizabeth, wife to Edward IV
Norman Wooland
Catesby
Esmond Knight
Ratcliffe
John Laurie
Lovel
Paul Huson
Edward, Prince of Wales
Andy Shine
Richard, Duke of York
Pamela Brown
Jane Shore
Clive Morton
The Lord Rivers
Dan Cunningham
The Lord Grey
Douglas Wilmer
The Lord Dorset
Michael Gough
First executioner
Michael Ripper
Second executioner
Andrew Cruickshank
Brackenbury
Stanley Baker
Henry, Earl of Richmond, later, King Henry VII
Credits
Director
Laurence Olivier
Produced by
Laurence Olivier
Screenplay adapted by
Laurence Olivier
Screenplay adapted by
Alan Dent
Production designer
Roger Furse
Associate director
Anthony Bushell
Art director
Carmen Dillon
Editor
Helga Cranston
Director of photography
Otto Heller
Production supervisor
John Gossage
Camera operator
Denys Coop
Special effects
Wally Veevers
Sound recordists
George Stephenson
Sound recordists
Red Law
Sound editor
Bert Rule
Music composed by
Sir William Walton
Music performed by
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Continuity
Pamela Davis
Makeup
Tony Sforzini
Hairdresser
Gladys Atkinson
Set dressing and titles
Roger Ramsdell
Costumes
L&H Nathan Ltd.
Scenic artist
Robert White
Masters of horse
Jeremy Taylor
Masters of horse
Jack Curran
Technicolor consultant
Joan Bridge

Current

Richard III: Red-Blooded Richard
Richard III: Red-Blooded Richard

A vivid portrait of a ruthless murderer, Laurence Olivier’s Technicolor Shakespeare adaptation is back in a killer restoration.

By Amy Taubin

Martin Scorsese on the Richard III Restoration

Restoration Spotlight

Martin Scorsese on the Richard III Restoration
Shot in VistaVision and Technicolor, Richard III is the most eye-catching of Laurence Olivier’s essential big-screen Shakespeare adaptations. For years, it couldn’t be seen in its original glory, due to lost footage, faded colors, chemical staini…
On Set With Olivier

Flashbacks

On Set With Olivier

The author’s recollections of the great English actor.

By Peter Cowie

Paul Morrissey’s Top 10
Gary Giddins’s Top 10
Gary Giddins’s Top 10

In honor of his participation in our release of Louis Malle’s jazzy noir classic Elevator to the Gallows, we invited music critic Gary Giddins to contribute a list of his ten favorite Criterion films.