Richard III( 1955)

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71%

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Conscience is a word that cowards use.

Overview

Having helped his brother King Edward IV take the throne of England, the jealous hunchback Richard, Duke of Gloucester, plots to seize power for himself. Masterfully deceiving and plotting against nearly everyone in the royal court, including his eventual wife, Lady Anne, and his brother George, Duke of Clarence, Richard orchestrates a bloody rise to power before finding all his gains jeopardized by those he betrayed.

Top Billed Cast

Laurence Olivier
Richard III
Cedric Hardwicke
King Edward IV of England
Nicholas Hannen
Archbishop
Ralph Richardson
Duke of Buckingham
John Gielgud
George, Duke of Clarence
Mary Kerridge
Queen Elizabeth
Pamela Brown
Jane Shore
Paul Huson
Edward, Prince of Wales
Claire Bloom
The Lady Anne
Wallace Bosco
Monk
Andrew Cruickshank
Brackenbury
Clive Morton
The Lord Rivers
Patrick Troughton
Tyrell
Michael Gough
Dighton
Michael Ripper
Forrest
Stanley Baker
Henry, Earl of Richmond
John Laurie
Lovel
Stewart Allen
Page to Richard
Russell Thorndike
First Priest
Norman Fisher
Monk
Richard Bennett
George Stanley
Alexander Davion
Messenger to Richard III

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A review by CinemaSerf

Written by CinemaSerf on Sat Sep 24 2022

Whilst Laurence Olivier has been acclaimed by many as the greatest exponent of Shakespeare ever, it is pretty clear in this strongly cast adaptation of probably my favourite of his histories, that Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud were every bit as good as he ever was. Add to this excellent cast Sir Cedric Hardwicke (and his instantly recognisable voice) as Edward IV; Mary Kerridge's excellent performance as Queen Elizabeth (Woodville) and a host of accomplished British stage actors and the scene is set for a rousing and luscious depiction of betrayal, lust and power. It is a bit over-theatrica...