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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
83 of 83 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Those of us who have been maddened by poor prints of this film can rejoice in this nicely restored edition. The picture quality is good (suitably dark Technicolor), the format is slightly wide screen (VistaVision), and the sound is clear.
Shakespeare's Richard 111 may not be historically accurate, but dramatically it is spot on! Olivier fielded a wonderful team of supporting players for this: Cedric Hardwicke, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Claire Bloom and so on. Even the smallest roles were well played.
The film has been a personal favourite for half a century. I think it's wonderful and I'll fight any man who says it isn't.
On the bonus disc is a 1980s television production, lasting three and a half hours, in which a mock trial of Richard was staged - a jury was asked to decide whether he really had been responsible for the murder of two young princes in the tower (an incident in the play/film).
Shakespeare's Richard 111 may not be historically accurate, but dramatically it is spot on! Olivier fielded a wonderful team of supporting players for this: Cedric Hardwicke, John Gielgud, Ralph Richardson, Claire Bloom and so on. Even the smallest roles were well played.
The film has been a personal favourite for half a century. I think it's wonderful and I'll fight any man who says it isn't.
On the bonus disc is a 1980s television production, lasting three and a half hours, in which a mock trial of Richard was staged - a jury was asked to decide whether he really had been responsible for the murder of two young princes in the tower (an incident in the play/film).
42 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Finally, it is good to see this film get the special edition DVD treatment it deserves. Top quality for a top film. I first saw this when I was 15 and struggling with Shakspeare alot. Finally I understood due to the performances in this film. This for me is Oliviers Magnum Opus. Even more so than Henry V. The greatest performance from arguably the greatest acting talent this fair isle has ever produced. The set's are a bit crude yes and look very early cinema rather than 1950's but if you've seen Shakespeare on the stage you will know that is par for the course. The point is the acting. Because when a great actor is giving a great performance, as everyone does here not just Olivier, all else is mere cosmetics. Buy it, watch it and be mesmerised by the greatest performance you are ever likely to see. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This has been on my `To-Get' list for a long long time, but I've never been happy with the offerings to date. That all changed when I picked up this gem - an excellent package and fully deserving the five stars I've awarded it. The bonus `Trial' documentary is invaluable as it's been years since I've seen that aired on TV. It's a definite must-have - so much so, that I bought a second copy for my father! Well-recommended.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fantastic
I bought the Network edition Richard III Special Edition 2 disc set. It has been digitally restored. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Julian Hughes
What a bonus!
I've had the VHS of this brilliant film for some ten years now. Why then buy the dvd? I don't know why, but I'm so glad that I did. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Good book
Rivetting Richard!
I'm amazed that it has taken me so long to see this film. It is, of course, the stuff of all Richard 111 impersonations and while it is difficult to watch Olivier's performance... Read more
Published 23 months ago by M. Joyce
Acting at its best
This is rightly considered to be the best RIII film. It's great to watch it in conjunction with the McKellen film, which is easier to access, but more a "proper" film. Read more
Published on 24 April 2010 by Marla Christie
Richard III
Having had the video for some 20 years I needed a decent copy on DVD. This is of course the famous Olivier film which is oh so so good. Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by M. N. Hart
Classic Quality
I've entitled this review "Classic Quality". Classic because it's shot in the old style - long cuts, some lasting several minutes, as if shooting a stage production instead of... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2010 by T. G. Evans
Historical with perhaps a little fiction.
Many years ago I had this on VHS sadly it was damaged so I was extremely pleased to find it DVD.Top Notch Actors superbly executed ( excuse the pun )delighted to have it in my... Read more
Published on 11 Feb 2010 by N. P. Ciccone
Richard III, 1955. Network 2006 release. Finally, this classic film...
Richard the Third has always been one of my favourite Shakespeare plays, and Laurence Olivier's magnificent film has always been one of my favourite interpretations. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by Victor
a brilliant adaptation
Lawrence Olivier is on the top. He performs some of Richard's speeches in a strange, unexpected, odd manner and through this attaches certain strangeness and unusualness to... Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2009 by Annie Martirosyan
Richard III
Absolutely splendid and also enjoyed the trial for the murder of the princes in the Tower. I am very pleased I bought this.
Published on 3 Sep 2009 by CornwallOPC
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