Richard III
1955 · Movie · NR · 155 min · ★ 7.2 · 86% critics
After helping his brother claim the throne, a jealous hunchbacked noble plots to seize power for himself. He maneuvers through the royal court with deception and betrayal, escalating into a violent climb toward kingship before the damage he caused starts to catch up with him.
Based on Richard III
Where to watch
Watch free on Kanopy — also streaming on HBO Max and The Criterion Channel.
3 hours to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1955
- Release date
- 1955-12-13
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 155 min
- Critic score
- 86/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (97 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a bold, talk-to-the-audience Shakespeare adventure full of plotting and power; Not for you if you prefer subtler drama, modern pacing, or a more naturalistic approach like Hamlet (1948) or Henry V (1944).
Pros: powerhouse Shakespeare acting; witty treachery; vivid period mood | Cons: overly stage-like at times; can be hard to follow; uneven pacing
Themes
- england
- coronation
- based on play or musical
- betrayal
- king
- hunchback
- tower of london
- 15th century
- british monarchy
- vistavision
Awards & recognition
- David di Donatello — Best Foreign Actor · 1957
- David di Donatello — best foreign production · 1957
- BAFTA Award — Best Film · 1956
- Golden Globe Award — Best English-Language Foreign Film · 1956
- BAFTA Award — Best British Film · 1955
Show all 6 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Actor · 1957 · nominated
Cast & crew
Laurence Olivier
as Richard III
Cedric Hardwicke
as King Edward IV of England
Nicholas Hannen
as Archbishop
Ralph Richardson
as Duke of Buckingham
John Gielgud
as George, Duke of Clarence
Mary Kerridge
as Queen Elizabeth
Pamela Brown
as Jane Shore
- PH
Paul Huson
as Edward, Prince of Wales
Claire Bloom
as The Lady Anne
Wallace Bosco
as Monk
Directed by Laurence Olivier