Shakespeare's Richard III (1983 TV) -- opening of play

[PopcornOnTheFence]

I would like to see more Duchess of York scenes.

[PopcornOnTheFence]

That is excellent! I was in a performance of the show that was done outside. I hope you can appreciate my submission, and thank you for yours! If you do end up watching mine, be sure to read the comments which explains quite a bit. I am in the process of uploading the show from an old VHS tape from 1992. Wish me luck!

[PopcornOnTheFence]

You all are so subtle! It is hard to be subtle outdoors in a live theater. Your video helps me understand the play a bit more. Check out my channel to see some of our unsubtle scenes.

[TheMadSonneteer]

The best "Richard III" I've seen. I told Ron Cook (Richard) that when I saw him in "King Lear" with Derek Jacobi last year.

[judithjames11]

The greatest villain every invented. The real Richard was probably not deformed and was nowhere near as bad as he was painted, Shakespeare had an ulterior motive, to keep well in with Queen Elizabeth, a direct descendant of Henry VII who "stole" the crown from Richard. But as a character Richard is magical. Alan Lowe.

[shiptech2k9]

Richard wasn't a horrible person, his image was distorted for whatever reason it might be.

[Skipn27]

He was awesome in the Henry VI series.

[DrVarney]

Not very convincing, is he?

[Loyaultimilie]

Good look a like for Richard but that's about all. If he was such a crookback and had a limp how come he was such a great soldier??????????????? Oh I forgot - it's Shakespeare !!!!

[FireEyedMaidOfWar]

Could the spineless English government not supply the insidious British Broadcasting Corporation with sufficient money to provide decent costumes and a real medieval background instead of this cheap theatre like production! Though it is better than nothing and since the plays are brilliant and the actors employed at least well the whole York/Wars of the Roses tetralogy is joyful to watch still but done like Henry IV or Richard II it might have been excellent!

[Primevalman]

damn Shakespeare ruining Richard III's reputations, he never had a limp, didn't steal the crown or kill his nephews, never said "a horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse" this was written purely for Tudor propaganda! but is still god just inaccurate.

[stuckupcurlyguy]

@Primevalman Shakespeare had to write that way because he had to please Queen Elizabeth and avoid getting his head lopped off, keep bringing in crowds etc... What's interesting is the way he actually subtly undermines the Tudors supposed infallibility and indeed their supposedly absolute, God-given monarchy itself. In fact I think the audience has a large degree of sympathy for the "villain" who was in reality quite a good King as Kings go. I'd show you a few examples if I could be bothered.

[sstuddert]

Too fast and he doesn't really nail the character.

[DonJulioBlanco2002]

Very weak. Way too fast.

[braintree2]

Sorry, but this guy is rushing through the opening monologue. Richard was a wit who takes pride in it. I see nothing of that here. Boooring.

[IPv6SecuritySucks]

can't find it on dvd :(

[titanicfinatic]

Does anyone see a parallel between Richard of Gloucester's character and that of Iago from Othello?

[XxmagaliexX]

i love richard even if he is the villian :D

[Hamhark98]

Eh. Don't really like this interpretation. Just feels like he is saying the lines. Also a bit too much of a good guy type. Some say you can't help but like him. Well, that is because he is playing it like a good guy. There is nothing villainous about this. And he fails to emphasis on anything. Personally I don't like this. 

[elendil77]

@Hamhark98

I don't know, to each his own, I guess! To me his subtlety is exactly what makes him a great villain! Maybe it's beacuse I know this play and character so well, and therefore anyone with some degree of acting skills(on Shwakespearean plays' level, of course) will be able to convince me that he is a man capable murdering his brother and nephews, regardless of how likable he appears at first.

And don't forget that Richard is a character that comes off as a nice guy, not

[bupjin]

Excellent performance! Superb Queen Margaret!

[JamesMorphettTV]

pity the whole play is not up on You tube. Looks like a perfect Richard III.

[RichieEastside]

Is there any place to buy this on DVD?

[coneycat]

@RichieEastside Yes, but it only seems to be available as part of a BBC boxed set: "BBC Shakespeare Histories (Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, Henry V, Richard II, Richard III)". I bought it a couple of years ago from Amazon. The actor who plays Richard is called Ron Cook, if you need to verify you're getting the right one. He is such a great Richard.

[RichieEastside]

@coneycat Awesome. Thanks for the tip!!

[alcore3]

Pacino ! Come to help this guy !

[darkhyena]

Long live King Richard!

[DarthWill3]

Instead of shutting the doors, he could've at least shouted in the room "SHUT UP!" and the music would stop abruptly! Lol

[orchote]

loved him in "Arthur"

[frog142]

is that jools holland?

[AllenandHammond]

This guy is great!! Love this book and play

[darkhyena]

At least this Richard actually tries to be discreet, unlike Olivier who screams out his intentions!

[kirkwanglers32]

I Really Feel This Actor has a brillinat mind.

Of The Record when wone makes an opion uts slated by Fools.

There should be a web master here to throw off hot shots arse wipes.

[captainantlad]

this has helped me in English quite a lot, cheers

[theeviltwaz]

I just love how Ron Cook brings RIchard across as a man of superior intelligence to the extent that he knows he has no morality or conscience!

Whether Shakespeare intended Richard to be on the cusp of psychopathic, well, that's up for debate, but I really enjoy this version.

It's witty, eloquent, and absorbing, and Ron is also excellent in small roles such as Napoleon in Quills, and Doughty in 'Hornblower'. A very versatile, underrated actor.

[catbird007]

@theeviltwaz I will have to agree with you 100% , This proudtion was very entertaining a true sigh of masters at work

[kirkwanglers32]

How the hell ,do actors remeber there lines.?????

[IshmaelSkyes]

In the case of Shakespeare, it's all in verse with ten beats to the line (albeit not usually rhyming), and I suspect it was written that way to make it easy to remember.

[nozar7]

It's actually pretty easy. The easiest way to memorize something is to understand and feel the meaning. Do you ever memorize song lyrics?

[milograamans]

The BEST version I have seen!

[argonsilvereye]

This is my favorite Shakespeare Tragedy. Richard is one of the scariest bad guys EVER!!!

[hawkpuncher11]

...this assignment is not cool.

[punkazn77]

SJ AC English III too

[astrosfan333]

Strake Jesuit at 0:47

[astrosfan333]

SJ AC English III

[kirkwanglers32]

Good actor

[kirkwanglers32]

As i Said nobody of sownd mine retorted.

I have PTSD. I really take my hat of to actors thespions

[kirkwanglers32]

How do actors remeber there lines.

I have PTSD. I take my hat off to all you thespions.

[kirkwanglers32]

Actors have ggod memorys unlike me

[anycosita]

Well, the first time this was performed the actors didn´t memorize the lines, they had little scrolls (hence the term 'role') that were attached to their belts from which they would read their lines. Actors in that time were very busy, doing 2 or 3 shows simultaneously, so the only parts of the shows that were really even rehearsed let alone memorized were dances and fight scenes. Today however, actors have the time mull the lines constanty to learn the show so memorizing it comes with that.

[TheRebel2007]

Wish I could say the same for your spelling.

[ilyichramirez]

Is this some kind of Essex accent?

[JaneAustenRules]

this looks good have you posted all the episodes? If not, can you please post them?

[kasiakasia777]

Try reading the same excerpt with the GCSE British students right now..... Most of them are either from Asia or Africa and have never ever heard about a guy called Shakespeare.

[FishingtonBurpPuzzle]

For God's sake, this Richard is like a Literature reading Wolverhampton polytechnic student union rep circa 1979. But Shakespeare's language world wonders.

[artj22850]

Yes, I have seen the Fiona Shaw excerpts on here and found them quite interesting. I like what I have seen of the Jacobi version of the same play very much. I have a copy of his "Hamlet", as well, when he was quite young; it is superb. Later Jacobi played Claudius in Branagh's "Hamlet". On here, you can also view a young Branagh, being directed by Jacobi, for his early stage performance of "Hamlet."

[artj22850]

Thanks for the correction. Don't know the actor, may have seen him in other things. I own an audio recording; Kenneth Branagh as Richard III; listened several times; love it. I have the film (VHS) "Finding Richard", Al Pacino; amazingly enough, he plays a pretty convincing Richard III. He's fascinated with this role. On my literature site we will be discussing "Richard II"; would like to buy the DVD; maybe the set. Would you recommend it? I could buy the single play from Amazon UK.

[kasiakasia777]

As for 'Richard II', I reckon the version with Sir Derek Jacobi is superb. Also, there is a fantastic TV version with Fiona Shaw (yes, as Richard!) , but this one might be unavailable.

[artj22850]

It is Anthony Sher playing Richard III? I think he is quite good in the role. I am enjoying this play very much. I have the audio CD set with Ken Branagh playing Richard and I like it very much. Thanks for putting this version up...very well done production.

[kasiakasia777]

Well, it's not Anthony Sher, but Ron Cook. Very convincing in this role, btw!

The rest of the cast is equally good. Excellent version.'Henry the Sixth' by the same director is also great.

[eamaya1]

antony sher!! an actor's actor..

[Clausewitz1]

This guy's performance is amazing. He is so subtle and eloquent. Even though he is a villain one can't help but to admire his wit and inteligence.

[metyuewb]

@Clausewitz1 Subtle??? what's your idea of subtle? He's got no charm. He does not even mediate the character in the text. What wit and intelligence he's dry. The problem is with Shakespearean actors they're too preoccupied with 'acting Shakespeare' whatever that may be and sound like paper. Imagine what the performances must have been like when the audience didn't know it was Shakespeare and had to like Richard for Richard. Maybe smelt of life, perhaps!

[JackGraham999]

Superb.  My favourite version of 'Dicky 3', just beating the wonderful McKellen movie by virtue of its greater subtlety and fullness. Ron Cook is excellent: a softly-spoken, witty, seemingly vulnerable Richard. Very plausible. Great stuff.

[batalion666]

Richard Joker

[fishstick12345]

Hah! Exactly! Richard > The Joker

[awilliams100]

Look!! Its Harry Crawford from 'Boon'! lol... Great adaption! :) -Alan-

[coneycat]

This is the version our professor showed in class back in about 1986, and I have never forgotten how great it was. But since I'd long since forgotten the name of the actor, I could never figure out which version to look for. Thank you!!!

[piratesfan123]

Though Richard is a two faced Villian i can't help but like him. And this version rocks.

[000xyz]

@piratesfan123 i love how he is intrinsically evil, and how well cook can portray that charisma

[BRUTUALTRUTH]

Mix up Allo Allo, Are You Being Served and You Rang M'Lord and u get this shite! Fucking Rubbish!

[artsy330]

I completly disagree. This is one of the most brilliant adaptations of the opening monologue that I have ever seen; is so wonderful BECAUSE Cook is able to take a traditional role and infuse it with his own personal brand of sparkling slyness. The fact that he is not afraid to have a little fun with such a famous scene makes it all the more believable and delightful! Cook captures all the guile of Richard without the stuffiness of Olivier.

[coneycat]

That's exactly what I like about it, too--there's a great deal of black humour in the play and Cook nails it. He's acting, not declaiming, and you can see how everyone around him fell for Richard's act. He's evil all right, but he's really enjoying the fact that he's so much smarter than everyone else. It makes the crash at the end more effective, too.

[coaxis314]

I agree.

[smaf1414]

Lmao...this version is funny

[MikeJS57]

The diction here is too modern day sounding for realism. Olivier may well have been stiff {well, he is now for sure !} but he certainly made you feel you were being transported to a time long gone.

[steerpike66]

Silly to complain. Americans always get too involved in the trappings of these plays, the crowns and majesty and the Sirs who play the big parts, they forget about the endless adaptability and thematic strength of Shakespeare. You can do it any way, in newspaper crowns and plastic bags if you want, and if you understand the machinery of the language and the themes, it will always work.

[elleoneiram]

don't necessarily agree with you that it's Americans, but it's true that the point of Shakespearean representations is not to necessarily "transport the audience to a time long gone." The most interesting aspect is what HASN'T changed.

[AdArmand]

Mike, that is absurd... you have no idea what a deformed figure in 1483 would have sounded like... closer to this than Received Pronunciation English which of course may send one into rapture but isnt necessarily REALISTIC!!!!

[n0iwont]

@MikeJS57 ...yes, Olivier made me feel transported to the 1940's home counties.. nothing like the sound of English in 1483 !

[quigon7]

This is really good! Much better than Olivier.

[constanzavictrix]

Ron Cook - he has me totally absorbed in this play, beautiful voice, intriguing performance, subtle and elegant.

[elleoneiram]

Definitely agree, I like the emphasis on Richard's feigned innocence and vulnerability. It also plays up his unrivaled intelligence.

[pantok07]

We are not safe Clarence,WE ARE NOT SAFE!!

[PRICEJAMES]

Ron Cook eh? "Yus me lady, hay muredred dar two tweens in de toower ef landon"