Sir Ian McKellen explains the opening speech of Richard III

[AllisterCooper2008]

Even as a voice actor he's good. I saw parts of Flushed Away and the big toad is one funny character.

[SamSlashBill]

There will be NO scripts on the night. That goes for everyone.

[avq5]

is that mr. spok

[Scruffy193]

Yes, had acting not worked out for Sir Ian, he would've been an awesome lit teacher.

[helenaprice]

Good god. I love this man.

[thedrumbum1990]

I absolutely love that man. I could listen to his voice all day.

[ribbaable]

genius

[Cpt0liver]

This website is brilliant, I absolutely love this man! I just want to hug him!

[neil73]

How about starting a play with " Heroin, Crack and Cocaine!" ?

[DeathSlayer2]

@neil73

Sir Ian always does :D

[DeathSlayer2]

@neil73

Crack IS cocaine, "crack cocaine". If you're going to make stupid unrelated comments about drugs at least get it right.

[neil73]

@DeathSlayer2 No it isn't. Cocaine is one thing. Crack Cocaine is another. Its like calling Morphine Heroin.

Im not commenting further on the matter; making the comments descend into an argument about drugs when my original intention was a bit of light hearted humour.

[110195sean]

thanks for the vid. reli helpful for essays.

[MaximisedInsight]

Reminds me a little of the self-parody in Extras where he eloquently belabours the obvious (see related videos). The 'winter of our discontent' metaphor should be clear to everybody after the opening scene, and at the latest when he brings up 'grim-visaged war'. Though I guess the 'of York', and hence the pun, could be missed by the odd inattentive listener...

[oowatwat]

@MaximisedInsight do you have a link to that?

[MaximisedInsight]

@oowatwat Nope, I always watch it on my DVD. I am sure, though, that typing 'Ian McKellen on acting' into youtube will get you there.

[Warwickcain]

I know exactly what those lines mean, but to hear Sir Ian say it...ooooh, yes.

[gregorandolga]

Greetings from NYC. Thanks much for uploading this.

McKellen's R III was brilliant, chilling, good Shakespeare -- and clever alternate reality. The allegory works so neatly and the symbology transfers perfectly.

And watching him hold forth in this mini-seminar is a great treat. What a talent.

Happy New Year!

[sunnytreebee]

Thanks for uploading, fascinating.

[KnockoffNigeI]

Trust an actor to get it wrong:

The war is over "Winter of discontent" means an end to our troubles see -Winter- discontent in -Winter- geddit?

But Dick is perfidious and slimy so he always turns words on their head that's why the metaphor is unsettling. Then he say's: "Made glorious summer...son of York" ie. Winter made summer, again the metaphor is inverted this time emphasising Dick's sarcasm and bitterness.

[amilcaraml]

Nice!...I didn`t notice that aspect.

[dajohnthomas69]

Great voice!  And such a clear vision as regards these lines.

[Choowbz]

Now is the Winter of our global warming made Summer by this son of talk.

[pinkpearlsmetallic]

He looks so kindly... wish he was a teacher

[soulharvest2012]

Brilliant!

[Rydaine]

He would make a bloody brilliant Eng Lit professor...

[hanno21664]

@Rydaine hello my friend, fan of Sir Ian here, i was reading an interview he did while back which he stated he was an english professor at Oxford University. how long he was a professor he didnt say. he also said he was a professor on the Bill Mahr Show a few years back.

just thought i would share that with you, hell like everyone here has stated here i would love it he if he were my english professor.

take care my friend

[ogodsell]

the 'sun' was also edward's symbol,

opposed to richard's being the boer

[bassyck]

the coolest actor around

[hotlovehotlovehotlov]

"Now is the winter of our discontent" what is the meaning of this sentence? what could it refer to ? (being away of anger for instance ?) i mean if i used it out of the play what could it mean ?

[hotlovehotlovehotlov]

"Now is the winter of our discontent" what is the meaning of this sentence? what could it refer to ? (being away of anger for instance ?)

[Gemmabeta]

Why can't Sir Ian be my English teacher?

[bagbahbag]

Oh God, I think of this everytime my English Lit teacher reads ANYTHING aloud...

[baldwalrus7]

That's just what I was thinking!

[nickc1188]

@Gemmabeta - I would like him to deliver bad news to me. Then I could gawk at his amazing intonation while also receiving bad news in a magnificent manner.

[ravenstook]

@Gemmabeta When he should fail you, he will shout: YOU SHALL NOT PAAAAAAAASS!!!!!!!

[lorddorron2383]

@Gemmabeta because he needs to act as GANDALF!!!!