The Wars Of The Roses (RSC, 1965) Part 7, 4/5 Edward of York

The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of the Wars of the Roses consisting of Shakespeare's Henry VI (3 parts) and Richard III, edited, rearranged and rewritten by John Barton and Peter Hall.
First broadcast on BBC TV in 1965 in 3 parts. Subsequently rebroadcast in the 1980s in 11 Parts.

My apologaze for realy bad video quality! Never released on video or DVD.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1393706/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060039/

David Warner ... King Henry VI
Peggy Ashcroft... Queen Margaret
Roy Dotrice... King Edward IV
Ian Holm... Richard Duke of Gloucester
Donald Sinden... Richard Duke of York
Susan Engel ... Lady Elizabeth Grey
Philip Brack ... Somerset
Donald Burton ... Exeter
John Corvin ... Lord Clifford
Jeffery Dench ... Sir Humphrey Stafford / 2nd Keeper
Peter Geddis ... Alençon / A son that has killed his father
David Hargreaves ... Norfolk
John Hussey... Lewis XI
Marshall Jones... Smith / 1st Watch
Maurice Jones... Oxford
Charles Kay ... Clarence
Colette O'Neil ... The Lady Bona
William Squire ... Buckingham
Hugh Sullivan... Burgundy / Hastings
Madoline Thomas... Duchess of York
Alan Tucker... Prince Edward
Ted Valentine... Lieutenant to the Tower / Dick
David Waller... A father that has killed his son

etc

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[Ingemar1965]

I realize that they have rearranged Shakespeare´s texts a good deal in this adaption to television.

When Warwick compares his fate with his old enemy La Pucelle, is that from somewhere else in Shakespeare or is it a later addition? Does anybody know by whom?

[GreatGrumbledook]

Queen Elizabeth: Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?

King Richard: Ay, if the devil tempt you to do good.

Queen Elizabeth: Shall I forget myself to be myself?

King Richard: Ay, if your self's remembrance wrong yourself.

Queen Elizabeth: Yet thou didst kill my children.

King Richard: But in your daughter's womb I bury them: Where, in that nest of spicery, they shall breed Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.

[GreatGrumbledook]

@iamanatullah: If the three York brother would have been chosen here better than this Warwick would easily outclass Zaphod Beeblebrox but so his acting is neutralized; and I was playfully referring to the Show of realizing that Zaphod Beeblebrox is the Earl of Warwick; which is nearly as great a Shock than learning that Gandalf the Grey is actually Richard III! When Gandalf says that he would use the ring with the desire to do good I was totally reminded of a certain passage from Richard III:

[iamanatullah]

@GreatGrumbledook

I thought Wing-Davey was an excellent York---slimy, slick, and imposing. I actually prefer him to Mason, though he is also quite good.

[GreatGrumbledook]

@C0NTR4B455: Creditable is the better word: When Queen Margaret says that he commands the wind and tide or when he says that he will uncrown King Edward one does believe him and that is much for an actor of today playing Shakespeare! Besides I am still under a great shock that the insidious BBC took the same actor who played Zaphod Beeblebrox (Mark Wing-Davey) in The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy for as Warwick their version of the plays!

[C0NTR4B455]

@GreatGrumbledook His name is Brewster Mason..Other notable parts in this period of his work at the RSC was his Claudius opposite David Warner (who here plays Henry VI) in a highly celebrated Hamlet. He is, as you say, immensely successful here as Warwick.

[GreatGrumbledook]

QUEEN MARGARET "Lords, knights, and gentlemen, what I should say My tears gainsay; for every word I speak, Ye see, I drink the water of mine eyes. Therefore, no more but this: Henry, your sovereign, Is prisoner to the foe; his state usurp'd, His realm a slaughter-house, his subjects slain, His statutes cancell'd and his treasure spent; And yonder is the wolf that makes this spoil. You fight in justice: then, in God's name, lords, Be valiant and give signal to the fight."

[GreatGrumbledook]

KING EDWARD IV "Brave followers, yonder stands the thorny wood, Which, by the heavens' assistance and your strength, Must by the roots be hewn up yet ere night. I need not add more fuel to your fire, For well I wot ye blaze to burn them out Give signal to the fight, and to it, lords!"

[GreatGrumbledook]

...mercy with the brothers More than with ruthless waves, with sands and rocks. Why, courage then! what cannot be avoided 'Twere childish weakness to lament or fear."

[GreatGrumbledook]

... to chide the waves as speak them fair. And what is Edward but ruthless sea? What Clarence but a quicksand of deceit? And Richard but a ragged fatal rock? All these the enemies to our poor bark. Say you can swim; alas, 'tis but a while! Tread on the sand; why, there you quickly sink: Bestride the rock; the tide will wash you off, Or else you famish; that's a threefold death. This speak I, lords, to let you understand, If case some one of you would fly from us, That there's no hoped-for ...