Rebecca, Tori, and guest host Louise embark on a wallow into Shakespeare in honor of the Bard's April birthday. We delve into the 1955 Laurence Olivier adaptation of Shakespeare's Richard III. We chat about Richard's complex character, the portrayal of women, and the historical context surrounding the play. We discuss production choices like what was cut from the play and the use of color and shadow. We can't help but critique character portrayals, including the miscasting of King Edward and the performance of child actors. We end with some reflections on Olivier's vocal performance and its impact on the overall experience of the play.
Music
Apache Rock Instrumental | by Sound Atelier; licensed from Jamendo
Remember the Way | by Mid-Air Machine on the Free Music Archive
Sound Effect
Record Scratch Sound Effect free on Pixabay
Sources
- The Criterion Collection: Richard III: Red-Blooded Richard
- Criterion: Richard III, 1955 | Criterion Close-Up
- Historical Royal Castles | Tower of London
- St. Paul - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online
- Great Britain National Archives | Richard III
- The Royal Household | Richard III
- Niccolò Machiavelli (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)
- 16 Key Figures in the Wars of the Roses | History Hit
- My thoughts on: Richard III (1955) | Film Music Central