Week 9: Richard III (Laurence Olivier 1954)

 

Richar III poster & movie trailer link



The use of shadows and looking through windows was particularly effective. The shadows gave the feeling of eavesdropping, secrets, people watching and general sneakiness. Looking through windows had this effect too, but it gave the sense that the audience and Richard were always on the outside looking in. This is normal for an audience, but it gave me the feeling that Richard was not wholly accepted by his peers or was looked upon as a cripple and with unease.

Control:One of the first scenes of this dark tragedy is Richard revealing his jealousy and ambition through direct dialogue to the audience. Richard’s character is similar to that of Othello and Macbeth; he uses a well meaning mask to fool everyone around him.  The frequent direct dialogue at the beginning of the movie demonstrated Richard’s control of the plans he has set in motion, who eventually gains the power position of King by presenting himself as the modest and true heir to the throne. The power goes to his head though, and he progressively becomes irrational, paranoid and unpredictable. Towards the end of the movie, the direct dialogues are less frequent, suggesting his loss of control.

Richard is visited by the ghosts of his victims, all of whom tell him to despair and die! Richard is shaken by this, realizing that he has lost control, that everyone has turned against him, and that he has isolated himself.

The attraction to Evil:

·         Richard III: Molds himself to be evil in order to secure the crown for himself.'I am determined to prove a villian and hate the idle pleasure of these days'. He describes himself as subtle, false and treacherous. He never expresses regret or remorse.

·         Lady Anne: is allured by Richard’s evil demeanor: she knows that Richard killed her Father and her Husband because Richard admits it to her, stating that he killed them because he would make a better husband to her: ‘He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband, did it to help thee to a better husband’, and that it was her beauty which haunted him that made him do it. She is won over by his manipulative sweet lies, believing him to be a penitent man, 'With all my heart; and much it joys me too, to see you are become so penitent.'

·         Buckingham: is lured into evil and into helping Richard become popular with the public by the promise of another title and more land and wealth. He does come around though when he refuses Richard’s request that he murders the infant princes.

Discussion Question: 'Ambition, madness, revenge. Richard III has it all. He loses in the end because his own class turns against him'. Discuss.

The insecurity of tyrants:Richard’s ambition for the throne is cast early. Youngest brother of three, Richard was in constant competition as to who would succeed the throne, and he soon realised that his clever attitude and his physical deformity were two of the many reasons why he would be kept from it. His insecurities lead to a deep hatred.

His running commentaries when he is out of earshot of others reveal his true evil character: ‘And thus I clothe my naked villainy with old odd ends stolen out of holy writ; and seem a saint, when most I play the devil. My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, and every tongue brings in a several tale, and every tale condemns me for a villain.’

Richard adopts a mask of innocence to deceive and to disguise the evil murderous plots he has put into action. His constant fear of vengeance from his subjects, and his anxiety gets worse as he gains the power he so desperately wanted, and eventually this leads his adversaries to see through his mask. Richard III is his own worst enemy.