The Tragedy of Richard III
Synopsis
Richard Duke of Gloucester, youngest brother of King Edward IV, will stop at nothing to get the crown. He first convinces the ailing King that the Duke of Clarence, his elder brother, is a threat to the lives of Edward's two young sons. Edward has him imprisoned in the Tower of London; killers in Richard's pay then drown Clarence in a barrel of wine. When news of Clarence's death reaches the King, the subsequent grief and remorse bring about his death. Richard is made Lord Protector, with power to rule England while his nephew (now King Edward V) is still a minor. Before the young king's coronation he has his two nephews conveyed to the Tower, ostensibly for their safekeeping. Richard's accomplice, the Duke of Buckingham, then declares the two boys illegitimate and offers Richard the crown, which after a show of reticence he accepts. After Richard's coronation, he and Buckingham have a falling-out over whether or not to assassinate the two children.
Top Cast
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Ron Cook
Richard III
Peter Benson
King Henry VI
Michael Byrne
Duke of Buckingham
Julia Foster
Queen Margaret
Bernard Hill
First Murderer
Zoë Wanamaker
Lady Anne
Mark Wing-Davey
First Citizen / Sir James Tyrrel
Brian Protheroe
King Edward IV
Antony Brown
Sir Richard Ratcliffe
David Burke
Sir William Catesby
Anne Carroll
Jane Shore
Paul Chapman
Earl Rivers
Rowena Cooper
Queen Elizabeth
Arthur Cox
Lord Grey / Lord Mayor of London
Annette Crosbie
Duchess of York
David Daker
Lord Hastings
Brian Deacon
Second Citizen / First Messenger / Earl of Richmond
Jeremy Dimmick
Young Duke of York
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jane Howell
- Screenplay & Story
- William Shakespeare
- Original Score
- Dudley Simpson
- Original Title
- The Tragedy of Richard III
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 3h 50m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jane Howell
William Shakespeare
Dudley Simpson
Department Leadership Roster
Jane Howell
Director
Dudley Simpson
Original Music Composer
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Tragedy of Richard III.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Tragedy of Richard III.
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THE ULTRA-FANDANGO MIND-BENDING FLICKERS PROJECT 2014 🧠
After taking last year off without doing a film challenge (and merely watching a little over 300 films), I challenged myself this year once again to watch as many films as possible . . . and here they be. Films missing from letterboxd: Dr. Shocker's Vault of Horror (2013) The Ackermonster Chronicles (2012) The Booth (1985)
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Tragedy of Richard III
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Tragedy of Richard III about?
Richard Duke of Gloucester, youngest brother of King Edward IV, will stop at nothing to get the crown. He first convinces the ailing King that the Duke of Clarence, his elder brother, is a threat to the lives of Edward's two young sons. Edward has him imprisoned in the Tower of London; killers in Richard's pay then drown Clarence in a barrel of wine. When news of Clarence's death reaches the King, the subsequent grief and remorse bring about his death. Richard is made Lord Protector, with power to rule England while his nephew (now King Edward V) is still a minor. Before the young king's coronation he has his two nephews conveyed to the Tower, ostensibly for their safekeeping. Richard's accomplice, the Duke of Buckingham, then declares the two boys illegitimate and offers Richard the crown, which after a show of reticence he accepts. After Richard's coronation, he and Buckingham have a falling-out over whether or not to assassinate the two children.
Who directed The Tragedy of Richard III?
The Tragedy of Richard III was directed by Jane Howell.
Who stars in The Tragedy of Richard III?
The principal cast of The Tragedy of Richard III includes Ron Cook, Peter Benson, Michael Byrne, Julia Foster, Bernard Hill.
When was The Tragedy of Richard III released and how long is it?
The Tragedy of Richard III was released in 1983 with a total runtime of 3h 50m.
Who composed the musical score for The Tragedy of Richard III?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Tragedy of Richard III was composed by Dudley Simpson.