oddbodd
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Richard III (1955)Regardless of which side of the Richard III debate you take, it cannot be denied that the ways in which Shakespeare altered the story of this king - whether through Tudor propagander or simply dramatic licence - they nonetheless make this a very good piece of drama - especially for works of his time. They were necessary for that reason.
Likewise, the transition from play to screenplay has required further changes to make this a good film, which otherwise might not have been the case had they stuck to the original script. Granted, this seemed to be overdone sometimes. The eponymous villain's opening soliloquy, which provides much of the explanation of his motivation for his evil machinations, has been moved around and mixed up with his second major monologue. In truth, it doesn't take anything away from the story, but it's a shame to see such a rousing piece changed to such an extent.
Despite this, the film fails to disappoint in other areas. The sets and costumes are delightfully lavish, putting modern Shakespeare troupes much to shame. The casting is also excellent. John Gielgud, who has played Richard III on stage, plays an ailing King Edward IV to great aplomb. The show is usurped, however, by Laurence Olivier, whose performace as Richard III is unsurpassable, and he even looks the part to the tiniest detail.
This is as good a Shakespearean adaptation as I've seen to date.
Rating out of five: 
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