"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!"

The final battle scenes, from a 1983 TV Movie. Worth watching - read along with the text and leave a comment about your thoughts.



To compare, watch the goofy McKellen version, which features the famous line reading of "my kingdom for a horse" occurs when his jeep is stuck on some rubble (at around the 2-minute mark). Notice also a very young Jimmy McNulty from The Wire as the man who shoots Richard (I assume he plays Richmond).

Looking for Richard Trailer

There is not much of Looking for Richard available on Youtube, but this is the original movie trailer for it.

Valentino Achak Deng today, and his foundation

If you are curious about Valentino Achak Deng, the protagonist of What is the What, check out this link:

McKellen would be a great Lit Professor

Check out this site: http://www.stageworkmckellen.com/.

It's Ian McKellen explaining various aspects of Richard III. Interesting and interactive site.

Ian McKellan and Lawrence Olivier both try their hand at wooing Lady Anne

Compare these two filmed versions of I.ii. The first is Ian McKellan as Richard, wooing Lady Anne (Kristin Scott Thomas) in a morgue. The second is Lawrence Olivier (we listened to a recording of him in class), whose performance as Richard III is a pretty famous one. How are these compared to the Winona Ryder/Al Pacino reading of the scene in Looking for Richard? What elements of the characters are emphasized in each?

McKellan's Richard III: Act II, Scene II

Note this scene announcing the death of King Edward and the subsequent plans to retrieve the Prince. Note Rivers' (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) concern about getting him right away, and sneaky Buckingham's suggestion that it be a "small train" to get him. We know why he suggested this, and Rivers is suspicious, but Buckingham is able to convince them that this is the right way to go. Note also Maggie Smith (you might recognize her from the Harry Potter films, as well as Sister Act) as the Duchess of York. Follow along with your script: What other choices did the directors, screenwriters, and actors make to achieve meaning in this scene?

Richard III: Act I, Scene III

We watched this scene in detail from the Al Pacino film, Looking for Richard, but didn't watch it from the McKellan version. Note some of the interesting choices; for example, Richard enters the scene with Lady Anne on his arm, like a trophy. And, sadly, no Queen Margaret. Follow along with your script and note changes or choices made and how they create meaning.

Three readings of Richard's opening soliloquy

Follow along with your script. How did the actors' readings change meaning? Which is most effective? Leave a comment and share your opinion.

Animated Shakespeare: Richard III

Amusing and accessible version of Richard III (it's in order - Part I, Part II, and Part III, and around 25 minutes total).