Is the Movie Correct?

The movie has many different take-offs from the original version of Richard III by William Shakespeare. One detail that is different is the scene when Richard tries to trick the men that he doesn't want the crown. He is supposed to come out with two priests on either side due to the fact that he was in "prayer." However, in the movie he just comes out with a prayer book and no priests. The book isn't even a prayer book, it is a novel that the cover is taken off. Also, when one of the characters is killed he is killed through the bed while with a woman. Also, another difference is that the princes never make fun of Richard. In the book, the princes sarcastically make fun and tease Richard; however, in the movie they get into the car and no jokes are tossed around.

Richard III Movie

In the movie version of Richard III there were many things that I liked. One thing that I enjoyed was the setting that they used. The director placed it in Great Britain in the 1930s. They replicated it very well with the multiple amounts of cigarettes always smoked and the costumes. The music also added was incredibly fitting for the era it was placed in, and fitting for the events occuring in the play. Even though they still used Shakespeare's original language, the accents used and the clever delivery by the actors and actresses. Another thing that I enjoyed was the casting for the play. Richard is a man who has a slight hunchback and has an evil smirk always on him. In the movie, they do not over-do it and over-dramatisize it so that is too obvious. Richard's mustache is also very fitting for his character. Finally, I also really enjoyed the delivery of the lines. Although it may sound silly, the actors did a phenomenal job by adding a lot of space between lines so that it could settle with the audience and it gave us time to comprehend what was going on. Also, they did a good execution with shared lines. One right after another was preformed so that the 10-syllable shakespeare style wasn't left out. However, there was one thing that I did not enjoy about the movie version of Richard III. Richard would sometimes talk to the screen as if he were talking to the audience. Although it might have helped clarify what was going on, it felt awkward and unorthodox as the viewer. I think the director should have had Richard purely talking to himself so that the audience could hear; however, not have Richard directly talking to the audience. In general, I really enjoyed the movie edition of Richard III.

Orations to the Soldiers

Richmond's oration to his soldiers is very different when comparing it to Richard's. Richmond starts off using positive words and treating his soldiers like his friends, not like they are beneath him. He says, "More than I have said, loving countrymen." He talks to his soldiers using nice words so that they can respect him and that he shows his respect and thankfulness for their commitment as well. Richmond then uses the theme of God's ultimate punishment as fuel to feed the soldiers' angry thoughts. "God, and our good cause, fight upon our side." He says god is with them and wants them to win, any soldier would agree that having god and religion for your victory is very important and reassuring. Especially in this community where prayer and sanctuary are so highly regarded and important, God is a very highly regarded figure. He then uses ideas like "for your wives and children" to hit a passionate note that all soldiers can relate with.

Richard, on the other hand, has a speech that is very different. Instead of being friends with his soldiers and treating them nicely, he uses critical and offending names. He says, "Remember whom you are to cope withal, a sort of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways, a scum of Brentons and base lackey peasants." Calling your soldiers "scum" and "peasants" is not the way to win their respect. He also uses the same idea of talking about wives and daughters, except he uses it in a grotesque and offending way. He says, "lie with our wives, ravish our daughters." He doesn't try to make it passionate like Richmond does by saying "do it for them and for your love for them" he basically says, "do it for them so that they dont sleep around." It is very different and Richmond's way is much better and effective.

Anne's Speech

In act 4 scene 1 Anne speaks from lines 68-91 and it includes ideas and forms of the themes discussed throughout the play. Anne has been convinced by Richard earlier in the play to be his and she accepts a ring from him, she then says, "For never yet one hour in his bed/ did i enjoy the golden dew of sleep." She says how she made a mistake and she never felt comfortable with him and has known of his evil tendencies. In the beginning of this speech she makes a reference to Hamlet and says, "When scarce the blood was well washed from his hands." Hamlet is another play by Shakespeare and hands were used as a motif for creation and destruction. This happens in Richard III too because Richard has a tendency to destroy and kill people; however, we have yet to see him have anxiety about the blood on his hands. She then uses her curse and says, "Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again." She continues to curse him under God's ultimate punishment.

Hastings and Catesby

The conversation between Hastings and Catesby follows the theme of God's decisions. Hastings says, "God knows I will not do it, to the death." (3.2.57). Then Catesby replies with, "God keep your Lordship in that gracious mind." (3.2.58). This continuous theme of God and his knowledge shows up many times in the play. At this point they are talking about Richard holding the crown and how he soon will be king. God's inevitable punishment lies with Richard because of the back-handed, evil things he's been doing. Hastings says how he will not stand to see Richard be king when he says, "I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders/ Before i'll see the crown so foul misplaced." (3.2.45-46). Richard is the only person that can handle the crown because his two brothers are dead and the princes are too young; however, Catesby later brings up the idea that Hastings should be king. He would handle it much better and be brilliant within the land. Hastings disagrees and shuns this idea.

I like the vote on your favorite play. Where did you find it?
Mr. Murphy