MovieChat Forums > Richard III (1956) Discussion > Richard's first speech

Richard's first speech


I've read the play but the opening lines of play are way different then they are in this flim version.

I know that Olivier borrowed from Henry the VI but where did he get the extra set of lines for the opening? Or am I did I miss something huge in the opening part of the play?

Thank You!

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There are two alterations to the opening. The film begins with the final scene of the preceding play in Shakespeare's history cycle, HENRY VI, PART 3. This depicts King Edward's re-claiming of the throne, and his efforts to unite various warring factions.

As the crowd leaves Richard alone, he begins the famous soliloquy that starts RICHARD III, and in a stage tradition that isn't much done anymore, includes part of an earlier soliloquy from HENRY VI,3.

The entire film features emendations in this fashion (though none are from another Shakespeare play), and of course many cuts. An uncut RICHARD would be one of Shakespeare's longest plays, and would run close to 4 hours. Olivier's movie is 2, hours 40 minutes, and McKellen's modern version only a little over 2 hours.

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Thank you! I've been wondering about that change.

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Here is the speech verbatim as it is performed in the film:

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York
And all the clouds that lower'd upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths
Our bruised arms hung up for monuments
Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures
Grim-visag'd war hath smoothed his wrinkled front
And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds
To fright the souls of fearful adversaries
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute
But I, that am not shap'd for sportive tricks
Nor made to court an amourous looking-glass
I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty
To strut before a wanton, ambling nymph
I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature
Deform'd, unfinished, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up
And that so lamely and unfashionable
That dogs bark at me as I halt by them
Why, love forswore me in my mother's womb:
And, for I should not deal in her soft laws,
She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe,
To shrink mine arm up like a wither'd shrub;
To make an envious mountain on my back,
To shape my legs of an unequal size;
To disproportion me in every part,
Like to a chaos, or an unlick'd bear-whelp
That carries no impression like the dam.
While, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time.
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun
And descant on mine own deformity
Then, since this earth affords no joy to me,
But to command, to cheque, to o'erbear
Such as are of better person than myself,
I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown,
And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell,
Until this mis-shaped trunk that bears this head
Be round impaled with a glorious crown.
But yet I know not how to get the crown,
For many lives stand between me and home:
And I,--like one lost in a thorny wood,
That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns
Seeking a way and straying from the way;
Not knowing how to find the open air,
But toiling desperately to find it out,--
Torment myself to catch the English crown:
And from that torment I will free myself,
Or hew my way out with a bloody axe.
Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile,
And cry 'Content' to that which grieves my heart,
And wet my cheeks with artificial tears,
And frame my face to all occasions.
I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall;
I'll play the orator as well as Nestor,
Deceive more slily than Ulysses could,
And, like a Sinon, take another Troy.
I can add colours to the chameleon,
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And set the murderous Machiavel to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it farther off, I'll pluck it down.

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An uncut RICHARD would be one of Shakespeare's longest plays, and would run close to 4 hours. Olivier's movie is 2, hours 40 minutes, and McKellen's modern version only a little over 2 hours.

Yeah, I noticed that they glossed over some details, especially Richard killing Anne (it's semi-implied by the dream, but I didn't recall it being said anywhere else).

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Also, should anyone want the soliloquy for their iPod or whatnot, go here: http://audiobookcorner.blogspot.com/2009/07/olivier-vs-sellers.html


And finally: http://discontent.ytmnd.com/

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the director took license to rearrange the play.

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