Richard III

A fascinating record of F.R Benson’s famed production at Stratford’s Shakespeare Memorial Theatre.

The Co-operative Cinematograph produced this abbreviated record of the legendary F.R Benson’s production, filmed at the Stratford’s Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. Originally one of a series of Shakespeare films from Benson’s company, which included Julius Caesar, Macbeth and The Taming of the Shrew, this film is the only one known to survive.

A literal recording with a fixed camera and short explanatory titles from the play, it’s a fascinating record of a swaggering performance, but was not intended to be anything other than that. As such, it falls short as a cinematic adaptation of Shakespeare, but offers a valuable record of a performer knighted by King George for his Shakespeare productions.