HENRY VI, PART 3

HENRY VI, PART 3 (1983)

BBC Release

Details

• DVD Region: 2+4 PAL (UK & Europe)
• Certificate: PG
• Running Time: Approx. 211 minutes
• Type: Fullscreen
• Originally Transmitted: 16th January 1983
• DVD Release Date: 2005
• Released By: BBC Worldwide Ltd.
• Distributed By: DD Home Entertainment
• Format: Colour DVD PAL
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Audio: Mono
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3

© BBC Television in association with Time-Life
All Rights Reserved

A HISTORIE

In 1978, the BBC set itself the task of filming all of William Shakespeare’s plays for television. The resulting productions, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilised the best theatrical and television directors and featured outstanding performances from leading contemporary actors.

The Duke of York (Bernard Hill) stakes his claim to the throne, but when he dies in battle, the issue is taken up among his sons who install Edward (Brian Protheroe), the eldest, on the throne. Henry VI (Peter Benson) relents, but his wife Margaret (Julia Foster) will not give up royalty so easily and fights on.

Julia Foster makes for a ferocious, ruthless Margaret and is contrasted with Benson, who generates sympathy for his weakling king. Paul Jesson makes for an interesting Clarence. This play shows he is definitely not a hapless dupe, and Jesson captures it brilliantly. Ron Cook begins his murderous path as Richard, while Brian Protheroe portrays an arrogant, self-righteous Edward.

The sets, once colourful, shift to black and snowy white in the heat and cold of bloody battle. Lensing and camera-work are excellent, capturing multiple moments and speeches in single takes.

As Richard skulks out of his brothers’ celebration party, one can only dread what lies in store in the final episode of the Histories Cycle, Richard III.

Dramatis Personae

In alphabetical order:

• Peter Aldwyn ... Second Company
• John Benfield ... Earl of Northumberland / 2nd Keeper / Huntsman
• Peter Benson ... Henry VI
• Paul Benzing ... Second Company
• Brian Binns ... Second Company
• Gerald Blackmore ... Second Company
• Stephen Brigden ... Second Company
• Gerald Broadley ... Drummer
• Antony Brown ... Lewis, King of France / Sir John Montgomery
• Michael Byrne ... Marquess of Montague / Father that killed his son
• Mark Lindsay Chapman ... Second Company
• Paul Chapman ... Earl Rivers
• Michael Cogan ... Second Company
• Ron Cook ... Richard, Duke of Gloucester
• Rowena Cooper ... Lady Elizabeth Grey, later Queen
• Arthur Cox ... Duke of Somerset
• Stuart Cox ... Second Company
• David Daker ... Lord Hastings
• Mathew David ... Edmund, Earl of Rutland
• Brian Deacon ... Earl of Oxford
• John Dempster ... Drummer
• Jonathan Evans ... Second Company
• Tenniel Evans ... Messenger to York / First Keeper / First Watchman
• Derek Farr ... Duke of Exeter / Mayor of York
• Mark Fletcher ... Second Company
• Julia Foster ... Queen Margaret
• Derek Fuke ... Earl of Westmoreland / Post
• Tim Fuke ... Young Richmond
• Michael Gardiner ... Second Company
• Nigel Gomm ... Trumpeter
• David Goodwin ... Second Company
• Barry Grantham ... Second Company
• Alex Guard ... Son that Killed his Father / Marquess of Dorset
• Nick Hall ... Second Company
• Bernard Hill ... Duke of York
• Paul Jesson ... George, Duke of Clarence
• Merelina Kendall ... Lady Bona
• Angus Kennedy ... Second Company
• Hamish Kerr ... Second Company
• David Leonard ... Second Company
• Hus Levant ... Second Company
• Brian Little ... Drummer
• David Ludwig ... Second Company
• Peter Macklin ... Second Company
• Oengus MacNamara ... Young Clifford / Messenger to Warwick
• Stephen Paine ... Drummer
• Brian Protheroe ... Edward IV
• Ian Puleston-Davies ... Second Company
• John Rankin ... Second Company
• Nick Reding ... Edward, Prince of Wales
• Martin Rutledge ... Second Company
• Peter Searles ... Second Company
• Brian Stephens ... Second Company
• Dikran Tulaine ... Second Company
• Frank Walsh ... Trumpeter
• Mark Wing-Davey ... Earl of Warwick
• Peter Wyatt ... Duke of Norfolk

• Director: Jane Howell
• Produced: Jonathan Miller
• Adapted: William Shakespeare’s original play