RICHARD II

RICHARD II (1978)

BBC Release

Details

• DVD Region: 2+4 PAL (UK & Europe)
• Certificate: U
• Running Time: Approx. 158 minutes
• Type: Fullscreen
• Originally Transmitted: 10th December 1978
• 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 TRAGEDIE

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

"You may my glories and my state depose, but not my griefs; still I am king of those."

Richard II, who ascended to the throne as a young man, is a regal and stately monarch. He believes he is the rightful ruler of England, ordained by God, yet he is a weak and ineffective king – wasteful in his spending habits, unwise in his choice of counsellors, and detached from his country and its people. When he seizes the land of his cousin Henry Bolingbroke, both the commoners and the king's noblemen decide that their king has gone too far…

This production boasted the most distinguished cast of the entire project, with Derek Jacobi in the title role and John Gielgud as John of Gaunt. Perfectly suited to a play that consists entirely of verse, their efforts were augmented by a studio set that enabled the director to reflect an intense psychological struggle as well as a taut political drama.

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CAST

First billed only

• Derek Jacobi ... Richard II
• John Gielgud ... John of Gaunt
• Jon Finch ... Henry Bolingbroke
• Wendy Hiller ... Duchess of York
• Charles Gray ... Duke of York
• Mary Morris ... Duchess of Gloucester
• David Swift ... Duke of Northumberland
• Clifford Rose ... Bishop of Carlisle
• Charles Keating ... Duke of Aumerle
• Richard Owens ... Thomas Mowbray
• Janet Maw ... Queen
• Jeffrey Holland ... Duke of Surrey
• Jeremy Bulloch ... Henry Percy
• Robin Sachs ... Bushy
• Damien Thomas ... Bagot
• Alan Dalton ... Green
• David Dodimead ... Lord Ross
• John Flint ... Lord Willoughby
• Carl Oatley ... Earl Berkeley
• William Whymper ... Sir Stephen Scroop
• John Barcroft ... Earl of Salisbury
• David Garfield ... Welsh Captain
• Desmond Adams ... Sir Pierce of Exton
• Joe Ritchie ... Groom
• Paddy Ward ... Keeper
• Bruno Barnabe ... Abbot of Westminster
• Jonathan Adams ... Gardener
• Alan Collins ... Gardener's Man
• John Curless ... Lord Fitzwater
• Terry Wright ... Murderer
• Ronald Fernee ... Servant
• Tim Brown ... Herald
• Mike Lewin ... Herald
• Phillida Sewell ... Queen's Lady
• Sandra Frieze ... Queen's Lady

• Directed: David Giles
• Produced: Cedric Messina
• Playwright: William Shakespeare