Richard III (1994)

Despite its cult reputation, Richard III, the last of actor-director Laurence Olivier's Shakespearean adaptations (heretofore only available on tape, cut by 20 minutes), is not a complete success. Its stylized look and Olivier's directorial decisions are intriguing, and the William Walton score is gorgeous, but the acting, oddly enough, is wildly variable. Still, this letterboxed laserdisc is by far the best video version available (though the restored footage is noticeably less crisp than the rest), and Voyager's customary fact-filled second-audio-track commentary, here provided by stage director Russell Lees, is a genuine treat. B+

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