How is Al Pacino’s acting career connected to his portrayal of Richard III?
Al Pacino’s acting career includes iconic roles in ‘The Godfather’ and ‘Scarface’. His films often delve into themes of power, corruption, and morality, and his portrayal of Richard III draws on his history with gangster movies.
How does contemporary American culture shape reactions to Richard III?
- American popular culture’s dominance affects the accessibility of Shakespearean works.
- Increased secularism alters interpretations of divine right and political authority.
- Emphasis on the ‘self-made man’ in contemporary America contrasts with historical contexts.
- Liberal values of cooperation, empathy, and freedom of speech shape modern perspectives.
- The elevated status of Shakespeare’s works can create barriers for everyday audiences.
How does the film use postmodern techniques to present its narrative?
- Postmodern genre blending in film allows for innovative storytelling approaches.
- Meta-documentary style bridges historical narratives with contemporary audiences.
“When we speak with no feeling we get nothing out of our society. We should speak like Shakespeare. […] Because then the kids would have feelings. So we have no feelings. That’s why it’s easy for us to get a gun and shoot each other. We don’t feel for each other, but if we were taught to feel, we wouldn’t be so violent.”
On two separate occasions it has been this person, although he appears to be homeless, who has been the most erudite with his views on Shakespeare, suggesting that it is possible for the everyman to have a comprehensive, insightful understasnding of his work.
Alterations to the text
- The language of the ‘prophecy’ regarding George is changed, making the ‘G of Edward’s heirs’ to a ‘C’. However, this removes some of the subtext from the line – Richard himself is Duke of Gloucester.
- Removing ‘melancholy’ to instead just call the king weak and sickly, as ‘melancholy’ has taken on a meaning more connected to feeling than physical health.
- In the Public Shakespeare Company’s production, Richard childishly and mockingly refers to Clarence as “Georgie” throughout his soliloquies, solidifying that name in the audience’s minds.
Why is Lady Anne aged down in this production?
Al Pacino reframes the interaction between Richard and Lady Anne by making her much younger than he is, making it feel more plausible that she might ‘fall for it’, so to speak. He also emphasises the manipulative, almost seductive angle of the scene, making it a moment of ‘giving in’ to sin or vice.
