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Who is this fascist, and what is he doing on the Queen of Scots Web Pages?
Why, it's Sir Ian McKellen, dressed for his role in Shakespeare's Richard III.
Synopsis of the film
England during the 1930s rages with a bloody Civil War that ends with the assassination of the King. His successor, Edward, and his American-born wife, Queen Elizabeth, have three children, and the throne finally seems secure for generations to come. But Edward's charismatic and power-hungry youngest brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, has other ideas...
Richard, whilst cutting a dashing figure, was far from blessed with classic good looks. Deformed from birth, bearing a hunchback and withered left arm, he nonetheless overcame his physical difficulties by compensating with devastating charm, wit, courage and guile. In other words, all the tools of the trade to be the perfect seducer of women and charmer and leader of men. Armed with such formidable talent, he sets about realising his ultimate dream: the Throne of England!
The plan begins with his seduction of and eventual marriage to Lady Anne, whose husband he killed during the Civil War. The wheels are now being set in motion and Richard's dark and destructive plans are taking shape, aided by the greedy Duke of Buckingham and Richard's loyal servant and assassin, James Tyrell.
Richard's path to the throne is hampered by various obstacles who must be removed: firstly, his elder brother, Clarence, a gentle and trusting man who is murdered in the Tower of London. Mortified by the belief that at his word Clarence has died, King Edward, who is already gravely ill, dies within a few days. This leaves the Queen's brother Earl Rivers in a position of power. Within days, he two falls victim to Richard's murderous scheme, and is killed in bed, whilst making love to his mistress.
King Edward's heir, the under-age Prince of Wales, arrives in London aboard the Royal Train (the Queen of Scots). By rights he should now inherit the throne. Richard is pronounced Lord Protector of the Prince, who he then has locked up in the Tower with his baby brother James [sic].
Following Richard's elimination of the Prime Minister, Lord Hastings, a reign of terror commences, during which the country's elite flock to Richard's side and allow him to achieve his ultimate aim: he is crowned King Richard III of England.
But the bloodbath continues: the young Princes in the Tower are murdered, as is Richard's own wife, Lady Anne. An opposition party forms against the new King, headed by young Henry Richmond, who is raising an army to invade.
A fighting man once more, Richard prepares to meet his enemy. But his luck is running out: his friends, including a disenchanted Buckingham, decide to support Richmond, as does his mother the Duchess of York; a woman who has never felt anything less than repulsion for her deformed youngest son. He also fails in his persuasion of Queen Elizabeth for the hand in marriage of her daughter, and she is instead wed to Richmond.
Overwhelmed by superior forces and by a bad conscience, King Richard III makes one last defiant act on the battlefield, ensuring that neither side is the victor, that good, ultimately, has not conquered evil....
RICHARD III The home page for the MGM-UA film Richard III, where the Queen of Scots luxury touring Train is used to good effect as the Royal Train.
Since the RICHARD III SOCIETY, American Branch, has a different view to that of Shakespeare, we are sure you will want to visit their Home Page.
Return to The Queen of Scots Home Page.
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