RICHARD III Galas

Afi Fest is proud to present the world premiere of the restored print of an epic l 91 2 version of Shakespeare’s Richard Ill, a film previously believed to be lost. Being shown publicly for the first time in eighty years, Richard Ill was one of the earliest feature- length releases and the first feature-length motion picture adaptation of a Shakespearean play. Restored from the original nitrate print, much of the tones and hand-stencilled color sequences have been retained, offering modern audiences an insight into early “color” filmmaking. The film’s star, British-born Frederick Warde ( l 851-1 935), was one of the leading Shakespearean actors of the period. Shot on Bronx’s City Island and Westchester County, New York, Richard Ill was a huge production for its time, featuring lavish sets, hundreds of extras and costing an extravagant $30,000 to produce. Considered a lost treasure for most of the century, the print was in fact being preserved in perfect condition by William Buffum in Oregon. Having, acquired the film over thirty years ago, he has generously donated it to the American Film Institute to insure its viewing by future generations. While Richard Ill is a silent film, it will be presented with live musical accompaniment by a chamber orchestra under the direction of Robert Israel. AFI gratefully acknowledges the tremendous contribution of William Buffum whose respect for silent film saved the only existing print of Richard Ill, and The Joseph H. Kanter Foundation whose generosity makes this evening and future screenings possible.