Riccardo III_
Riccardo III is a theatre play staged in 1977 and also edited for television and aired in 1981, which Carmelo Bene dedicated to his friend Gilles Deleuze, who wrote a book about it before even seeing it. Bene strips down the original Shakespeare play to the core, rejecting plot and characters, leaving on stage only Riccardo III and his ghosts, the female characters. The TV version is characterized by an exstensive use of close-ups and strong light contrast.
Starring
Carmelo Bene, Lydia Mancinelli, Maria Grazia Grassini
Updated Feb 16, 2026
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Year context
Riccardo III was released 45 years ago in 1981.
Overview
Riccardo III is a theatre play staged in 1977 and also edited for television and aired in 1981, which Carmelo Bene dedicated to his friend Gilles Deleuze, wh...
Riccardo III is a Comedy, TV Movie film with a runtime of 1h 16m.
CAST (7)
Carmelo Bene
Riccardo III
Lydia Mancinelli
Duchessa di York
Maria Grazia Grassini
Elisabetta
Susanna Javicoli
Lady Anna Warwick
Laura Morante
Buckingham
Daniela Silverio
Margherita, ex Regina, vedova del defunto Enrico VI
LD
Licia Dotti
Madame Shoe
DETAILS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Riccardo III about?
Riccardo III is a theatre play staged in 1977 and also edited for television and aired in 1981, which Carmelo Bene dedicated to his friend Gilles Deleuze, who wrote a book about it before even seeing it. Bene strips down the original Shakespeare play to the core, rejecting plot and characters, leaving on stage only Riccardo III and his ghosts, the female characters. The TV version is characterized by an exstensive use of close-ups and strong light contrast.
How long is Riccardo III?
Riccardo III has a runtime of 76 minutes (1h 16m).
Who stars in Riccardo III?
The cast of Riccardo III includes Carmelo Bene, Lydia Mancinelli, Maria Grazia Grassini, Susanna Javicoli, Laura Morante.
GENRES (2)
Comedy
TV Movie