Soon after Edward IV (Cedric Hardwicke) is crowned, his brother Richard (Laurence Olivier), a hunchback whose disfigured body houses a twisted soul, begins scheming for the throne of England. He woos and wins the Lady Anne (Claire Bloom), then poisons Edward's mind against their brother, Clarence (John Gielgud), later securing his death. But even after his coronation, Richard continues with his villainous campaign to secure his position as king...