The Taming of the Shrew
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Movie Reviews of The Taming of the Shrew
Movie Review: Spectacularly entertaining movie based on Shakespeare's politically incorrect play
Summary: 5 Stars
+++++
This movie is based on William Shakespeare's play, the romantic comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" (written circa 1590).
The movie and play only have five major characters:
(1) Baptista Monola (Michael Hordern): a rich gentleman of Padua. He insists that his elder daughter (a shrew or what we today call a "bitch") marry before his younger daughter does.
(2) Katharina (Elizabeth Taylor): his beautiful, elder daughter, "as brown as hue as hazel nuts," whose "only fault, and that is faults enough, is that she is intolerable curst and shrewd and forward." She is also called KATE.
(3) Bianca (Natasha Pyne, her movie debut): her younger sister, as modest and gentle as Kate is wild and unruly. She has a few suitors after her.
(4) Petruchio (Richard Burton): "a mad-brain rudesby" and a "swearing Jack," yet a gentleman of Verona, resolved to "tame" Kate. (It's this taming that makes the play and movie politically incorrect today.) He has two servants.
(5) Lucentio (Michael York, his movie debut): a young man, "a proper stripling an amorous," in love with Bianca. He has two servants.
To appreciate this movie fully, you must realize that Elizabeth Taylor and the late Richard Burton were ever-quarrelling lovers (just as Kate and Petruchio are) in real life in the 1960s with their on-again, off-again marriage. Thus, some say that these were the best movie roles of these two great actors.
These two lovers play out their own love affair in period costumes, and we're never allowed to forget that we're watching a movie with two famous stars (just as in the original play we are never allowed to forget that Kate and Petruchio are playing a part).
Director Franco Zeffirelli has cut some stuff found in the original play but to compensate, he provides more physical action thus making this comedy more accessible to the modern movie watcher. As well, he has left intact the boisterous vitality of the play and most of its poetry.
Despite its raucous energy, this movie is tame and non-controversial but still sexy with lots of broken crockery and high-spirited taming. There's no hint of the underlying cruelty that makes the play so controversial today.
This movie lacks intellectual bite but it's a flamboyant spectacle that makes few demands on the viewer. Since Shakespeare wanted to appeal to public taste, this movie probably comes closest to his own intention.
The speech uttered is brilliantly alive by all actors (especially by Burton and Taylor). Costumes are dazzling. The actual location shots add realism. The cinematography is beautiful. The background music adds to each scene.
The DVD itself is flawless in picture and sound quality. It has minimal extras.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is a worthy addition to the Bard's cinematic canon.
(1967; 2 hr; widescreen; 28 scenes)
+++++
Movie Review: Kiss me Kate.
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this movie immensely. Liz Taylor was great. Seven Brides for seven brother definately took "inspiration" from the "Taming of the Shrew". Shakespeares "Taming of the Shrew" story line is much better than "Cinderella". I loved the comedy, drama, and underlying love story.
1. Bianca has a number of admirers: Lucentio, Gremio, and Hortensio, but her father, Baptista Minola will not allow marriage until the older sister Katharina is married. Kate has a fiery tough and lashes Minola affection statements towards Bianca. Kate enraged destroys furniture, throws pottery, and curses a storm.
2. Biance's suitors convince Pertruchio to court Kate and win the dowry. Lucentio, a student changes roles and offers himself as Bianca's tutor. Shortly after, the real father of Lucentio arrives in town and confronts his imposter. Lucentio has to quick talk to passify his father. Gremio wants Bianca for himself, but Lucentio gets the girl. Lucentio, domestic and stable, young and strong, is the better choice.
3. Kate thinks to outsmart Pertruchio and embarrass him at the marriage alter, but before she can declare "I will not marry him", Pertruchio kisses her mid sentence after "I will". Pertruchio is late, drunk, and displays crass mannerism upon his church arrival. Petruchio thinks little of the religious ceremony and less affection towards the clergy.
4. Petruchio departs early from the marriage party with his servant Grumio. Petruchio compels Kate to leave with him, as his possession. Kate rides on a donkey and realizes hopeless that she can not return home. Now, Petruchio is not forcing her to follow, but out of necessity Kate follows.
5. Kate arrives at Petruchio's house but Petruchio denies her food.
6. Petruchio receives a letter announcing Bianca wedding to Lucentio and orders a dress designed and crafted for Kate, but finds fault with the dress and shreds the dress. Kate is forced to wear old clothes.
7. Petruchio gambles for 4,000 ducats on who has the most obedient wife. Each wife is asked to return to the room, but denies the request and only Kate obeys her husband. The room is shocked. Petruchio dominates and Kate submits to his request for a kiss.
Movie Review: More Fun Than A Barrel Full Of Burtons
Summary: 5 Stars
A rollicking feast for the eye, ear, and funny bone, Franco Zeffirelli's "The Taming of The Shrew" is a tour de force for Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. This pared down version of William Shakespeare's play is a fit morsel for anyone suffering from a fear of the Bard. It's fast pace keeps things going and with a cast of well-known British stars the whole thing is served up to delectable visual perfection. Richard Burton blends his fabled abilities as a Shakespearian genius with his star power to give us a ribald and loveable Petruchio. This is one of his crowning moments on the screen and we are lucky to have this record of Mr. Burton at his very best.
Elizabeth Taylor is a comic revelation in this, one of her jewels in her acting crown. At the time the film came out, many scoffed at the idea of a mere movie star taking on the challenges of Shakespeare. Miss Taylor rises to the challenge and shines as a stunning, sexy and very funny Kate, in fact she more than rises to the occasion, she shows her command of the medium of film and her understanding of comic timing. The wedding scene is a pure Zeffirelli invention. If you didn't know better you would swear that it was part of the play, it is so well done in faux Shakespeare. Elizabeth shines in this scene. In the final fifteen minutes when she delivers the famous "Lord and Master" speech she is triumphant as she submits to her man. At the same time we know that she is the one who holds all the cards and in the off stage end will rule the roost from now on, all the while letting poor Petruchio think he is king.
The chemistry of Burton and Taylor is pure dynamite that explodes in riotous color across Zeffirelli's Renaissance canvas. Highly recommended viewing, especially if you are new to Shakespeare. It's more fun than a barrel full of Burtons!
Movie Review: Joyous Shakespearian Romp Starring Film Legends Taylor And Burton
Summary: 5 Stars
Never having been a fan of Shakespeare while in school this wonderful film version of the Bard's rollicking comic story was responsible for me seeing his works in a different light. Considered quite a risk to film in late 1966 due to Shakespeare's reputation for serious literary works which possibly lacked alot of mass appeal, this sumptuous film version of one of his best comedies became a surprise hit at the Box Office proving that Shakspeare could be big box office. The film proved an ideal vehicle for screen legends Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton who in the mid 1960's were without a doubt the most famous or "infamous", movie couple in the world. Fresh from their triumph in the critically acclaimed "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?", for which Elizabeth was destined to win her second Academy Award as Best Actress, "The Taming of the Shrew", proved to be an ideal follow up to that more serious earlier effort for the Burtons. Both films were unique in that they gave audiences the impression that what they were actually seeing on screen was very similiar to the much chronicled and very volatile real life marriage of the two colourful super stars. That in itself despite "Shrews", many admirable qualities ensured big box office earnings. Whether it did accurately reflect the Burton's real life marriage or not "The Taming of the Shrew", is a hugely entertaining romp that stands on its own merits and is a rare film based on a highly intellectual work that can be enjoyed by all viewers with its incredibly rich sets, breath taking costumes and music. Richard Burton and especially Elizabeth Taylor have rarely been better than here and it is sad to think that this film marked the last time where their names together on a film guaranteed its automatic success at the Box Office.Movie Review: One of the Burton-Taylor Duo's Best Offerings
Summary: 5 Stars
While married to each other Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor made a lot of movies, some of which are hardly worth watching. This one fortunately does not fall into that category. Based of course on Mr. Shakespeare's comedy by the same name, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW succeeds on every level. It is infused with the genius of the director Franco Zeffirelli (ROMEO AND JULIET) from start to finish. The photography, the soundtrack and the costumes are perfect. There is a host of motley minor characters who always remain in character. Burton and Taylor fill up the screen with their portrayals of Petruchio and Kate. Burton proves he is a great comic actor and Taylor, who has never been more beautiful, certainly gives a fine performance as the "shrew" who gets tamed. Notice her eyes and hands when she and Burton kneel for their marriage vows if you are one of those who doubt her acting ability. (We are quite certain she is acting because we are suspect that no man ever tamed her in real life.)
The plot is simple. Batista, a rich man from Padua, wants his younger daughter Bianca (Natasha Pyne) married, but his older daughter Katarina must wed first. In the end, after the over-the-top wedding of Kate and Petruchio, Lucentio (Michael York) gets the young and more modest Bianca. Only occasionally do the physical antics of Taylor and Burton get a bit too much. Of course the story is as politically incorrect as you can imagine. There are no parts here for Alan Alda. It is a comedy after all, so don't take it too seriously.
This film holds up very, very well after almost 40 years, proving once again that almost anything connected with Shakespeare lasts.