1 Excellent! A real joy.
From the begining of this movie, when you spot Elizabeth Taylor having the temper tantrum of a lifetime, you *know* this is going to be a good time.
I adored this movie!
Kate and Bianca are sisters. Their father has decreed that the younger sister, even tempered Bianca, may not marry until her elder sister walks down the aisle. Unfortunately, Kate (Liz Taylor) has the disposition of a rattlesnake and is given to fits of anger. Thus far, it has put off any suitors, and Bianca frets that she'll never be allowed to marry. Then Pertruchio (Richard Burton) comes into the picture - a rather mad gentleman who is looking for a woman with a large dowry - and he pursues Kate, much to Kate's chagrin. Eventually, he tricks her into marriage. The honeymoon angst beings soon thereafter.
Great acting, great sets, and beautiful costuming, The Taming Of The Shrew is a great time. I am very glad I bought this one. I'll be watching it over and over again, I can guarantee.
Happy viewing.
2 More Fun Than A Barrel Full Of Burtons
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!
3 The Bawdy Bard !
"The Taming of the Shrew" is a delightful romp, and very entertaining, even for people who do not normally go out of their way to watch Shakespeare. I can imagine serious scholars rolling their eyes at the liberties taken here, and the "star turns" by those two icons of 60s Hollywood, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
However, for most of us who basically just want to be entertained--and I suspect with this play, that was the bard's intent--this version is good fun, robustly acted, and with lovely sets and costumes, a feast for the eye. One suspects that Ms. Taylor had a ball, hurling insults and various pieces of furniture at her real-life, on-again off-again, spouse. It looks like Mr. Burton had a good time too, although one frequently has the impression that this was a "well-lubricated" performance !
The supporting cast is fine, with a pleasant film debut for Michael York. As usual, Zeffirelli gives us a film that is gorgeous to look at--and I'm not just referring to Ms. Taylor !
The DVD has a certain haziness to it, but this may be the way that Zeffirelli intended the film to look.
"The Taming of the Shrew" today, of course, is about as "politically incorrect" as a piece of literature can be. While women will find this film amusing, the idea that the female spirit should be "reined in" like that of a wild horse, will cause some discomfort to feminist viewers, I'm sure.
Nevertheless, this film is highly entertaining, and might give younger viewers an idea as to what all the Taylor/Burton fuss was about. Recommended.
4 Burton & Taylor Are Pure, Fiery, & Feisty Sex Magic
No wonder Burton and Taylor married and divorced many times. The sexual tension between them in this film can be cut with a knife. Taylor plays Kate, the beautiful, fiery, feisty, mean-spirited, unloved eldest daughter of a wealthy man. She has a beautiful & kind sister who has a string of beaus, but... the eldest sister MUST marry first. Enter Burton as Petruchio. Loud, boisterous, dirty, obnoxious and SEXY! He plans to tame Kate, marry her and be a rich man on her dowry. The famous tongue in the tail speech is given on their first meeting, which sets the mood for lusty, sweaty, swarthy fighting. All the while, the sexual tension builds throughout. Many fights & torments ensue... with a beautiful ending that I will not spoil. If you like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton or just the great and powerful Bard, himself, this is a great movie, directed by the great Franco Zefferelli that is a must see! "There is no other beast on Earth so horrible as man..." (Katharina, Taming Of The Shrew)
5 HE THAT KNOWS BETTER HOW TO FILM A SHREW ...
We never do find out the source of Elizabeth Taylor's 'shrew's' dicontent and the idea of a woman being dominated into submission of behavior doesn't wash today, this still is a highly amusing, greatly acted and lushly filmed version of Shakespeare's comedy. The late Richard Burton is superb and very funny as the oppurtunistic and and reckless Petruchio.
6 There's a much better Shrew out there!
Taylor and Burton lack the spark and the wit to make the Taming of the Shrew come to life. Please, if you want to see a good version of this, buy the one starring Marc Singer. The set is spare, but it has all the intelligence and fun that is absent from the Taylor / Burton rendition. I shared the Marc Singer version with my family over Christmas, and they all voted for it!
7 Accessible Shakespeare, Wonderful Movie
Surely, part of the point of making movies of Shakespeare's plays today is to make them accessible to a public who wouldn't ordinarily come into contact with his work. I think where movies like Kenneth Branagh's 'Hamlet' fail is in their unwavering and admirable (if somewhat confusing) adherence to the original script. Franco Zeffirelli's 1967 production, starring Richard Burton as the chauvanistic and gold-digging Petrucchio, and Elizabeth Taylor as the waspish, unstable Katharina, is the opposite - it's a sort of 'Shakespeare Lite' version of the Bard's oroginal play, and for the subject matter, this works better. 'Taming' is a farcical comedy about a shrewish, willful spinster, and the gold-digging once-wealthy nobleman who marries her for money, but comes to realise her worth as a wife.
Taylor and Burton are, as usual, wonderfully larger-than-life. Burton turns in a fine performance as Petrucchio, a devil-may-care fortune-hunter who decides to do whatever it takes to marry the wealthy Katharina. He is by turns bawdy, stern and comical, and his deep, sonorous voice and amazing screen presence save the character from becoming a hateful chauvanist - on the contrary, we find ourselves sympathising with Petrucchio at certain points in the film. Taylor, though her part is relatively small, gives a similar performance as Katharina, a manic, violent woman whose intelligence and fermininity eventually overcome her temper and win the favour of her husband. Like Petrucchio, the character of Katharina is, at least on paper, a nightmare of selfishness and bad-tempered outbursts, but it's Taylor's winning performance that gives her depth and sensitivity, and we end up rooting for her. The pair also display an excellent sense of comic timing, and scenes like their wedding, and Petrucchio's chasing Katharina, are lighthearted and enjoyable becuase of it.
The supporting cast are also strong, with an excellent performance by Cyril Cusack as Grumpio, Katharina's long-suffering father. Michael York's role is shorter than in the play but he does an admirable job of it nonetheless - dual identity being a favourite theme of Shakespeare's, in this production it's kept somewhat out of the spotlight, wisely, to allow Burton and Taylor to shine through.
As with all Zeffirelli's productions, 'Taming' is a visual feast - lush countryside vistas, complicated 16th-century Italian Villas and a succession of ever-more complicated costumes give the viewer the impression that we're watching a dancing rainbow. Zeffirelli's direction, as usual, is top-notch; in particular, the opening scenes where Katharina is raging behind closed doors is excellent.
The DVD-transition quality isn't as good as it should have been, but is still very good, and while the DVD won't win any awards for special features, it's still a worthwhile addition to your collection. A fun, lively romp through a relatively simple Shakespeare play, 'The Taming of the Shrew' is a must for Zeffirelli and Taylor fans, but is also a treat for anyone who enjoys intelligent comedy. Recommended.
8 The best version by default, but not a winner
Zeffirelli is an interesting filmmaker in the way he lovingly recreates the world of William Shakespeare. Every set, every costume represents what most likely played on Shakespeare's own stage so many centuries ago. His attention to detail is extraordinary. However, there is one detail he does not seem to pay enough attention to: the actual movie.
This is Zeffirelli's great weakness. It ruins all of his films. He does not seems to care whether he his actors can act or the story can be carried, as long as it looks good. And it does; Elizabeth Taylor is so beautiful that one could easily sit through this movie just for her sake. It is strange, though, that while Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton played a great version of Katharine and Petruchio in their personal relationship, they ignite no sparks in this film. Taylor really carries the film, but Burton does not really put any kind of personality into his role. And because of their lack of chemistry, the comedy in this movie is mainly slapstick based and does not come from Shakespeare's own writing. For example, the scene when Petruchio and Katharine first meet is not the battle of wit and innuendo that it is in the play; in this movie, the sparring is a literal one that takes place in a huge pile of feathers. It is an absence that would be greatly missed by those who loved the play.
Those who love The Taming of the Shrew do not have many options when it comes to movies. There is Ten Things I Hate About You, a horrible update that has very little to do with Shakespeare. There is also a version of The Taming of the Shrew that was filmed while Meryl Streep and Raul Julia performed it in Central Park, but while Raul Julia is a hilariously sexy Petruchio, Meryl Streep's Katharine is more of a hag. I really wish that I could cut and paste from both this film and Zefirelli's to combine Julia and Taylor's incredible talent, but since that is impossible, this version of The Taming of the Shrew is the best one by default.
9 Great Fun, Great Autor, Great Actors
Elizabeth Taylor with then husband Richard Burton, both in top acting form, put up the money to produce this fun & well acted adapted version of a Shakespearean comedy. Directed by Franco Zeffirelli, who did one of the best versions of Romeo & Juliet, adds his magic touch. The Time period looks correct with many well done setting with the matching fashions. The film starts out rather slow with Michael York as the young scholar, but once Richard Burton comes in as Petruchio, you will be continually laughing. Elizabeth Taylor does well through out matching Richard Burton's skill. For those that don't like Shakespeare, this will be a fine place to start. Only during the last dinner scene did I have to rewind to understand the old English.
10 Long Live the Shrew!
Having loved Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton in Cleopatra, and being a huge fan of anything Shakespearean, I had my heart set on high praise for this movie from the opening credits. I was thankfully not let down. Taylor and Burton's on screen presence cannot be denied as anything but spectacular and their chemistry could melt the harshest critics. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
11 Required watching
If there is a better adaption of this great play I'm not aware of it.
The personal relationship and tension between Taylor and Burton combined with their own great acting ability (plus many good supporting performances from such as York and Holden who never seems to get credit) turn this into a tour de farce that is both a visual feast and a lession of how to act.
Watch this and drink in a an all time classic.
12 Entertaining
This was an entertaining movie to watch. Elizabeth Taylor was voluptuous in this role as Kate, the elder daughter of Baptista, chased her suitors away with her sharp-tempered manner. Those dark eyes and dark hair characterized her as scolding and seething. Her younger sister, the beautiful and sweet Bianca, played by Natasha Pyne, has many suitors but can't marry unless her sister gets married. In comes Lutencio, played by Michael York, falls in love with Bianca and is determined to marry her. Petruchio, played by Richard Burton, comes into town looking like a joker, is willing to marry Katherina, despite her short-temper. It's a cat and mouse chase as Petruchio claims Kate as his bride. It's a party for the city when Kate is married to Petruchio and is whisked away to his dark and dingy estate. Lutencio is able to marry Bianca but his father doesn't know until he comes into town.
Another Franco Zeferelli creation, Shakespeare's play about a woman whose shrewdish behavior is not only unladylike, but isolates her from enjoying life and the people in it. Despite the limited roles women had during that time period, Kate had to be the one to change herself from being a shrew to a respected lady. Another exaggerated version of the movie is the episode from the 1987 television series "Moonlighting". Bruce Willis was Petruchio riding a horse with a Mercedes cover and Sybil Sheperd was Kate.
13 WOULD MAKE THE BARD PROUD!
Have loved this film for years... my teenagers quote it! A must see for everyone on the planet! Richard Burton is perfect.. his laugh will stick with you forever!
14 One Of The Absolutely Great Ones
If you love Shakespeare this one has to be in your collection. The DVD version is nothing spectacular (no extra anythings) but it will probably keep forever now that it has been digitized.....so forget about the next generation in your family not being able to view the crumbling magnetic tape from your VHS copy.
A classic for-the-ages Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton film from their peak period in 1967. Directed by *the* Zeffirelli, what more could you ask for. Oh.....you want a good score....this one is award winning.....Nino Rota. There is absolutely nothing lacking in this version.....you can enjoy it every time. It's one for kids to watch to see how much fun real Shakespeare can be. It's one for budding actresses to watch to see Taylor at her best. It's one for anyone studying the Bard in school to have under their belt. And it's one for all the rest of us to enjoy again and again.
15 One of the BEST MOVIES EVER
This movie is one of those few that you can watch over and over and enjoy it more every time - SO FUNNY! Also very insightful about relationships!
16 Oh Sweet Kate!
Next to Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V" , this is my favorite Shakespearian movie. I adore this movie and have loved it since I was a teenager. This movie has a greater meaning to me since I have recently been to Italy and visited Padua, where the setting of this tale takes place.
So onto Pauda during the Italian Renaissance, this tale of Kate and her love begin...
Did I say LOVE? Well, let's not begin there. Let's begin at the beginning, as J.R.R. Tolkien likes to say..
There once was a wealthy man with two beautiful daughters. The sweet and virtuous Bianca, so fair and trite. The other sister being as wicked and wild as the color of her hair...raven black.
Her name to all is Katherine (Elizabeth Taylor), but otherwise known to the small community as the wild "Kat".
Bianca, fair and true has fallen in love. Her father wants her married to a wealthy man, but Bianca has other plans. She wants to marry the young, handsome boy (Michael York) that caught her eye in the town square. But Alas, much to Bianca's dismay, her father says "Not till' your sister marries first!" I say, poor Bianca..because WHO in their right mind would marry such a wild and hateful woman?
Kate is wild indeed, spending her time torturing her sister with whips and abuse. She despises her younger sister for her vanity and spoiled ways. Bianca is truly one of literature's first "daddy's girl", maddening Kate futher with her "Oh Daddy!" weepy ways.
As revenge, Kate promises Bianca she will NOT marry just despite her. All hope seems lost. Bianca's many pursuers come up with a plan. They will indeed find someone who will woo and marry Katherine. The person they they have in mind is the stinky, obnoxious, fat, and loathesome Petruchio (Richard Burton).
Will the plan work? While Bianca and her suitors watch through literally closed doors, the wooing begins. Petruchio WILL have Kate as a bride, for her father has promised him a large sum of money if he wins her hand.
Petruchio finds he must literally trap and force Kate into marriage. The scenes of his pursual of Kate are nothing short of comical-he even dares to call out the most famous words: "Kiss me Kate!", as she is slapping and hitting him. She finds him disgusting...shutting herself away in her room. Petruchio is so certain of his charm, that he waits at the altar for his beloved Sweet Kate to arrive...dressed like a clown to add insult to an already frightful situation...he awaits her arrival( and wait and wait he does). Bets are placed. Will she show? Has Petruchio tamed the wild shrew or will she leave him at the altar?
This is as far as I dare go...the comedy that insues from this point on is nothing short of hardy laughs. Sweet Kate (as he calls her) surprises everyone throughout the length of this sumptuously beautiful movie. She does not disappoint!
William Shakespeare has filled this wonderful of tales with proper sarcasm and all the right comedy one needs to fall in love with this movie. It is truly a classic. The setting, the elegant clothes, and of course the acting between Liz and Richard surpass many Shakespearian movies. I highly recommend this as one to own and enjoy forever.
17 Elizabeth Taylor is the best Shrew
There may be many people across the years who act in this play, but there will never be another production like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton did. They are such confincing combatants -- they make the entire movie powerfully funny. A great Shakespearean comedy done very well.
18 What Happened to the Color?
While still appreciating the exuberance of Taylor and Burton
in their prime as well as the unbelievably detailed art
direction, I was somewhat disappointed in the transfer
from film to DVD. The original colors have been altered so
that the film no longer has the look of a Renaissance
painting come to life. When first seen the film was golden-filtered so that the wide ranging palette had a subdued glow which was quite wonderful. Obviously the current version
was changed to fit a more "modern" scheme. Either the
tranfer was done without the knowledge of the original
colors or - more likley - it was decided that this change
would be more "palatable" to a modern viewing public that
had no knowledge of the original. I only hope that when they
finally bring the original "Moulin Rouge" or "Reflections
in a Golden Eye" to DVD they take into account the director's
wishes more than they have with this realease.
19 "Kiss Me, Kate!"
As in all Shakespeare stories, I feel it is important that viewers are familiar with the 'world' that he lived in. Otherwise, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is nothing short of the most sexist film of all time. The happy ending involves Katherine finally giving in and becoming a passive wife to her overbearing husband. Today, that would be "Jerry Springer" fodder. But, since we are intelligent viewers and understand the vein the story was written, this film is glorious. As a compassionate viewer, I was often distracted by the chauvenism (thus, only 4 stars). The startlingly beautiful Elizabeth Taylor portrays Katherine, the woman who needs an attitude adjustment. The late Richard Burton portrays the manipulative Petruchio, just the man to give "Kate' her make-over. 'Dick & Liz' give top notch performances, very nuanced and filled with fun. Director Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet) does a fantastic job bringing Padua to life and brings a true understanding of the language to the screen. Filled with lavish scenes (including some not written by Shakespeare but rather for this movie), the film delivers an impressive sense of worth. With the possible exception of Kenneth Branaghs MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, this is the most fun you can have watching Shakespeare on screen, even if its on the television. The widescreen DVD is nicely transferred and offers brief talent bios and a few Shakespeare trailers.
20 An excellent movie to add to your collection!
This Shakespearean story is about the daughter of Baptista (Michael Hordern), Katarina (Elizabeth Taylor). Very unlike her younger, quiet and gentle sister Bianca (Natasha Pyne), Katarina is strong-willed and has a nasty temper. Many men want to woo the lovely Bianca, including a young scholar (Michael York), but Baptista is adamant that nobody will be wed with his Bianca until the older daughter, the shrew Katarina, is married. And there is only one man who is willing to marry her for her dowry, Petruchio (Richard Burton). When Petruchio and Katarina are wed (forcefully against Katarina's will), Petruchio proceeds to make his 'dear Kate' into a good wife, but is anyone capable of 'taming the shrew'?
A remarkable tale by the talented and famed writer, William Shakespear. And with a delightful cast of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, who can resist liking it? Elizabeth Taylor practically shines in her role! Especially at the part in the end where she makes her strong speech. I was as quiet and attentive as all the guests at the wedding.
For anyone who likes Shakespeare, who likes Elizabeth Taylor, or Richard Burton, or for that matter, want to watch a good movie, watch "The Taming of the Shrew".
21 Wonderfully Done!
I must say this was a delight to see. As a high school student Shakespeare can be extremely confusing but if you want to start somewhere this is a perfect way to go. The actors make it easy to understand what is going on. Elizabeth Taylor makes you feel for her character and Richard Burton plays his character like a pro. Truly amazing film that I could go on and on about!
22 Shakespeare + Zeffirelli = Beyond Possible Expectations
For those of you who read my review on the play "The Taming of the Shrew," you know that I gave it 4 stars. This movie in no way falls short of the book. If anything, I would say that the movie gets an extra half star because it is here that Shakespeare's Literature meets Zeffirelli's phenomenal images. I think to appreciate this movie as much as possible, we should keep some things Isaac Asimov said in mind: (1. Kate is not simply a shrew. Shakespeare infers that Kate's character is the result of years of social rejection while her sister Bianca had anything she wished. Kate is so scarred that even love appears to be mockery to her. 2. Petruchio DOES NOT delight in his seemingly harsh actions. He feels sympathy for Kate and realizes that it may be the only way to help her. 3. Bianca is NOT a sweet helpless creature. If anything, she is somewhat of a spoiled brat. She is adored by several men; she has managed to monopolize her father's love; she has learned how to manipulate her father; and she delights in her sister's misery.) The movie itself is VERY WELL done. Burton and Taylor have a deep knowledge of the characters they are portraying. Just as Shakespeare's Lucentio is a love struck man who can't see the whole picture about Bianca, this is shown in the movie. One thing I must commend Zeffirelli on is how he is able to portray actions that Shakespeare mentions but does not have acted in the play. (Kate and Petruchio's wedding and Kate's fall into the mud are only mentioned in Shakespeare's play.) In their limited roles, Pedant and Vincentio are hilarious. (Pedant impersonates Vincentio and keeps Vincentio out of his son's house.) Overall, both the major and the secondary characters did an outstanding job. Zeffirelli not only gave us the story, but he added his phenomenal images to it. I once read that "Zeffirelli is often criticized for using phenomenal scenery that detracts from the play." It is a challange for me to be civil here but I will. 1.Zeffirelli (who also did "Jesus of Nazareth" is one of the most phenomenal directors I have seen. 2. Several recent productions of Shakespeare's plays have used scenery that is not only out of place and garrish, but almost makes a joke out of the outstanding works of Shakespeare. 3. What is wrong with the meeting of 2 wonderful minds?! With his fascinating images and phenomenal directing skills, Zeffirelli brings Shakespeare's writing to a whole new level of excellence! 4. The people who condemn Zefferelli's work will probably never be satisfied, so their complaints are not worth listening to. Get this video and enjoy the combined talents of William Shakespeare, Franco Zeffirelli, Richard Burton, and Elizabeth Taylor!
23 Stunning
I've seen many productions of Taming of the Shrew, but they all suffer from the curse of political correctness. Fortunately, Zeffirelli did not worry about this and has produced the finest Shrew of modern times. Like nearly all films of Shakespeare, at least half of the text is left out. However, the complete spirit is captured and that is the best one can hope for in a film version. Burton is quite good in this, but Elizabeth Taylor is incredible.
24 one of the best
This delightful shakespearean comedy is worth owning! I personally consider it his best comedy. Light in spirit, it makes a great introduction to the bard for teenagers. This battle of the sexes is something we can all relate to.The plot is mainly between Kate, the oldest daughter of a wealthy merchant, and Petruchio a man who must marry a wealthy wife. Kate is too honest (or maybe too stubborn) to play the little games her 'perfect' sister is so adept and has no intention of marrying anyone. Petruchio (Burton) cannot take no for an answer. He must wed a wealthy wife or his impoverished household will starve.
Taylor can absolutely play the shrew, yet can make us sympathize with this least favorite daughter. Burton, sexy as always, classicly trained, was made to play Shakespear. Maybe it is the accent, but I could listen to him in rapt enjoyment even if he just read the dictionary.
The only downside to this video that I can find is that it is not letter box and it is not closed captioned. That aside, I highly recommend it, even for people who normally don't like Shakespear. Buy it, get some popcorn and enjoy.
25 Better in widescreen
I like the widescreen version of this much better than the standard size view because you can tell more of what is happening. Especially when Tranio says "No profit grows where is no pleasure taken." In the regular size view, he looks like he's talking to the horse. In widescreen, we see that he's talking to the handler.
26 asses are made to bear and so are you
I was 'forced' to watch this for my english lit. A level. At first I remembered how much I had hated romeo and juliet, but once the movie started I was amazed! I actually ENJOYED a Shakespeare adaption. No doubt thanks to the gorgeous Liz Taylor and Richard Burton. Katherina is one of the most compelling characters to have ever been thought up, and as much as I despise Petruchio for his complete torture of kate, I find him an amusing and wonderful character. Unfortunatley the film is let down by cutting half of Katherina's lines, and becase they KEPT Shakespeare's appauling ending... (it's late and I don't remember accuratly but something to the effect of 'yeah, stand on my hand if it makes you feel better, Petruchio dearest.' Could that be any more degrading to such a strong-willed intelligent character?)
Great film and play.
27 This Shrew Remains Untamed
It's very difficult to be very critical of such a roisterous, good-natured version of Shakespeare's rowdiest play, and in truth one has to admit that this is probably the first of the truly modern Shakespeare films. There are some real assets here -- Zefferelli's eye has never lighted on a landscape more beautiful, more seductive, and Nina Rota's score fits beautifully.
But Shakespeare, even on film, stands or falls on the acting. This version -- with one exception -- is filled with one-note performances (they're very GOOD notes, but single notes nonetheless). Let's deal with the exception first -- Elizabeth Taylor is a delightful, intelligent Katarina. Her development is exactly what Shakespeare obviously intended, and if her early scenes are a bit uniformly shrill, the case could be made that that's what the Bard wrote. In general, she's an admirable Kate.
Burton, however, is something else entirely. Despite his acknowledged skill with Shakespeare (his Hamlet was glorious), he takes a monochromatic approach to Petruchio, with an annoyingly stagey laugh running through virtually every scene. By halfway through the film, you tend to want him to get off screen so you don't have to listen to that "manly" laugh any longer. Unfortunately, much of Kate's dialogue was cut (the assumption being, I suppose, that Taylor would have trouble with the language) while too much of Petruchio remains.
The secondary characters, if cut from different bolts of cloth, are all a single color. Michael Hordern bumbles his way through Baptista the same way he did in countless other movies. Michael York and Natasha Pyne as the young lovers are efficient and attractive, but not particularly engaging. The suitors are a group of living cliches. Even the humor is raggedly overdone to the same degree in almost every scene.
There are things to appreciate in this movie, and there's no better Shrew available, but I'd recommend finding another of Shakespeare's comedies until a better version of this rowdy comedy comes along -- someone's bound to get it right soon.
28 Good transfer, GREAT FILM, subtitles in asian languages?
I used to check this tape out from the University film library and watch it on the top floor of the main library in the media center any time I wanted to get a lift. It's a really well done version of the great play, and of course Taylor and Burton make it a joy to watch.
I was a bit concerned about the transfer to DVD, as many such transfers have been poorly handled with degraded masters. There is some age to this master print as well, but the transfer comes off very good, with little pixillation, and the sound is bright and clear.
Imagine my surprise when I found I could listen in multiple languages, and view subtitles in others! And, we're talkinga bout going beyond the basic French or Spanish! I don't even know what some of those were, but it was cool to watch!
And, there can't be enough said for the ability to view this movie in wide-screen for the first time! I had no idea how much image I was missing!
Now I just have to convince my wife to get a bigger television!
29 A perfect romp
Could there be more perfect casting than Taylor & Burton? They're so ideal for these parts that it's virtually typecasting. But whether you're a fan of that famous duo or not this movie's simply great fun. This is such an easy film to enjoy that we find it's a good introduction for those not familiar with Shakespeare. Buy it and ENJOY!
30 A dazzling presentation; a knock-out in every way.
Burton and Taylor prove how wonderful Shakespeare can be in this totally magnificent film. While it is visually dazzling, magnificently costumed and set, it is in the language and its fantastic delivery that the strongest moments of this film reside. Some could say that Shakespeare is dated; but noone could say that in this awesome production. And Elizabeth Taylor's last major speech? Hang onto you hats---it is perfection
31 "...what fools these mortals be..."
Great rendition of the bards greatest comedy despite its politically incorrect theme.Burton and Taylor recreate their on again off again romance and the sreen just sizzles with their chemistry.Wonderful costumes and scenery.Unfortunately Zeferelli never quite repeated the success of this film.I recommend it as an intro to Shakespeare for high school students everywhere.
