Details
Movie Description
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton star in this earthy, robust version of the classic Shakespeare comedy, which was director Franco Zeffirelli's first film. Michael York plays Lucentio, the young student who falls for comely Bianca (Natasha Pyne) and must recruit Petruchio (Burton) to wed her wild and violent older sister (Taylor) before their father will allow Bianca to entertain suitors. Watching two larger-than-life lovers like Burton and Taylor slug it out in their hilarious scenes of "courtship" is something even those with no fondness for Shakespeare can truly relish.
Synopsis
Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor bring gusto and ferocity to their roles as Katherine and Petruchio in this quintessential battle of the sexes, a vibrant adaptation of the classic Shakespeare play. When young student Lucentio (Michael York) wanders into the town of Padua, he promptly falls for the beautiful Bianca (Natasha Pyne), but before Bianca's father will let her be courted, he insists her wild, angry, older sister, Katherine (Taylor) be married. Undaunted, Lucentio and the other would-be suitors of Bianca hit upon the idea of hiring tipsy, flea-bitten nobleman Petruchio (Burton) to step up and woo the untamable "shrew." The roles of these battling lovers are perfectly suited to Burton and Taylor, whose passionate and publicized love affair was in full flower at the time. This makes it a fitting follow-up to their earlier co-starring vehicle, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF, and a glorious chance to see two larger-than-life stars having at each other with unfettered glee. The realistic period detail is lovingly photographed by Luciano Trasatti, while Nina Rota contributes a lively score. This was the directorial debut of Franco Zeffirelli, and it's Shakespeare with real zest; a treat to both scholars and film-lovers everywhere.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 1 Encoding
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen
Theatrical Trailers
Talent Files on Franco Zefferelli, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
Theatrical release: March 8, 1967.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW was the directorial debut for Franco Zeffirelli and the screen debut for British actor Michael York.
"Come on and kiss me, Kate."--Petruchio (Richard Burton) to Katherine (Elizabeth Taylor)
Industry Reviews
"...Burton roars through his role...while Taylor is suitably haughty..."
Sight and Sound - Geoffrey Macnab (06/01/2001)
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