The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Franco Zeffirelli (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 March 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A romantic film amorously devoted to every man who ever gave the back of his hand to his beloved...and to every woman who deserved it!

Plot:

Brutish, fortune-hunting scoundrel Pertuchio tames his wealthy shrewish wife, Katharina.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Merchant | Suitor | Padua | Shrew

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Elizabeth Taylor	...	Katharina
Richard Burton	...	Petruchio
Cyril Cusack	...	Grumio
Michael Hordern	...	Baptista
Alfred Lynch	...	Tranio
Alan Webb	...	Gremio
Giancarlo Cobelli	...	The Priest
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Pedant
Ken Parry	...	Tailor
Anthony Gardner	...	Haberdasher
Natasha Pyne	...	Bianca
Michael York	...	Lucentio
Victor Spinetti	...	Hortensio
Roy Holder	...	Biondello
Mark Dignam	...	Vincentio

Also Known As:

La bisbetica domata (Italy)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (1973 UK re-release) | Mono | 4-Track Stereo (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Australia:G | Finland:S | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:U | West Germany:6

Filming Locations:

Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

F.A.I.

Trivia:

After Cleopatra (1963) had failed at the box office, nearly bankrupting 20th Century Fox, when director Franco Zeffirelli suggested casting Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton his this film, he was told it would never happen by Fox executives. However, Zeffirelli was persistent, and in the end, he was able to convince Fox that the couple still had box office potential. Ultimately, he was proved correct, as the film was a huge box office success.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the film, Katharina's angry line to Bianca "[tell] whom thou lovest best" (which Shakespeare actually wrote and in which is grammatically correct) is changed to the grammatically incorrect "whom dost thou lovest best". In his review of the film, critic 'John Simon' (I) caught the error.

Quotes:

Petruchio: 'Tis the mind that makes the body rich.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Mona: The Virgin Nymph (1970)

colourful Shakespeare

Shakespeare's bawdy comedy was perhaps the perfect vehicle for the Burtons four years into their real-life stormy marriage. Although Liz Taylor had no experience of playing ‘the bard' she is actually entertaining as Kate, that fiery girl who has no intention of becoming any man's plaything or possession. Richard Burton is on surer ground as Petruchio and doesn't disappoint, this is a rip-roaring performance and one of his best.

In Zeffirelli's cast we also see Michael Hordern, Cyril Cusack, Natasha Pyne (as Kate's sister Bianca), and Michael York (making his film debut as Bianca's suitor). The action can drag a bit when away from the leads (who always did tend to swamp other players in their movies), but the wit and mischief of the original play shines through. My only quibble would be with Kate's final speech. Interesting that Taylor plays it this way, but my guess is that it isn't the end of the bumpy ride for these two!