Dangerous Beauty (1998)

Director:

Marshall Herskovitz

Writers (WGA):

Margaret Rosenthal (book)
Jeannine Dominy (written by)

Release Date:

20 February 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Passion. Seduction. Betrayal. A Scandalous Love Story.

Plot:

A Venetian courtesan becomes a hero to her city, but later becomes the target of an inquisition by the Church for witchcraft.

Plot Keywords:

Courtesan | Witchcraft | Inquisition | 16th Century | Beauty

Cast

Catherine McCormack	...	Veronica Franco
Rufus Sewell	...	Marco Venier
Oliver Platt	...	Maffio Venier
Fred Ward	...	Domenico Venier
Naomi Watts	...	Giulia De Lezze
Moira Kelly	...	Beatrice Venier
Jacqueline Bisset	...	Paola Franco
Jeroen Krabbé	...	Pietro Venier
Joanna Cassidy	...	Laura Venier
Melina Kanakaredes	...	Livia
Daniel Lapaine	...	Serafino Franco
Justine Miceli	...	Elena Franco
Jake Weber	...	King Henry
Simon Dutton	...	Minister Ramberti
Grant Russell	...	Francesco Martenengo
Peter Eyre	...	The Doge
Carla Cassola	...	Caterina
Gianni Musy	...	Joseph
Michael Culkin	...	Bishop De la Torre
Ralph Riach	...	Lorenzo Gritti
Charlotte Randle	...	Francesca
Alberto Rossatti	...	Andrea Tron
Anna Sozzani	...	Marina
Luis Molteni	...	Giacomo Bahalli
Tim McMullan	...	Zealot
Richard O'Callaghan	...	Zealot
Lenore Lohman	...	Venetian Wife
Maude Bonanni	...	Venetian Wife
Gaia Zoppi	...	Venetian Wife
Roberto Corbiletto	...	Taylor
Annelie Harryson	...	Fanatic Woman
David Gant	...	Bolognetti
Daniele Ciampi	...	Naked Workman
Elena Mita	...	Elena's Child
Federico Mita	...	Elena's Child
Francesca Lucidi	...	Courtesan
Simona Nobili	...	Courtesan
Lena Guthorsen	...	Courtesan
Valentina Ardeatini	...	Courtesan
Tiziana Della Spina	...	Courtesan
Anna Maria Minati	...	Courtesan
Ilaria De Vincenzis	...	Courtesan
Cristina Rinaldi	...	Courtesan
Garmy Sall	...	Courtesan
Anna Maria Malipiero	...	Courtesan
Flaminia Fegarotti	...	Courtesan
Federica Federici	...	Courtesan
Angela Camuso	...	Courtesan
Patrizia Leonet	...	Courtesan
Elide Marigliani	...	Courtesan
Natascia Pastorello	...	Courtesan
Barbara Di Dio	...	Courtesan
Fulvia Lorenzetti	...	Courtesan
Olfa Ben Romdane	...	Courtesan
Laura Tedesco	...	Courtesan
Emy Kay	...	Courtesan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Davide Cincis	...	Zealot
Ralph Morse	...	Poet

Directed by
Marshall Herskovitz

Writing credits (WGA)
Margaret Rosenthal		(book "The Honest Courtesan")
Jeannine Dominy		(written by)

Produced by
Sarah Caplan	....	producer
Marshall Herskovitz	....	producer
Debra Lovatelli	....	associate producer
Paolo Lucidi	....	co-producer
Arnon Milchan	....	producer
Michael G. Nathanson	....	executive producer (as Michael Nathanson)
Stephen Randall	....	executive producer
Edward Zwick	....	producer
Inigo Lezzi	....	supervising producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Bojan Bazelli		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Arthur Coburn
Steven Rosenblum

Casting by
Wendy Kurtzman
Mary Selway

Production Design by
Norman Garwood

Art Direction by
Stefania Cella
Gianni Giovagnoni

Set Decoration by
Ian Whittaker

Costume Design by
Gabriella Pescucci

Makeup Department
Desideria Corridoni	....	hair stylist
Federico Laurenti	....	makeup artist
Fabrizio Sforza	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Giovanni Lovatelli	....	unit production manager
Paolo Lucidi	....	production supervisor
Vincenzo Testa	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kuki López Rodero	....	first assistant director
Alberto Mangiante	....	second assistant director
Barbara Pastrovich	....	second second assistant director
Livia Tovoli	....	second second assistant director
Yozo Tokuda	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Peter Dorme	....	draughtsman
Antonio Murer	....	swing gang
Sebastiano Murer	....	assistant props
Alessandra Querzola	....	assistant set decorator
Alessandra Querzola	....	lead set dresser
Kirstie Stephenson	....	art department coordinator
Arthur Wicks	....	property master

Sound Department
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer
Christopher Assells	....	sound effects editor
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bryan Bowen	....	sound editor
Bob Bowman	....	assistant sound editor
Matt Colleran	....	dubbing recordist
Dino Dimuro	....	sound effects editor
Per Hallberg	....	supervising sound editor
Philip D. Morrill	....	assistant sound editor
Rudy Pi	....	sound re-recordist
David Stephenson	....	sound
Peter Michael Sullivan	....	sound effects editor

Visual Effects by
Fumi Mashimo	....	animator: Illusion Arts
Kelvin McIlwain	....	matte artist
Kenneth Nakada	....	digital compositing: Illusion Arts
Robert Stromberg	....	visual effects supervisor
Moving Target	....	visual effects supervisor
Mike Wassel	....	matte artist
Richard Berman	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)

Stunts
Giorgio Antonini	....	stunts
Sandy Osborne	....	stunt double
Ferdinando Stazzone	....	stunts (horseback)
David Zamperla	....	stunts
Mirko Zamperla	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Nazzareno Zamperla	....	stunt coordinator (as Neno Zamperla)
Sylwester Zawadzki	....	stunt double (as Sylwester Zawadski)

Camera and Electrical Department
Francesco Carini	....	clapper loader
Roberto De Angelis	....	focus puller: "a" camera
Claudio Del Gobbo	....	grip
Massimiliano Dessena	....	grip
Sergio Faina	....	grip
Daniele Massaccesi	....	camera operator
Fernando Massaccesi	....	gaffer: Italy (as Nando Massaccesi)
Tommaso Mele	....	key grip
Francisco Pintore	....	second assistant camera
James Plannette	....	gaffer
Carlo Postiglione	....	dolly grip
Emanuele Salvatore	....	additional rigger
Mario Tursi	....	still photographer
Daniele Verdenelli	....	electrician
Francesco Zaccaria	....	electrician

Casting Department
Tiziana Kinkela	....	crowd casting: Europe

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Claudette Lilly	....	costume assistant
Adriana Mattiozzi	....	seamstress
Carlo Poggioli	....	assistant costume designer
Alberto Spiazzi	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Russell Eaton	....	assistant editor
Scott J. Gill	....	assistant editor
Cecilia Hyoun	....	lightworks assistant
Sara Hyoun	....	assistant editor
Lesley Langs	....	assistant editor
Irma Misantoni	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer

Music Department
Geoff Alexander	....	orchestrator (as Geoffrey Alexander)
Tommy Lockett	....	music editor
New London Consort	....	orchestra: additional music recorded by
Denise Okimoto	....	assistant music editor
Philip Pickett	....	additional music recordist
Jay B. Richardson	....	music editor
Ken Stillito	....	orchestra leader
Eliza Thompson	....	music coordinator
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer

Transportation Department
Paolo Bernardini	....	driver
Enrico Pini	....	transportation manager

Other crew
Giorgio Catalano	....	first assist accountant
Carmela Compagnone	....	cashier
Gabriella Di Santo	....	production coordinator: additional photography
Alessandro Fiorito	....	accounting clerk
Maria Fiorito	....	accountant
Federico Foti	....	location manager
Michele Greco	....	location manager
Josh Gummersall	....	assistant: Marshall Herskovitz
William Hobbs	....	fight choreographer
Matthew Klipper	....	post-production accountant
Marilena La Ferrara	....	set accountant
Filippo Lovatelli	....	set runner
Dianne Mapp-Cheek	....	supervising production accountant
Marco Olivieri	....	production assistant
Giorgia Onofri	....	script supervisor
Davide Pacchiarotti	....	office runner
Catherine Smith	....	production coordinator
Flavia Sparapane	....	choreographer
Chuck Speed	....	production legal
Francesca Spinotti	....	production secretary
Sheilah Sullivan	....	accountant
Fred Toye	....	title designer
Enzo Sisti	....	fiscal representative: Italy (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Regency Enterprises (presents)
• Arnon Milchan Productions
• Bedford Falls Productions

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox (1998) (worldwide) (all media) (rights)
• Warner Bros (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1999) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (1999) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Fox Film Corporation (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (1999) (Spain) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (1999) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (1998) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts

Other Companies

• La Ba di Eva Sorrao  jewelry provided by
• Tirelli Costumi  costumes provided by (as Tirelli Costumi Roma)
• Ditta Rancati  props provided by (as Rancati)
• L.A. Mad Dogs  voice casting (as L.A. Maddogs)
• O.C.M. Rome  catering (as O.C.M., di Bruna Piercecchi)
• Open Films  main titles
• Pacific Title  titles
• Restless Records  soundtrack
• Technovision  Arriflex cameras provided by (as Technovision, Rome)
• Cinecittà  production facilities provided by

Also Known As:

"The Honest Courtesan" - UK (video title), USA (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some scenes of strong sexuality, and for nudity and language

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Cyprus:Cat. 3 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:16 | Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 | USA:R (certificate #35176) | Philippines:R-18 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Odescalchi Castle, Bracciano, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

Winona Ryder and Uma Thurman were considered for the role of Veronica Franco but both turned down the role because they did not want to appear in the nude scenes.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At several times in the movie, one can clearly see the church of Santa Maria della Salute, one of Venice's landmarks. However, it could not possibly have been there at the time of Veronica Franco -- it was built a century later.

Quotes:

Maffio Venier:It must be interesting to be in a room full of men, most of whom you've seen with their pants down.
Veronica Franco:Puts it all in some kind of perspective.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Palmetto/Senseless/Dangerous Beauty/Mrs. Dalloway/Nil by Mouth/Live Flesh" (1998)

Soundtrack:

Scopri O Lingua

One of the best and most passionate movies ever made

This particular movie was lost in the shuffle somewhere but I am certainly glad I found it. Catherine McCormack (Braveheart) portrays an innocent girl, that loses in love so decides to do what she has to do just to have him any way possible. It's a very backwards Cinderella. A good girl that falls in love with a "prince" (he's from a family with a title and she's not) but will true love prevail? Rufus Sewell is to die for, the sexiest and most talented actor to come our way in years. The rest of the fine cast Oliver Platt, Moira Kelly, Naomi Watts, Fred Ward and Jacqueline Bisset are very convincing in their portrayals of these period characters. I have had every single one of my friends watch it and they all have enjoyed it as much as I have. The music is fantastic and we even get a short history lesson. With this sensational cast, the storyline that is based on actual poetry books from a Courtisan, it really is my favorite historical romance of all time. Take the time to find this rare gem and see it as soon as possible.