The Merchant of Venice (2004)

Popularity:

Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Michael Radford

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Michael Radford (screenplay)

Release Date:

21 April 2005 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Flesh | Jew | Merchant | Pound Of Flesh

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Shylock
Jeremy Irons	...	Antonio
Joseph Fiennes	...	Bassanio
Lynn Collins	...	Portia
Zuleikha Robinson	...	Jessica
Kris Marshall	...	Gratiano
Charlie Cox	...	Lorenzo
Heather Goldenhersh	...	Nerissa
Mackenzie Crook	...	Launcelot Gobbo
John Sessions	...	Salerio
Gregor Fisher	...	Solanio
Ron Cook	...	Old Gobbo
Allan Corduner	...	Tubal
Anton Rodgers	...	The Duke
David Harewood	...	Prince of Morocco
Antonio Gil	...	Aragon (as Antonio Gil-Martinez)
Al Weaver	...	Stephano
Norbert Konne	...	Doctor Bellario
Marc Maes	...	Cush (as Marc Maas)
Jean-François Wolff	...	German Count
Pieter Riemens	...	English Baron
Stéphan Koziak	...	Soldier
Tom Leick	...	French Nobleman
Jules Werner	...	Franciscan Friar
Tony Schiena	...	Leonardo
Julian Nest	...	Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stéphane Fragili	...	Venetian Nobleman (uncredited)
Paul Rockenbrod	...	Venetian Nobleman (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Radford

Writing credits
William Shakespeare		(play)
Michael Radford		(screenplay)

Produced by
Andreas Bajohra	....	post-production producer
Bob Bellion	....	co-producer
Cary Brokaw	....	producer
Michael Cowan	....	producer (as Michael Lionello Cowan)
Jimmy de Brabant	....	co-producer
Edwige Fenech	....	co-producer
Nigel Goldsack	....	co-producer
Gary Hamilton	....	co-executive producer
Michael Hammer	....	executive producer
Andrea Iervolino	....	co-executive producer
Peter James	....	executive producer
Robert Jones	....	executive producer
Diego Loreggian	....	line producer: Italy
Pete Maggi	....	co-executive producer
Alex Marshall	....	executive producer
Luciano Martino	....	co-producer
Barry Navidi	....	producer
Jason Piette	....	producer
Bob Portal	....	post-production producer
Jean-Claude Schlim	....	line producer: Luxembourg
James Simpson	....	executive producer
Julia Verdin	....	co-executive producer
Clive Waldron	....	associate producer
Clive Waldron	....	line producer
Paul Ward	....	executive producer
Manfred Wilde	....	executive producer
Roberto Almagià	....	assistant producer (uncredited)
Irene Masiello	....	supervising producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jocelyn Pook

Cinematography by
Benoît Delhomme

Film Editing by
Lucia Zucchetti

Casting by
Sharon Howard-Field

Production Design by
Bruno Rubeo

Art Direction by
Jon Bunker
Tamara Marini

Set Decoration by
Gillie Delap

Costume Design by
Sammy Sheldon

Makeup Department
Anna Brangaitis	....	hair stylist: Luxembourg
Anna Brangaitis	....	makeup artist: Luxembourg
Ann Buchanan	....	hair designer
Ann Buchanan	....	makeup designer
Nuala Conway	....	hair stylist: Italy
Nuala Conway	....	makeup artist: Itlay
Aurélie Elich	....	makeup artist
Lorraine Hill	....	hair stylist
Lorraine Hill	....	makeup artist
Josy Howard	....	hair stylist
Josy Howard	....	makeup artist
Claudine Moureaud	....	hair stylist: Luxembourg
Claudine Moureaud	....	makeup artist: Luxembourg
Helen Speyer	....	hair stylist
Helen Speyer	....	makeup artist
Béatrice Stephany	....	hair stylist
Béatrice Stephany	....	makeup artist
Xanthia White	....	hair stylist
Xanthia White	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Luca Fortunato Asquini	....	unit manager
Tommaso Dabala	....	unit manager
Ragna Arny Larusdottir	....	production manager: Luxembourg
Philip James Morgan	....	unit manager: Luxembourg
Rosanna Roditi	....	production manager: Italy
Elena Zokas	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emilie Cherpitel	....	second assistant director
John Dodds	....	first assistant director
Stefan Magnusson	....	third assistant director
Carlo Paramidani	....	second second assistant director: Italy
Jim Probyn	....	third assistant director: Luxembourg
Chris Rose	....	first assistant director
Jordan Stone	....	first assistant director: Italy
Andrei von Kamarowsky	....	trainee assistant director: Luxembourg

Art Department
Alex Aitken	....	head plasterer
Benoît Bechet	....	draftsman
Matteo Bertelli	....	painter
Klaus Bienen	....	carpenter
Steve Clarke	....	hod painter
Tracey Curtis	....	modeller
Paolo Cusin	....	buyer
Paolo Cusin	....	property assistant
Paolo Cusin	....	props
Eric De Wulf	....	painter
Manuel Demoulling	....	assistant set decorator
Ron Downing	....	property master
Thomas Ferrandis	....	carpenter
Tomislav Findrik	....	storyboard artist
Nicola Gomiero	....	property assistant
Toby Hawkes	....	modeller
Neil Hearfield	....	painter
Malin Lindholm	....	stand-by art director
Frinn Lorenz	....	stand-by carpenter
John Maher	....	construction manager
Meike Maher	....	art department coordinator
Tamara Marini	....	art director: Italy
François Mast	....	carpenter
David Orlandelli	....	storyboard artist
William Overstall	....	plasterer
Edouard Pallardy	....	painter decorator
Julie Philpott	....	draughtsman
Yair Popritkin	....	props
Manu Poupard	....	chargehand stand by props
Manu Poupard	....	chargehand stand-by props
Barbara Prati	....	painter
Olivier Printz	....	assistant property master
Lorenzo Sartor	....	carpenter
Fabrice Spelta	....	draughtsperson
Chaim Stavenuiter	....	carpenter foreman
Chaim Stavenuiter	....	stand-by decorator
Otfried Suppin	....	art department assistant
Andreas Well	....	carpenter
Olivier Wojcik	....	scenic painter

Sound Department
Tim Alban	....	dubbing mixer
Tim Alban	....	foley supervisor
Antonia Bates	....	dialogue editor
Richard Davey	....	dubbing mixer
Richard Davey	....	second re-recording engineer
Paul Davies	....	supervising sound editor
Anthony Faust	....	adr mixer
Jack Gillies	....	assistant sound editor
Alain Goniva	....	boom operator
Larry Hopkins	....	layback sound mixer
Christian Koefoed	....	sound effects editor
Richard Kondal	....	assistant dialogue editor
Haresh Patel	....	foley editor
Andre Schmidt	....	supervising dialogue editor
James Seddon	....	dolby consultant
Brian Simmons	....	sound mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator

Special Effects by
Tiberio Angeloni	....	special effects
Alain Couty	....	special effects coordinator
Franco Galiano	....	special effects
Clive R. Kay	....	special effects contact lenses
Lawrence Michael	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Tim Baxter	....	film recording
Neil Culley	....	digital artist
Sean Farrow	....	visual effects supervisor (as Sean H. Farrow)
David Gibbons	....	digital artist
Mick Harper	....	digital artist
Barrie Hemsley	....	visual effects producer
Sarah Hemsley	....	production and operations
Richard Higham	....	digital artist
Robin Huffer	....	digital artist
Anna V. James	....	visual effects coordinator (as Anna Panton)
Tim Jones	....	digital artist
Simon Leech	....	digital artist
Warren J. Mills	....	digital I/O
Alberto Montañés	....	digital artist
Nick New	....	digital artist
Jeff North	....	digital artist
Dylan Penhale	....	digital systems manager
Rupert Smith	....	production and operations
Paul Tuersley	....	digital artist

Stunts
Andy Bennett	....	stunt arranger
Andy Bennett	....	stunts
Samir Bezzah	....	stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunt coordinator
Rob Hunt	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Werner Bacciu	....	key grip: Italy
Etienne Braun	....	still photographer
Sonny Burdis	....	best boy
Hélène Coker	....	video assist operator
Guillaume De Esteban	....	film loader
Hanoi De La Paz	....	lighting technician
Gilbert Degrand	....	electrician
Giovanni Di Gaetano	....	electrician (as Giovanni De Gaetano)
Kevin Dresse	....	electrician
Ingo Gardner	....	balloon light technician
Cristiano Giavedoni	....	co-gaffer
Max Jacoby	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Max Jacoby	....	clapper loader: second unit
Graham Johnston	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Graham Johnston	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Oliver Krupke	....	electrician
Onkar Narang	....	desk operator
Martin Neuse	....	electrician
Christian Pannrucker	....	lighting
Elvis Pasqual	....	electrician
Thierry Ramanana	....	grip
Jako Raybaut	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Jako Raybaut	....	cinematographer: second unit
Jean-François Roqueplo	....	head key grip
Angelo Russo	....	electrician
David Smith	....	gaffer
Théodore Theodorides	....	clapper loader: "a" camera
Stéphane Thiry	....	grip
Dean Thompson	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Valérie Wery	....	grip
Tim Wiley	....	rigging gaffer

Casting Department
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Tiziana Kinkela	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frieda Basso Boccabella	....	wardrobe trainee
Catherine Buyse Dian	....	wardrobe supervisor
Giancarlo Colis	....	assistant costume designer
Charlotte-Rose Kay	....	assistant costume designer
Anna Kovacevic	....	key costumer
Sharon McCormack	....	costume cutter
David Otzen	....	costume assistant
Katia Scarpa	....	wardrobe assistant
Jovana Sujdovic	....	wardrobe assistant
Aleksandra Valozic	....	wardrobe assistant
Sandra O'Toole	....	costume textile artist (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Pani Ahmadi-Moore	....	first assistant editor
Andrea Chiozzotto	....	second assistant editor
Perry Gibbs	....	colorist: mastering
Alec Gibson	....	color timer
Eddy Kolkiewicz	....	negative cutter
Alexandra Kosevic	....	post-production coordinator
Andrew Robinson	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Siobhan Armstrong	....	musicians: Triple Harp
Laurence Aston	....	musicians: Management for Jocelyn Pook
Caroline Balding	....	musicians: Baroque String Quartet
Jon Banks	....	musicians: Qanun
Pavlo Beznosiuk	....	musicians: Baroque String Quartet (as Pavlo Besnosiuk)
Harvey Brough	....	additional score arranger
Harvey Brough	....	associate music producer
Harvey Brough	....	musicians: Psaltery, Guitar, Voice
Rachel Byrt	....	musicians: Baroque String Quartet
Tristan Fry	....	musicians: Timpani and Percussion
His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts	....	musician (as His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts)
Jake Jackson	....	assistant score mixing engineer
Jake Jackson	....	score recordist
David Juritz	....	musicians: String Ensemble Leader
Elizabeth Kenny	....	musicians: Theorbo, Lute
Libera	....	musicians: Boys Choir
Haresh Patel	....	music editor
Jocelyn Pook	....	music producer
Robert Prizeman	....	choir director: Libera
John Sachs	....	music supervisor
Clara Sanabras	....	musicians: Voice, Lute, Baroque Guitar, Oud
Hilary Skewes	....	musician contractor
Belinda Sykes	....	musician: Shawm, Daf
Pamela Thorby	....	musicians: Recorders
Richard Tunnicliffe	....	musicians: Baroque String Quartet
Nick Wollage	....	score mixing engineer
Nick Wollage	....	score recordist

Transportation Department
Luca Fortunato Asquini	....	transportation manager: Italy
Alessandra Asta	....	transportation assistant
Lionel Delcroix	....	props driver
Svet Hrouchoff	....	additional driver
Simon Jones	....	driver: Al Pacino, UK
Gaby Meyers	....	facility/truck driver
Francois Muller	....	truck driver
Gary Sharp	....	driver: cast
Kevan Willis	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Denver Beattie	....	assistant: Al Pacino, Italy
Nicky Bell	....	assistant: Mr. Radford
Bob Bellion	....	financial manager
Shirine Best	....	development assistant
Corrina Bonicelli	....	technical advisor
Alexandre Brown	....	production assistant
Fabrizio Cerato	....	location manager
Deborah Cesana	....	set runner
Erasmo Colucci	....	co-accountant
Veronica Coppola	....	assistant production coordinator
Lou Crisa	....	special assistant and security: Mr. Pacino
Warren Demer	....	assistant accountant
Bernardo Galli	....	assistant accountant: Italy
Ambroise Gayet	....	production assistant
Judy Geletko	....	administrator: Avenue Pictures
Geoffrey Goodman	....	assistant: Mr. Brokaw
Matteo Gottardis	....	unit manager assistant: Italy
Linda Gregory	....	financial controller
Nicole Gregory	....	unit publicist
Monica Hayford	....	assistant to producer: UK
Mel Hider	....	assistant: Mr. Cowan and Mr. Piette
Patrick Hoffmann	....	production assistant
Polly Hope	....	assistant production coordinator
Brittany Hymore	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino, Italy
Myke Ismael	....	extras assistant
Tim Judge	....	executive assistant: Mr. Pacino
Patricia Kretschmer	....	assistant: Mr. De Brabant, Luxembourg
Emily Kyriakides	....	assistant to producer: UK
Stefano Dalla Lana	....	location assistant
Antonella Longato	....	production assistant
Roberto Longobardi	....	production accountant
Nadia Mattera	....	assistant: Mr. Navidi
Jack Murphy	....	movement coach
Pascale Noël	....	location assistant
Alessandro Palestro	....	set production assistant
Jessica Reavis	....	stand-in
Laurence Rexter-Baker	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino, Luxembourg
David Morais Rocas	....	location assistant
Debbie Rothstein	....	legal assistant
Andrea Santuari	....	production assistant
Adelaide Scardino	....	assistant: Mr. Brokaw
Shalom Shabazi	....	poet
Emma Short	....	assistant production accountant
Lucy Shuttleworth	....	development executive
Mannes Steve	....	location trainee
Anita Tomaselli	....	production coordinator: Italy
Sophie Treacher	....	production coordinator: Luxembourg
Emma Tweed	....	assistant: Mr. Radford
Tim Van Rellim	....	production executive
Stephane Wasila	....	location manager
Beverly Winston	....	script supervisor
Federico Demontis	....	assistant to co-executive producer (uncredited)
Pietro Dioni	....	assistant to co-executive producer (uncredited)

Thanks
Marlon Brando	....	special thanks
Danny Huston	....	special thanks
Radica Jovicic	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Avenue Pictures Productions (as Cary Brokaw/Avenue Pictures)
• Movision (as Movision Entertainment) (presents)
• UK Film Council (in association with)
• Film Fund Luxembourg
• Delux Productions
• Immagine e Cinema
• Dania Film
• Istituto Luce
• Navidi-Wilde Productions Ltd. (as Navidi-Wilde)
• 39 McLaren St. Sydney
• Rough Diamond Productions
• Spice Factory (as Spice Factory Production)

Distributors

• Movision (2004) (worldwide) (all media) (rights)
• New Films International (2004) (non-USA) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Art Port (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distributors (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Blue Sky Film Distribution (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• CDI Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Istituto Luce (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Optimum Releasing (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Filmverleih (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Zima Entertainment (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Blue Sky Media (2006) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Manga Films (2005) (Spain) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Senate Visual Effects, The (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lab  camera and lighting equipment
• ARRI Lab  film lab
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Air Lyndhurst, London)
• Alf Service  balloon lighting: Italy (as Alf Service S.r.l., Florence, Italy)
• Angels the Costumiers  costumes
• Artistic Theatrical Footwear  costumes
• Bollux  grip rentals
• Boom Post Production  sound re-recording
• Capital FX  end roller
• Clarity Post Production Sound  foley recording
• Clarity Post Production Sound  sound post-production
• Cornejo  costumes (as Sastreria Cornejo S.A.)
• Costumi d'Arte  costumes (as Costumi d'Arte, Roma)
• Decca Records  soundtrack published by
• Deluxe  colour
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Farm Group, The  high-definition digital mastering
• Film & Television Facilities  facility vehicles
• Independent Media Support  subtitling and captioning
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Location Consulting & Facilities  facilities vehicles
• London Editing Machines Ltd.  editing facilities: production
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording
• Mayflower Studios  sound post-production
• Media World Logistics  production logistics (uncredited)
• Nicolao Atelier  costumes (as Nicolao Atelier, Venezia)
• Offline Editing Company, The  post-production facilities
• Reel Skill  negative cutting (as Reel Skill Film Cutting)
• Senate Visual Effects, The  title sequence
• Tirelli Costumi  costumes (as Tirelli Costuma, Roma)
• UMG Soundtracks  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

"William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice" - USA (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some nudity

Runtime:

131 min | Finland:134 min

Country:

USA | Italy | Luxembourg | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-7 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12 | Ireland:12 | Mexico:B | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:12 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:PG | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Thiene, Vicenza, Veneto, Italy

Company:

Avenue Pictures Productions

Trivia:

The original play script opens with Antonio, Salarino, and Salanio on a Venice street. It does not open with the scene show at the beginning of the movie where the Jews are being persecuted, and Antonio spits on Shylock.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the Jews are carrying the Torah around the synagogue, the prayers and garb is appropriate. The Torah would only be taken out to be read. Traditional Jews only read Torah in the morning, when the light for reading would be best before the advent of artificial lighting. Therefore the Torah would not have been out at that time of day.

Quotes:

Bassanio:So may the outward shows be least themselves. The world is still deceived with ornament. In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt but being seasoned with a gracious voice obscures the show of evil? In religion, what damned error but some sober brow will bless it and approve it with a text, hiding the grossness with fair...

Movie Connections:

Featured in 'Merchant of Venice': Shakespeare Through the Lens (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Song for Bassanio

Brilliant!

I just saw this at the Toronto International Film Festival in the beautiful Elgin Theatre. I was blown away by the beautiful cinematography, the brilliant adaptation of a very tricky play and last but not least, the bravura performance of Al Pacino, who was born to play this role, which was perfectly balanced by an equally strong performance from Jeremy Irons.

The film deftly explores the themes of love vs loyalty, law vs justice, and passion vs reason. Some might protest that the content is inherently anti-semitic, however they should consider the historical context of the story, and the delicate and nuanced way in which it is told in this adaptation.

9/10