The Taming of the Shrew (1980)

The swaggering Petruchio agrees to marry the spitting hellcat, Katherine.

Director:

Jonathan Miller

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Simon Chandler, Anthony Pedley, John Franklyn-Robbins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simon Chandler	...	Lucentio
Anthony Pedley	...	Tranio
John Franklyn-Robbins	...	Baptista
Frank Thornton	...	Gremio
Sarah Badel	...	Katherine
Jonathan Cecil	...	Hortensio
Susan Penhaligon	...	Bianca
Harry Waters	...	Biondello
John Cleese	...	Petruchio
David Kincaid	...	Grumio
Bev Willis	...	Baptista's Servant
Angus Lennie	...	Curtis
Harry Webster	...	Nathaniel
Gil Morris	...	Philip
Leslie Sarony	...	Gregory

Storyline

Baptista has two daughters: Kate and Bianca. Everyone wants to wed the fair Bianca, but nobody's much interested in problem child, Kate. Baptista declares that he won't give Bianca away in a marriage until he's found a husband for Kate, so all the suitors begin busily hunting out a madman who's willing to do it, and they find Petruchio: a man who's come to wive it wealthily in Padua. And Petruchio marries Kate with a plan to tame her, while everybody else begins scheming to win Bianca's hand.

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Plot Keywords:

male female relationship | resentment toward sister | shakespeare's the taming of the shrew | based on play | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1980 (UK)

Also Known As:

A makrancos hölgy

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Time-Life Television Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This episode premiered the BBC Shakespeare's new opening title sequence, and the new theme music by Stephen Oliver.

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Connections

Version of The Taming of the Shrew (1929)

User Reviews

Interesting Shrew

Miller's production of Taming of the Shrew had a shortcoming it shared with many of the other BBC Shakespeare series productions; It was produced as a theatrical piece and not as video/film. This was more than offset, however, by the brilliant performance of John Cleese as Petruchio. Cleese played Kate's suitor with an understated, british style that at once illuminated the bard's words and drew a direct line between Shakespeare and Monty Python. Listen to him trail off on his 'Think you a little din can daunt my ears' speech and you will understand that humor has not really changed in 400 years.