Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick and Beatrice to wed as well.

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play), Kenneth Branagh (adaptation)

Stars:

Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Keanu Reeves

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Briers	...	Leonato
Kate Beckinsale	...	Hero
Imelda Staunton	...	Margaret
Jimmy Yuill	...	Friar Francis
Brian Blessed	...	Antonio
Andy Hockley	...	George Seacole
Chris Barnes	...	Francis Seacole
Conrad Nelson	...	Hugh Oatcake
Phyllida Law	...	Ursula
Emma Thompson	...	Beatrice
Alex Lowe	...	Messenger
Denzel Washington	...	Don Pedro
Keanu Reeves	...	Don John
Richard Clifford	...	Conrade
Gerard Horan	...	Borachio

Storyline

Young lovers Hero and Claudio are to be married in one week. To pass the time, they conspire with Don Pedro to set a "lover's trap" for Benedick, an arrogant confirmed bachelor, and Beatrice, his favorite sparring partner. Meanwhile, the evil Don Jon conspires to break up the wedding by accusing Hero of infidelity. In the end, though, it all turns out to be "much ado about nothing."

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Plot Keywords:

male objectification | multi plot | italy | wedding | bachelor | 

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Taglines:

A romantic comedy for anyone who's ever been in love.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for momentary sensuality

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mucho ruido y pocas nueces

Filming Locations:

Villa Vignamaggio, Greve in Chianti, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$22,551,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Renaissance Films, American Playhouse Theatrical Films, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First theatrical film of Kate Beckinsale, who shot this film, during her summer break, from studying Russian and French at New College, Oxford, England.

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Goofs

As the wedding party emerges from the front door in the final shot, the crane used to achieve the elevated view is briefly visible.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Beatrice: Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever. One foot in sea and one on shore, to one thing constant never. Then sigh not so but let them go and be you blithe and bonny, converting all your sounds of woe into hey nonny nonny.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #18.102 (2010)

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Soundtracks

Strike Up Pipers
(uncredited)
Written by William Shakespeare
Performed by Patrick Doyle

User Reviews

Mild and merry! A really great movie.

Much Ado About Nothing

From the beginning to the end, I was comfortable with this movie. The script mixed with the directing and the terrific acting created a glad feeling over this movie. The clips when sir.Benedict and Beatrice are extremely happy to the fake-news arranged by the prince, to the tunes of the main theme you smile, just because it is such a merry film. The language is highly enjoyable, of course. The love-enemies between Benedict and Beatrice are fabulous. Keanu Reeves is good, for once. Denzel Washington really is enjoying being in a Shakespeare-movie, and Branagh is very, very entertaining. I love this movie.

My Rating: 8.5/10