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 (Kate Beckinsale) and Claudio (Robert Sean Leonard) are to be married in one week. To pass the time, they conspire with Don Pedro (Denzel Washington) to set a "lover's trap" for Benedick (Sir Kenneth Branagh), an arrogant confirmed bachelor, and Beatrice (Dame Emma Thompson), his favorite sparring partner. Meanwhile, the evil Don Jon (Keanu Reeves) 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:

directed by star | shakespeare's much ado about nothing | based on play | multi plot | italy | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Like Much Ado About Nothing (1967), this movie cast a real-life married couple in the leads. In the earlier, made-for-television movie, it was Robert Stephens and Dame Maggie Smith. In this movie, it was Sir Kenneth Branagh and Dame Emma Thompson. Both couples later divorced.

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Goofs

The deckchair was first patented in the late nineteenth century, and would thus not have available at the time of the film's setting.

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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

Version of Mnogo shuma iz nichego (1956)

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Soundtracks

Pardon, Goddess of the Night
(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

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Much Ado About Nothing

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$108,617, 9 May 1993

Gross USA:

$22,549,338

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$22,549,338

Company Credits

Production Co:

Renaissance Films, American Playhouse Theatrical Films, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1