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Dangerous Beauty

  • 1998
  • R
  • 1h 51m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Catherine McCormack in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
86 Photos
BiographyDramaRomance

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

  • Director
    • Marshall Herskovitz
  • Writers
    • Margaret Rosenthal
    • Jeannine Dominy
  • Stars
    • Catherine McCormack
    • Rufus Sewell
    • Oliver Platt
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Marshall Herskovitz
    • Writers
      • Margaret Rosenthal
      • Jeannine Dominy
    • Stars
      • Catherine McCormack
      • Rufus Sewell
      • Oliver Platt
    • 136User reviews
    • 40Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    Dangerous Beauty
    Trailer 0:31
    Watch Dangerous Beauty

    Photos86

    Catherine McCormack in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Catherine McCormack and Rufus Sewell in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Catherine McCormack in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Catherine McCormack in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Catherine McCormack and Rufus Sewell in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Catherine McCormack in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Catherine McCormack in Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Dangerous Beauty (1998)
    Dangerous Beauty (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Catherine McCormack
    Catherine McCormack
    • Veronica Franco
    Rufus Sewell
    Rufus Sewell
    • Marco Venier
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Maffio Venier
    Fred Ward
    Fred Ward
    • Domenico Venier
    Naomi Watts
    Naomi Watts
    • Giulia De Lezze
    Moira Kelly
    Moira Kelly
    • Beatrice Venier
    Jacqueline Bisset
    Jacqueline Bisset
    • Paola Franco
    Jeroen Krabbé
    Jeroen Krabbé
    • Pietro Venier
    Joanna Cassidy
    Joanna Cassidy
    • Laura Venier
    Melina Kanakaredes
    Melina Kanakaredes
    • Livia
    Daniel Lapaine
    Daniel Lapaine
    • Serafino Franco
    Justine Miceli
    Justine Miceli
    • Elena Franco
    Jake Weber
    Jake Weber
    • King Henry
    Simon Dutton
    Simon Dutton
    • Minister Ramberti
    Grant Russell
    Grant Russell
    • Francesco Martenengo
    Peter Eyre
    Peter Eyre
    • The Doge
    Carla Cassola
    • Caterina
    Gianni Musy
    • Joseph
    • Director
      • Marshall Herskovitz
    • Writers
      • Margaret Rosenthal
      • Jeannine Dominy
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The Veronica Franco depicted in the film was a real person. She was born in 1546 and died in 1591, at the age of forty-five. She was the most famous courtesan in Italy, but she was also famous for her satire and for her poetry.
    • Goofs
      The books shown in the movie are printed on paper that is too thin and too white for 16th century. Also, the typeface is too small. Until 1843 paper was made exclusively from rags and this resulted in paper having large fibers and rough surface. Printing ink smeared on the fibers and so printers had to use large typefaces (equivalent to modern 16-18 points at least). White color of paper required and still requires copious use of sulfuric acid that was not available before industrial revolution too. It was not until late 19th century then modern quality paper, such as the one shown in the movie, was developed.
    • Quotes

      Veronica Franco: I confess that as a young girl I loved a man who would not marry me for want of a dowry. I confess I had a mother who taught me a different way of life, one I resisted at first but learned to embrace. I confess I became a courtesan, traded yearning for power, welcomed many rather than be owned by one... I confess I embraced a whore's freedom over a wife's obedience... I confess I find more ecstacy in passion than in prayer. Such passion is prayer. I confess - I confess I pray still to feel the touch of my lover's lips, his hands upon me, his arms enfolding me... . Such surrender has been mine. I confess I hunger still to be filled and enflamed. To melt into the dream of us, beyond this troubled place, to where we are not even ourselves. To know that always, always, this is mine... If this had not been mine - if I had lived any other way - a child to her husband's whim, my soul hardened from lack of touch and lack of love. I confess such endless days and nights would be a punishment far greater than you could ever mete out... You, all of you, you who hunger so for what I give but cannot bear to see that kind of power in a woman. You call God's greatest gift: our selves, our yearning, our need to love - you call it filth and sin and heresy... I repent there was no other way open to me. I do not repent my life.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Palmetto/Senseless/Dangerous Beauty/Mrs. Dalloway/Nil by Mouth/Live Flesh (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Ungaresca e saltarello
      in "Artificio Scientia La Selena"

      Composed by Giorgio Mainiero

      Per S. Naria Della Pace

    User reviews136

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    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.
    helpful•62
    14
    • Firstclassblonde
    • Oct 9, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 20, 1998 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Honest Courtesan
    • Filming locations
      • Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • New Regency Productions
      • Arnon Milchan Productions
      • The Bedford Falls Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $8,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,553,271
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $105,989
      • Feb 22, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $4,553,271
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 51 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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