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IMDbPro

Shakespeare in Love

  • 1998
  • R
  • 2h 3m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
229K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,529
172
Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
Trailer for Shakespeare In Love: Blu-Ray
Play trailer1:42
14 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyDramaHistory

The world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.The world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.The world's greatest ever playwright, William Shakespeare, is young, out of ideas and short of cash, but meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

  • Director
    • John Madden
  • Writers
    • Marc Norman
    • Tom Stoppard
  • Stars
    • Gwyneth Paltrow
    • Joseph Fiennes
    • Geoffrey Rush
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    229K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,529
    172
    • Director
      • John Madden
    • Writers
      • Marc Norman
      • Tom Stoppard
    • Stars
      • Gwyneth Paltrow
      • Joseph Fiennes
      • Geoffrey Rush
    • 825User reviews
    • 124Critic reviews
    • 87Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 7 Oscars
      • 65 wins & 87 nominations total

    Videos14

    Shakespeare in Love
    Trailer 1:42
    Watch Shakespeare in Love
    Shakespeare in Love
    Trailer 0:26
    Watch Shakespeare in Love
    Shakespeare in Love: Blu-Ray
    Clip 0:31
    Watch Shakespeare in Love: Blu-Ray
    Shakespeare in Love: Blu-Ray
    Clip 0:51
    Watch Shakespeare in Love: Blu-Ray
    Shakespeare in Love: Blu-Ray
    Clip 1:10
    Watch Shakespeare in Love: Blu-Ray
    Shakespeare In Love: The Foundation Of Shakespeare In Love (Bonus Clip)
    Clip 1:08
    Watch Shakespeare In Love: The Foundation Of Shakespeare In Love (Bonus Clip)
    Shakespeare In Love: Ned The Great (Bonus Clip)
    Clip 0:53
    Watch Shakespeare In Love: Ned The Great (Bonus Clip)
    Shakespeare In Love: Kiss
    Clip 0:50
    Watch Shakespeare In Love: Kiss
    Shakespeare In Love: His Next Masterpiece (Deleted Scene Bonus Clip)
    Clip 1:37
    Watch Shakespeare In Love: His Next Masterpiece (Deleted Scene Bonus Clip)
    Shakespeare In Love: Dance
    Clip 1:09
    Watch Shakespeare In Love: Dance
    Shakespeare In Love: Ned's Return To Rose Playhouse
    Clip 0:31
    Watch Shakespeare In Love: Ned's Return To Rose Playhouse
    What Roles Was Ben Affleck Considered For?
    Video 4:10
    Watch What Roles Was Ben Affleck Considered For?

    Photos193

    Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Gwyneth Paltrow and Joseph Fiennes in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Geoffrey Rush in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Ben Affleck in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love (1998)
    Gwyneth Paltrow in Shakespeare in Love (1998)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gwyneth Paltrow
    Gwyneth Paltrow
    • Viola De Lesseps
    Joseph Fiennes
    Joseph Fiennes
    • Will Shakespeare
    Geoffrey Rush
    Geoffrey Rush
    • Philip Henslowe
    Tom Wilkinson
    Tom Wilkinson
    • Hugh Fennyman
    Steven O'Donnell
    Steven O'Donnell
    • Lambert
    Tim McMullan
    Tim McMullan
    • Frees
    • (as Tim McMullen)
    Steven Beard
    • Makepeace, the Preacher
    Antony Sher
    Antony Sher
    • Dr Moth
    Patrick Barlow
    • Will Kempe
    Martin Clunes
    Martin Clunes
    • Richard Burbage
    Sandra Reinton
    • Rosaline
    Simon Callow
    Simon Callow
    • Tilney, Master of the Revels
    Judi Dench
    Judi Dench
    • Queen Elizabeth
    Bridget McConnell
    • Lady in Waiting
    • (as Bridget McConnel)
    Georgie Glen
    Georgie Glen
    • Lady in Waiting
    Nicholas Boulton
    Nicholas Boulton
    • Henry Condell
    Imelda Staunton
    Imelda Staunton
    • Nurse
    Colin Firth
    Colin Firth
    • Lord Wessex
    • Director
      • John Madden
    • Writers
      • Marc Norman
      • Tom Stoppard
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Imelda Staunton and Jim Carter are married in real life, and in this movie, they played the same role. Staunton played the Nurse off-stage, and Carter played the nurse on-stage.
    • Goofs
      William Shakespeare/Romeo tends to Ned/Mercutio by kneeling to Mercutio's right, and, in doing so, violates the first "rule" of stage acting, which is to never hinder the audience's view of the stage or the actors.
    • Quotes

      William Shakespeare: You will never age for me, nor fade, nor die.

      Viola De Lesseps: Nor you, for me.

      William Shakespeare: Goodbye, my love. A thousand times goodbye.

      Viola De Lesseps: Write me well.

    • Alternate versions
      The Region 2 DVD contains some deleted scenes:
      • A different end sequence. Here the conversation between Will and Viola is shorter than in the final film. After Viola has left Burbage enters and stops Will from running after Viola. He also takes the 50 pounds and says "Welcome to the Chamberlain's Men". The scene where Lord Wessex's ship sinks is also different. Here we see that Viola survives the drowning and is washed ashore an unknown coast. There she asks two people where she is. Their reply is "This is America".
      • A slightly different version of the scene where Burbank and his men fight against Will and his actors in the theatre. The sequence is largely the same as the scene used in the final film but parts are shown from different angles. A small conversation between Fennyman and Henslowe is added where they discuss about business.
      • A small scene which takes place after Henslowe has announced the audition. Here the two actors John and James walk to the court to play witnesses. When they meet the other actors and hear that Will Shakespeare needs actors for his new play they follow them to the audition.
      • A deleted take where Tom Wilkinson announces that he will be playing the apothecary. To Rushs question "How does the comedy end?" Fiennes replys "By God, I wish I knew". Then Rush says "By God, if you do not, who does? Let us have pirates, clowns and a happy ending and you'll make Harvey Weinstein a happy man."
    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Star Trek: Insurrection/Jack Frost/Shakespeare in Love/Psycho/The General (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      The Play & the Marriage
      (uncredited)

      Written by Stephen Warbeck

      Performed by Catherine Bott

      Conducted by Nick Ingman

    User reviews825

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    What ever happened to "And they lived happily ever after"?
    Shakespeare in Love, the best picture winner of 1998, I know this film receives a lot of bashing due to that win. I believe that also Saving Private Ryan was nominated, which it was also an incredible film. To be honest, I couldn't pick between the two, because both were wonderful films and completely different genres. But anyways, back onto Shakespeare in Love. Everything about this film was perfect and I think that's why it received so many Oscar nods and wins, I mean, the costumes, the acting, the sets, the story was absolutely terrific and wonderful to watch. John Madden knew what he was doing and shot this film so beautifully. The cast also seemed to really enjoy doing this film and worked so well together. Gwyneth Paltrow won best actress for this film and she did a terrific job portraying Viola, she was so elegant and touching. The love story between her and William Shakespeare is truly a memorable one.

    Viola is a first class lady who is about to be married to Lord Wessex, a man who she does not love. Her heart belongs to poetry, mainly the poetry of William Shakespeare. William has lost all hope though when his heart is broken by his girlfriend and he is writing a comedy called Romeo and Ethyl, the pirate's daughter. Since the plays are only played by an all male cast, Viola dresses up as a man and auditions for his new play. She receives the part of Romeo; later that night at a big party her father is throwing, she meets Shakespeare and it is love at first sight. When William finds out the truth that she is the boy who loves his poetry, he doesn't care, they have a passionate affair and continue on with the play as if she were a boy. But the plot thickens and Viola knows that she must go back to her life of an unwanted love and marriage.

    Shakespeare in Love is without a doubt a fine film and should have a higher rating in my book. I don't understand why so many people hate this film, I thought it was extremely clever and witty. It had a beautiful love story, it was funny, it was sad; there's nothing wrong with this film, but hey, everyone's a critic, right? I highly recommend Shakespeare in Love, just trust me, if you enjoy Shakespeare and his poetry, I'm sure you'll love this film. Just give it a chance, who cares about the Oscars? They make mistakes at times, but Shakespeare in Love is a great movie and I enjoyed watching it.

    10/10
    helpful•108
    38
    • Smells_Like_Cheese
    • Nov 23, 2003

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    FAQ1

    • was shakespeare's blue leather jacket actually historically accurate or from a different time period

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 8, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official sites
      • Facebook
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Shakespeare Đang Yêu
    • Filming locations
      • Broughton Castle, Broughton, Banbury, Oxfordshire, England, UK(Great Hall, Middle Temple)
    • Production companies
      • Universal Pictures
      • Miramax
      • The Bedford Falls Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $25,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $100,317,794
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $224,012
      • Dec 13, 1998
    • Gross worldwide
      • $289,317,794
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 3 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • DTS
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1
      • 2.35 : 1

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