The Taming of the Shrew (1967 film)
Encyclopedia
The Taming of the Shrew is a 1967 film
based on the play of the same name
by William Shakespeare
about a courtship between two strong-willed people. The film was directed by Franco Zeffirelli
and stars Elizabeth Taylor
and Richard Burton
as Shakespeare's Kate and Petruchio.
) is attempting to marry off his two daughters; however, he will only marry his youngest, Bianca (Natasha Pyne
), if someone will marry his eldest, Katharina (Elizabeth Taylor
). Katharina is an ill-tempered shrewish woman but a lusty young nobleman, Petruchio (Richard Burton
), takes on the challenge of taming and marrying her. A subplot involves the wooing of Bianca by several suitors including handsome Lucentio (Michael York
), foppish Hortensio (Victor Spinetti
), and elderly Gremio (Alan Webb
).
Taylor plays Kate's final, controversial speech without any obvious irony (such as Mary Pickford
's wink in the 1929
film); however, her "taming" is obviously undercut by Kate's quick exit from the banquet, which forces Burton's Petruchio to chase after her amid jeers from the other men. This act of defiance thus gives an ending somewhat happier to modern audiences, implying Kate's spirit is not broken and that Petruchio has not succeeded. Similar to Harold Bloom
's take on the play, Elizabeth Taylor's Katherina is demonstrating that in reality women may control men by appearing to obey them.
Despite this, the film was marketed quite misogynistically
, including the use of the tagline
s "A motion picture for every man who ever gave the back of his hand to his beloved... and for every woman who deserved it. Which takes a lot of people!" and "In the war between the sexes, there always comes a time for unconditional surrender."
The film was originally intended to be a vehicle for Sophia Loren
and Marcello Mastroianni
. Taylor and Burton put over a million dollars into the production and, instead of a salary, took a percentage of profits. The film made millions and was liked by the critics.
(Lorenzo Mongiardino
, John DeCuir
, Elven Webb
, Giuseppe Mariani
, Dario Simoni
, Luigi Gervasi
).
1967 in film
The year 1967 in film involved some significant events. It is widely considered as one of the most ground-breaking years in film.-Events:* December 26 - The Beatles Magical Mystery Tour airs on British television....
based on the play of the same name
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
about a courtship between two strong-willed people. The film was directed by Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
and stars Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
and Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
as Shakespeare's Kate and Petruchio.
Plot and cast
Baptista Minola (Michael HordernMichael Hordern
Sir Michael Murray Hordern was an English actor, knighted in 1983 for his services to the theatre, which stretched back to before the Second World War.-Personal life:...
) is attempting to marry off his two daughters; however, he will only marry his youngest, Bianca (Natasha Pyne
Natasha Pyne
Natasha Pyne , is an English actress.Pyne started her career at the Royal Court in a production of John Osbourne's Inadmissible Evidence and followed it in productions at the Lyric and Royal Shakespeare Company. She is best known for her role in the British television sitcom series Father, Dear...
), if someone will marry his eldest, Katharina (Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor
Dame Elizabeth Rosemond "Liz" Taylor, DBE was a British-American actress. From her early years as a child star with MGM, she became one of the great screen actresses of Hollywood's Golden Age...
). Katharina is an ill-tempered shrewish woman but a lusty young nobleman, Petruchio (Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
), takes on the challenge of taming and marrying her. A subplot involves the wooing of Bianca by several suitors including handsome Lucentio (Michael York
Michael York (actor)
Michael York, OBE is an English actor.-Early life:York was born in Fulmer, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, the son of Florence Edith May , a musician; and Joseph Gwynne Johnson, a Llandovery born Welsh ex-Royal Artillery British Army officer and executive with Marks and Spencer department stores...
), foppish Hortensio (Victor Spinetti
Victor Spinetti
Victor Spinetti is a Welsh comic actor.-Early life:Spinetti was born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who was said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner...
), and elderly Gremio (Alan Webb
Alan Webb (actor)
-Biography and Career:Educated at Bramcote School, Scarborough, and RN Colleges Osborne and Dartmouth. He served in the Royal Navy.Webb's early days were spent performing with the Lena Ashwell Players , J. B. Fagan's Oxford Players , The Croydon Repertory Company , and the Old Vic-Sadler's Wells...
).
Production details
The film cuts much of the original dialogue, but allows more characterization. For example, much of the subplot of Lucentio and Bianca is cut, while more characterization of Katharina and Petruchio is allowed.Taylor plays Kate's final, controversial speech without any obvious irony (such as Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford was a Canadian-born motion picture actress, co-founder of the film studio United Artists and one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
's wink in the 1929
The Taming of the Shrew (1929 film)
The Taming of the Shrew is the first sound film adaptation of the Shakespearean play of the same name. It stars Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks.-Cast:*Mary Pickford as Katherine*Douglas Fairbanks as Petruchio...
film); however, her "taming" is obviously undercut by Kate's quick exit from the banquet, which forces Burton's Petruchio to chase after her amid jeers from the other men. This act of defiance thus gives an ending somewhat happier to modern audiences, implying Kate's spirit is not broken and that Petruchio has not succeeded. Similar to Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom is an American writer and literary critic, and is Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. He is known for his defense of 19th-century Romantic poets, his unique and controversial theories of poetic influence, and his prodigious literary output, particularly for a literary...
's take on the play, Elizabeth Taylor's Katherina is demonstrating that in reality women may control men by appearing to obey them.
Despite this, the film was marketed quite misogynistically
Misogyny
Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women or girls. Philogyny, meaning fondness, love or admiration towards women, is the antonym of misogyny. The term misandry is the term for men that is parallel to misogyny...
, including the use of the tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
s "A motion picture for every man who ever gave the back of his hand to his beloved... and for every woman who deserved it. Which takes a lot of people!" and "In the war between the sexes, there always comes a time for unconditional surrender."
The film was originally intended to be a vehicle for Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren
Sophia Loren, OMRI is an Italian actress.In 1962, Loren won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Two Women, along with 21 awards, becoming the first actress to win an Academy Award for a non-English-speaking performance...
and Marcello Mastroianni
Marcello Mastroianni
Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni, Knight Grand Cross was an Italian film actor. His honours included British Film Academy Awards, Best Actor awards at the Cannes Film Festival and two Golden Globe Awards.- Personal life :...
. Taylor and Burton put over a million dollars into the production and, instead of a salary, took a percentage of profits. The film made millions and was liked by the critics.
Awards
The film had two Academy Award nominations, for Best Costume Design, and Best Art DirectionAcademy Award for Best Art Direction
The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Best Art Direction recognizes achievement in art direction on a film. The films below are listed with their production year, so the Oscar 2000 for best art direction went to a film from 1999...
(Lorenzo Mongiardino
Lorenzo Mongiardino
Lorenzo Mongiardino was an Italian architect, interior designer and production designer...
, John DeCuir
John DeCuir
John DeCuir was a Hollywood art director.He studied at the Chouinard Art School, joined Universal in the late 1930s, and by the mid-1940s was designing sets. In 1949, he signed with 20th Century Fox where he worked on productions noted for their elaborate sets...
, Elven Webb
Elven Webb
Elven Webb was an American art director. He won an Academy Award and was nominated for another in the category Best Art Direction.-Selected filmography:Webb won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction and was nominated for another:Won* Cleopatra...
, Giuseppe Mariani
Giuseppe Mariani
Giuseppe Mariani was an Italian art director. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film The Taming of the Shrew.-Selected filmography:* The Taming of the Shrew -External links:...
, Dario Simoni
Dario Simoni
Dario Simoni was a set decorator. He won two Academy Awards and was nominated for another two in the category Best Art Direction.-Selected filmography:...
, Luigi Gervasi
Luigi Gervasi
Luigi Gervasi was an Italian set decorator. He was nominated for an Academy Award in the category Best Art Direction for the film The Taming of the Shrew.-Selected filmography:* The Taming of the Shrew -External links:...
).