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Amazon.co.uk Review
The 1967 Franco Zeffirelli film of The Taming of the Shrew had all the ingredients to make it a high point in Shakespearian cinema. In Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor it starred the most bankable couple in Hollywood history as the sparring leads in the Bard's quick-firing comic battle of the sexes; and in Zeffirelli, it had a director with a Shakespearian pedigree second to none. But the reality is that this is Burton's picture all the way. His Petruchio is a weighty performance of such intelligence that the whole film is thrown off-kilter whenever he is on screen and the other performers just can't keep up. Apart from Michael Hordern's wonderfully distracted Baptista, Burton is the only actor in total, effortless command of the language. Taylor's bosomy glamour and fiery spirit are ample compensations for her occasionally murderous treatment of Katharina's verse. Whether or not she is really tamed by the end is another matter: those legendary violet eyes suggest otherwise. Ultimately it's a rich, bawdy and colourful romp, with Burton at the peak of his powers.
The DVD includes the theatrical trailer, a "making-of" featurette and filmographies. --Piers Ford
Special Features
2.35 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Dolby Digital Mono
Making Of Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Filmographies
Arabic\Bulgarian\Czech\Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\French\German\Greek\Hebrew\Hindi\Hungarian\Icelandic\Italian\Norwegian\Polish\Portuguese\Spanish\Swedish\Turkish
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
DVD 9
French\German\Italian\Spanish
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital Mono English French German Italian Spanish
Dolby Digital Mono
Making Of Featurette
Theatrical Trailer
Filmographies
Arabic\Bulgarian\Czech\Danish\Dutch\English\Finnish\French\German\Greek\Hebrew\Hindi\Hungarian\Icelandic\Italian\Norwegian\Polish\Portuguese\Spanish\Swedish\Turkish
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
What a wonderfull theatrical feast this Burton - Zeffirelli production is. Elizabeth Taylor gives the definitive performance of Katharina the shrew, with beautifull menacing eyes and almost insane aggression, which turns to classic charm and elegance, as she learns to love and respect.
Richard Burton at his peak delivers a commanding and humourous and equally powerful performance as Petruchio visiting Padua to find a wife. To eveyones relief, especially her father, Petruchio takes on Kate, a 'lusty wench' and it is obvious there is an immediate attraction, as they unravel Shakespeare's eloquent battle of the sexes magnificently. A coffer of 20,000.00 crowns, is no small incentive to the Bridegroom.
They are backed by an excellent cast, including Michael York as Lucentio, greatly enamoured of Kate's fair sister Bianca, (Natasha Pyne) who being the youngest is not allowed to marry before Kate. He and his Valet Hortensio (Victor Spinetti) swap roles in true Shakespearian manor, to gain access to the household, and woo Bianca. Giancarlo Cobelli plays the nervous priest at the wedding ceremony.
The success of this lavish spectacle owes a lot to the authentic and imaginative 16th Century costume designs. Costumes which Elizabeth Taylor displays radiantly were designed by Irene Sharaff, overall costume design by Danilo Donati, and production design by Renzo Mongiardino.
Music composed by Nino Rota, conducted by Carlo Savina, keeps the Paduan Festival atmosphere rolling
with lutes, flutes and sackbuts, and one or two very nice minstrell songs.
Running time is 117 minutes, but seems shorter because of the complete entertainment value; and this Columbia Tristar DVD of 2001 gives excellent wide screen colour and sound quality.
Special features include a short conversation with Elizabeth taylor, and Richard Burton, and their presentation at the Royal Command performance in London to Princess Margaret in 1967. That featurette alone is now memorable.
Richard Burton at his peak delivers a commanding and humourous and equally powerful performance as Petruchio visiting Padua to find a wife. To eveyones relief, especially her father, Petruchio takes on Kate, a 'lusty wench' and it is obvious there is an immediate attraction, as they unravel Shakespeare's eloquent battle of the sexes magnificently. A coffer of 20,000.00 crowns, is no small incentive to the Bridegroom.
They are backed by an excellent cast, including Michael York as Lucentio, greatly enamoured of Kate's fair sister Bianca, (Natasha Pyne) who being the youngest is not allowed to marry before Kate. He and his Valet Hortensio (Victor Spinetti) swap roles in true Shakespearian manor, to gain access to the household, and woo Bianca. Giancarlo Cobelli plays the nervous priest at the wedding ceremony.
The success of this lavish spectacle owes a lot to the authentic and imaginative 16th Century costume designs. Costumes which Elizabeth Taylor displays radiantly were designed by Irene Sharaff, overall costume design by Danilo Donati, and production design by Renzo Mongiardino.
Music composed by Nino Rota, conducted by Carlo Savina, keeps the Paduan Festival atmosphere rolling
with lutes, flutes and sackbuts, and one or two very nice minstrell songs.
Running time is 117 minutes, but seems shorter because of the complete entertainment value; and this Columbia Tristar DVD of 2001 gives excellent wide screen colour and sound quality.
Special features include a short conversation with Elizabeth taylor, and Richard Burton, and their presentation at the Royal Command performance in London to Princess Margaret in 1967. That featurette alone is now memorable.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw this film many years ago and remembered it with a hazy impression of enjoyment. On the news of her death I determined to obtain it and could not believe the price being quoted by Amazon.
My hazy memory was not at fault and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the film again. Elizabeth was so beautiful and talented and together with Richard Burton this is an amusing and lovable tale about a temperamental woman who finally becomes a joy to her husband.
If it is still available, buy it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
My hazy memory was not at fault and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the film again. Elizabeth was so beautiful and talented and together with Richard Burton this is an amusing and lovable tale about a temperamental woman who finally becomes a joy to her husband.
If it is still available, buy it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
21 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
After studying the play in its text version in my English Literature class, we were shown this Zefferelli film. To my amazement, it surpassed my expectations and managed to keep the comedy. In truth, Petruchio was not what I expected from the first glance, but gradually, I felt that Richard Burton was very well suited to the role. For the time, it is a rather lavish production and I recommend everyone to see it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
On location in Italy at vast expense. Superb colour treatments.
A much enjoyable Shakespeare re-enactment.
An expensive production.
An adult theme of aristocratic love. Read more
An expensive production.
An adult theme of aristocratic love. Read more
Published 21 days ago by Tackler
compleatly loved it
I compleatly loved it, the best part for me was wen Elizabeth & Richard were fighting in the pile of feathers
Published 1 month ago by Melissa
Comedy at it's best
Whenever you need a good laugh this is the perfect tonic. Shakespeare lover or no this film is a comedic masterpiece. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Vagabond
a complete success
I watched this film with absolute delight - at the raucous humor, the very real chemistry between Taylor and Burton, the spectacle of scenes and costumes, and a great musical... Read more
Published 2 months ago by rob crawford
freddie fast
I have always enjoyed this version since i saw it first in Aukland in 1974 and have given a copy to a friend in Beijing so she can appreciate the language of Shakespear as well as... Read more
Published 4 months ago by freddie fast
Shrew
Excelent film and delightful acting by Taylor and Burton, I had never seen it until I got the DVD, now I know what I have been missing ! Read more
Published 5 months ago by mr jones
Excellent Film
A fantastic production of one of Shakespeare's funniest plays. Burton and Taylor are electric in their performances I would recommend this film as an introduction to the great... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. S. Medcalf
Taming of the shrew
This is the must see version of Shakespeare's play.Taylor and Burton in their tour de force. For me this rendition beats anything else they have done together. Read more
Published 11 months ago by E. Dijkstra
Boredom begone
This is a super film with Burton and Taylor at the top of their form and great support from Michael Hordern, Alfred Lynch and Michael York etc. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Francis Terry
Taming of the Shrew
Great film - I saw this when first released at cinema - still enjoyed as much.
Published 19 months ago by bessy
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