Taglines: In the war between the sexes, there always comes a time to surrender- unconditionally!
The Taming of the Shrew movie storyline. Baptista (Michael Hordern), a rich Paduan merchant, announces that his fair young daughter, Bianca (Natasha Pyne), will remain unwed until her older sister, Katharina (Elizabeth Taylor), a hellish shrew, has wed. Lucentio (Michael York), a student and the son of a wealthy Pisan merchant, has fallen in love with Bianca. He poses as a tutor of music and poetry to gain entrance to the Baptista household and to be near Bianca.
Meanwhile, Petruchio (Richard Burton), a fortune-hunting scoundrel from Verona, arrives in Padua, hoping to capture a wealthy wife. Hortensio (Victor Spinetti), another suitor of Bianca, directs Petruchio’s attention to Katharina. When Hortensio warns him about Katharina’s scolding tongue and fiery temper, Petruchio is challenged and resolves to capture her love. Hortensio and another suitor of Bianca, Gremio (Alan Webb), agree to cover Petruchio’s costs as he pursues Katharina.
The Taming of the Shrew (Italian: La Bisbetica Domata) is a 1967 American-Italian romantic comedy 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. The film, made in English but shot in Italy, cuts much of the original dialogue, including much of the subplot of Lucentio and Bianca, and all of the Christopher Sly framing device.
Elizabeth 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 apparently undercut by her quick exit from the banquet, which forces Burton’s Petruchio to chase after her amid jeers from the other men. According to Harold Bloom’s take on the play, Katherina is “advising women how to rule absolutely, while feigning obedience”.
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 Taming of the Shrew grossed $8 million in North America, earning $3,540,000 in theatrical rentals during 1967, making it the 25th highest grossing picture of 1967. The film grossed $12 million worldwide.
The Taming of the Shrew (1967)
Directed by: Franco Zeffirelli
Starring: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Michael York, Michael Hordern, Natasha Pyne, Alan Webb, Victor Spinetti, Alfred Lynch, Mark Dignam, Roy Holder, Cyril Cusack
Screenplay by: Paul Dehn, Suso Cecchi d’Amico, Franco Zeffirelli
Production Design by: Lorenzo Mongiardino
Cinematography by: Oswald Morris
Film Editing by: Peter Taylor
Costume Design by: Danilo Donati
Set Decoration by: Luigi Gervasi, Dario Simoni, Carlo Gervasi
Art Direction by: Giuseppe Mariani, Elven Webb
Music by: Nino Rota
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Release Date: March 8, 1967
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