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The Taming of the Shrew (1967)'s comments

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Siskoid

The Taming of the Shrew is also a problematic play to stage in the modern era, and with Zeffirelli at the helm of the 1967 Burton-Taylor spectacular, you can expect a lavish production full of recognizable actors, but he also prefers visuals and action over text. His Romeo and Juliet is a great film, but his Hamlet, while entertaining, butchers the play. He plays a little fast and loose with the material here, but not too much. Perhaps not enough. I find that the success of Shrew is largely decided on the last scene, and whether or not it can sell Kate's turn to obedience and that incredibly patriarchal speech. Zeffirelli fumbles it. I'm left wondering if she means it, or if not, what subtext motivates it. Elizabeth Taylor plays the role as if she were taken with Burton's boorish Petruchio, and just doesn't want to show it. If marriage robs both of undue pride, then fine, but it's not clear this happens. We're left with the simple idea that if wives please their husbands, then husbands won't make their lives a living hell. Otherwise, Taylor does a lot of shouting and moaning (in the style of a lot of 60s comedies), and Burton doesn't really redeem fortune-hunting Petruchio in our eyes. The film isn't unpleasant to look at and there's plenty of energy, color and slapstick, but it isn't quite able to rise above its usual problems.

5 years 2 months ago

Emiam

7/10
I give it 7 but it's a nice 7. However I keep wondering why this classic is not in any top list at all?(!).
A classic by Shakespeare, directed by Zefirelli - one of fewer plays by the dramatist that I missed completely in book, theater and film form, during my acting years in Kulturama school of arts in 1995-1997.
Funny! Great chemistry between Burton and Taylor, good casting in general, beautiful environments. However, there is something unclear in the end scene.

5 years ago