The Taming of the Shrew (1967)

Country: Italy|USA
Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Production Co: Columbia Pictures,Columbia Tristar,Sony
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 7.1/10
Length: 126 mins

Storyline

Baptista (Sir Michael Hordern), a rich Paduan merchant, announces that his fair young daughter, Bianca (Natasha Pyne), will remain unwed until her older sister, Katharina (Dame 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.—alfiehitchie

Plot Keywords

battle of the sexes, sexism, psychological abuse, dysfunctional marriage, sibling rivalry, husband wife relationship, wedding, italy, male female relationship, fortune hunter, mistaken identity, sister sister relationship, father daughter relationship, family relationships, double entendre, dinner, bare chested male

Short Review

As for Mr. Zeffirelli's settings and the elaborate Renaissance costumes, they look very rich and mellow in the misty pastel colors that are used. But they, too, like Nino Rota's music, tend to monotony.