The Taming Of The Shrew (1967)

Set in 16th century Italy, the father (Michael Hordern) of two daughters refuses to let his younger daughter (Natasha Pyne) be married until her older sister (Elizabeth Taylor) is married off. But the elder sister is a foul tempered shrew and finding her a husband will prove difficult. Enter a coarse lout (Richard Burton) looking to marry for money. Based on the play by William Shakespeare and directed by Franco Zeffirelli (ROMEO AND JULIET). One of Shakespeare's more accessible plays, Zeffirelli has trimmed the text considerably to focus on Kate and Petruchio, the characters played by Taylor and Burton. It's a handsome production with detailed art direction and lush costumes perfectly captured by Oswald Morris (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF). Taylor and Burton throw themselves into their roles with abandon and they seem to be having a rip roaring good time at it, too. While Taylor has proven she can play a contemporary shrew (WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?) quite well, she lacks a classical actress's training which makes her stick out in the cast. She manages to get through it on sheer star power but her inadequacy shows. As to the film, there's no getting around its uncomfortable attitude and treatment of women which rankles contemporary sensibilities. The only way to make the "I am ashamed that women are so simple" speech which closes the play work for a modern audience is to make it ironic or insincere but Taylor delivers it sincerely. That aside, the production is feisty and fun. The lively score is by Nino Rota. With Michael York, Cyril Cusack, Alan Webb and Alfred Lynch.