TAMING OF THE SHREW

TAMING OF THE SHREW (1980)

BBC Release

Details

• DVD Region: 2+4 PAL (UK & Europe)
• Certificate: U
• Running Time: Approx. 128 minutes
• Originally Transmitted: 23rd October 1980
• DVD Release Date: 2005
• Released By: BBC Worldwide Ltd.
• Distributed By: DD Home Entertainment
• Format: Colour DVD PAL
• Language: English
• Subtitles: English SDH
• Audio: Mono
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3

© BBC Television in association with Time-Life
All Rights Reserved

A Comedie

In 1978, the BBC set itself the task of filming all of William Shakespeare’s plays for television. The resulting productions, renowned for their loyalty to the text, utilised the best theatrical and television directors and featured outstanding performances from leading contemporary actors.

“I am as peremptory as she proud-minded,
And where two raging fires meet together,
They do consume the thing that makes them fury.”

Baptista, a Paduan gentleman, has two daughters, Katherine and Bianca. Bianca is beautiful, sweet-tempered and obedient and several suitors seek her hand in marriage. Baptista, however, insists that Katherine, just as beautiful but sharp-tongued and rebellious, must be married first. The only man willing to court her is the equally feisty Petruchio, a stranger from Verona in search of a rich wife.

Shakespeare’s comic confrontation between the sexes is rich with sparkling wit and great characterisation. This production was admired for Jonathan Miller’s fidelity to Elizabethan social mores and for an outstanding cast including John Cleese, whose portrayal of Petruchio won unanimous critical acclaim.

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Enter Petruchio and Katherine

Petruchio:
“Come on, come on, you froward and unable worms!
You stars, you heavens, give me my wife again!
She is my treasure, my delight, my life!
I will tame her, or die in the attempt.”

William Shakespeare

His Most Excellent
Comical History
The Taming Of The Shrew

Dramatis Personae

In credits order:

• Simon Chandler ... Lucentio
• Anthony Pedley ... Tranio
• John Franklyn-Robbins ... Baptista
• Frank Thornton ... Gremio
• Sarah Badel ... Katherine
• Jonathan Cecil ... Hortensio
• Susan Penhaligon ... Bianca
• Harry Waters ... Biondello
• John Cleese ... Petruchio
• David Kincaid ... Grumio
• Bev Willis ... Baptista's Servant
• Angus Lennie ... Curtis
• Harry Webster ... Nathaniel
• Gil Morris ... Philip
• Leslie Sarony ... Gregory
• Derek Deadman ... Nicholas
• Denis Gilmore ... Peter
• John Bird ... Pedant
• Alan Hay ... Tailor
• David Kinsey ... Haberdasher
• John Barron ... Vincentio
• Joan Hickson ... Widow
• Tony Martell ... Officer

Lutenists

• Bill Badley
• Robin Jeffrey
• Tom Finucane
• Adam Kurakin ... First Outlaw
• John Baxter ... Second Outlaw
• Andrew Burt ... Third Outlaw

~ et al . . . ~

• Directed: Jonathan Miller
• Adapted: William Shakespeare’s original play