The Taming of the Shrew (1929)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The Taming of the Shrew |
| Original title | The Taming of the Shrew |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1929 |
| length | 65 (German version) 63, 66, 68 (English versions) minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Sam Taylor |
| script | Sam Taylor |
| production | Mary Pickford for United Artists , Los Angeles |
| music | Hugo Riesenfeld |
| camera | Karl Struss |
| cut | Allen McNeil |
| occupation | |
| |
The Taming of the Shrew is an American feature film based on the original of the same name by William Shakespeare from 1929 with the couple Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in the leading roles. Directed by Sam Taylor .
action
The course of the plot largely follows the Shakespeare model.
Padua , in the 16th century. Lucentio falls in love with Bianca, the younger of Baptista's two daughters. But Baptista has determined that he will not agree to a marriage of his younger daughter until his older daughter Katharine has also married. In order to win Bianca, Lucentio not only has to get rid of the competitors Hortensio and Gremio, but also has to find a husband for the stubborn Katharina, a real scare for men. When Petruchio, an old friend of Hortensios, appears, he seems made for the scratchy Katherine. In a violent battle of words, the two prove to be equal opponents. Petruchio explains to Katharine that he will marry her whether she wants to or not.
Petruchio deliberately arrives too late for the wedding to show who will be the master of the house in the future. He is also dressed inappropriately. Then he takes his new wife into his house, where he withholds all the comforts of affluence from her, supposedly out of sheer care for Katherine. After a few days in which Petruchio tries to tame her, Katharine has to admit defeat, whereupon Petruchio agrees to accompany her to Padua for Bianca's wedding. On the way there, too, neither of them miss an opportunity to engage in verbal battles.
In the meantime, Lucentio has managed to win Bianca's heart and her father's approval. After this wedding, the men bet at a banquet whose wife is most likely to submit to her husband's will. All guests are astonished when Katharine of all people turns out to be the most obedient: the stubborn was tamed.
Production notes
The Taming of the Shrew was an early sound film by former silent film stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. It is also the only film in which the then married couple appeared together in leading roles. It premiered on October 26, 1929. In Germany, the film was shown on Bayerischer Rundfunk television on March 10, 1979 after the war .
The film structures were designed by William Cameron Menzies , the costumes were designed by the later director Mitchell Leisen . H. Bruce Humberstone assisted director Taylor.
Production costs were estimated at $ 504,000 and revenues were approximately $ 1,100,000.
The film also gained fame because director Taylor dared to write in the opening credits to write: " By William Shakespeare, with additional dialogue by Sam Taylor ".
Reviews
Mordaunt Hall wrote in the November 30, 1929 issue of the New York Times : “Be it known that it is a piece of talking film that spread its cheer among the Petruchios, the Katherinas and others in the audience last night, and that in spite of the fact that while it sticks closely to the immortal bard's lines its doing smack frequently most heartily of Hollywood. Petruchio is often Doug and Katherina is not seldom mindful of the pursed-lipped Mary of years gone by on the screen. Yet if it be entertainment one seeks, here it is; if it be that one desires merriment to help the digestion, one cannot do better than hie himself with his company to look at and listen to these voluble shadows, who mix it up occasionally in a way that is like modern slapstickers. But it should be borne in mind that this story, written by the Bard near the Avon and transcribed to the screen somewhere in the vicinity of the Los Angeles River, is mounted with little thought as to expense. It is a jovial affair, shortened, 'tis true, because duplication of action might be tedious in a film and also because too much footage of film would be necessary to give every speech of the Shakespearean characters. [...] Mr. Fairbanks does not permit any Shakespearean vehicle to stay him from vaulting here and there and also demonstrating what he can do on horseback. He is likeable and well-spoken. Miss Pickford is delightful in her fits of fury and also in those moments when she hankers after food and trembles at Petruchio's wrath. It is a film that makes for a thoroughly happy evening or afternoon. "
The Movie & Video Guide wrote: "Defeated by its lack of pacing and downright embarrassing performances, though it's undeniably fascinating to see Doug and Mary together in their only co-starring appearance."
Halliwell's Film Guide characterized the film as follows: "A condensed version of the play which did not do much in its day for its stars' then declining reputations, but can now be watched with a fair measure of enjoyment".
The Lexicon of International Films wrote briefly and succinctly: "As a film historical document of interest."
Web links
- The Taming of the Shrew in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Information according to IMDB ( Memento from January 8, 2007 in the Internet Archive )
- ^ Translation: "By William Shakespeare, with additional dialogues by Sam Taylor"
- ↑ The Taming of the Shrew in the New York Times
- ↑ Leonard Maltin : Movie & Video Guide, 1996 edition, p. 1291. Translation: "Defeated by a lack of speed and downright shameful performance, it is undeniably fascinating to see Doug and Mary in their only film appearance together."
- ↑ Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 991. Translation: “A steamed-down version of the play that did not do much for the declining reputation of its leading actors, but is now viewed with a certain amount of joy can be."
- ↑ The Taming of the Shrew in the Lexicon of International Films , accessed on December 4, 2013.