William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew

I felt the role of Beatrice couldn't have been played any better than by Elizabeth Taylor. Her sassy demeanor and her forthcoming attitude made all the difference in this film. It also seemed fitting Richard Burton played the `tamer' Petruchio. The screen presence of Taylor and the laughable likableness of Burton really brought an atmosphere that has yet to reach an equal. While others will try to imitate this film with bad remakes (Ten Things I Hate About You), Franco Zeffirelli's vision will be the definitive stamp, unless someone can create this film with more power and magnificence.

Liz and Dick, you gotta love them in this...somehow you feel you may be getting more insight into their personal life than intended. One of the great things about this film is that it's made Shakespeare accessible to many more folks who might not have even bothered otherwise. Zefferili does for Shakespeare what Emeril does for cuisine--makes it entertaining while keeping all the quality. And what a fun production--great costumes, a young Michael York, lots of sexy repartee. A good choice for a snowy night when you'd rather stay in. It keeps you pretty entertained throughout, simplifies some of the plot intricacies. One drawback is that Miss Taylor appears to be a little long in the tooth to be playing a young, never-married, girl.

The whole package was almost here in this movie.It delivered on almost all technical aspects demanded for this movie version of the great Shakesperean comedy.The problem here was the low quality script which dulled the comedy,thus struggling for laughs.The director tried to compensate as much as he could but he could only in the end turn out an average movie.Also,Taylor could only manage a decent Shakesperean performance depite the film makers limiting her lines as much as they could.Taylor is a great actress but Shakespeare acting demands a very high quality in ORATORY ACTING which is another ballgame.In this regard,Burton shows how it is done.Watch this movie for his great performance here if for nothing else.Burton will demand and get your respect if you have an eye for acting.Only for fans of the lead actors and fans of Shakespeare movies......

There is no denying Franco Zeffirelli's visual sensibility, nor his dramatic strength. He takes this Shakespearean comedy, chops and cuts and edits the text to his liking, and regurgitates a wonderful film. If one were to watch the film without sound, it would still be entertaining, that is how well Zeffirelli put it together. But it wouldn't be enough without a terrific Kate, and Elizabeth Taylor, certainly in her prime in 1967, more than fills the bill. She hams it up when hamming is appropriate to the moment, and plays it with more subtlety when that is required. She is well matched by Richard Burton as Petruchio. He is good, but there is something not quite there. I think perhaps he seems more jaded and a tad less calculating than I'd expect in the role. I think I prefer the more caustic performance of John Cleese in this role. I can't help but wonder what Zeffirelli would've done with an operatic version of this play.

Plot: A man tries to tame a vituperative woman through marriage. This is simply a delight; a colourful, joyful adaptation that is full of the zest of life. Shakespeare adaptations always face the danger of being too stagey, whilst many also fall into the danger of changing the setting and then congratulating themselves on their brilliance. This film avoids both traps, successfully turning the play into cinema whilst delivering a nuanced and detailed portrait of the age. Director Franco Zefferelli is particularly good at inserting (silent) additions to the play that add to the action. The production values are superb, with superlative costumes and locations. The cast is also absolutely superb, with the real life married couple of Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor delivering powerfully rowdy and physical performances, well supported by the likes of Michael York. Terrific fun. Worth two viewings.

I saw the movie on DVD and liked it. I think if Shakespeare were alive today he would have like. Taylor and Burton do justice to their roles and the movie also introduced a brilliant actor Michael York as Lucentio. I had read the play and had seen the movie 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU which was loosely based on the play. When I got a chance to see the movie, I grabbed it. Elizabeth Taylor as Katharina the shrew is brilliant. She shows why is much more than a celebrity. Richard Burton shines as Petruchio. Franco Zeffirelli is a reputed director and he shows why. A must see movie for the fans of Shakespeare and the play.