The Taming of the Shrew

Brutish, fortune-hunting scoundrel Pertuchio tames his wealthy shrewish wife, Katharina.

• Director: Franco Zeffirelli
• Genre:Comedy / Drama / Romance
• Runtime:117 minutes

Cast

Elizabeth Taylor: Katharina

Richard Burton : Petruchio
Cyril Cusack : Grumio
Michael Hordern : Baptista
Alfred Lynch : Tranio

Prior to the first act, an induction frames the play as a “kind of history” played in front of a befuddled drunkard named Christopher Sly who is tricked into believing that he is a lord.

In the play performed for Sly, the “Shrew” is Katherina Minola, the eldest daughter of Baptista Minola, a Lord in Padua. Katherina’s temper is notorious, and extremely volatile, and it is thought that no man can control her, and no man would ever wish to marry her. On the other hand, her younger sister Bianca is nubile and much sought after by the nobles. Baptista however has sworn not to allow his younger daughter to marry before Katherina is wed, much to the despair of her suitors, Hortensio and Gremio, who agree that they will work together to marry off Katherina so that they will be free to compete for Bianca.

The plot becomes considerably more complex when two strangers, Petruchio and Lucentio, arrive in town (although not together). Lucentio, the son of the great Vincentio of Pisa, instantly falls in love with Bianca. Petruchio, for his part, seems interested only in money and fine jewels. Read more