The Taming of the Shrew
Taming of the Shrew by Franco Zeffirelli allows its viewers to experience the epoch, in which the drama develops. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor bring the drama and the essence of comedy to this production. Again, Zeffirelli invited us through this espectacular production to be part of his own experience and luxury that overwealms ourselves.

wonderful
This is probably my favorite Shakespear redition. I love to see Burton and Taylor play off of each other.

Beautiful but stupid
The color cinematography in this Zefferelli opus is gorgeous, but the depiction of Katherine, the "shrew" of the title, is utterly ludicrous. Poor Liz Taylor spends the first hour with virtually no dialogue beyond scrams of rage. Why mount a movie of one of Shakespare's comedies if you're going to gag one of his most enchantingly verbal women? Listen to a cast recording of "Kiss Me, Kate" instead; at least Cole Porter used some of the Bard's language.

My problem is with Shakespeare, not the movie.
The movie is gorgeous to watch and listen to, and the acting is great. I would have enjoyed this movie a lot more if about a month ago I hadn't happened to have been reading some books on abusive men and their distorted perceptions of female realities. I know that Taylor & Burton are playing caricatures. The problem is, there is truth in caricatures. For some reason it is supposed to be funny when the man chases his hoped for bride, does a full body restraint on her, painfully twists her arm, makes what are essentially sexually harrassing remarks, acts like a fool on the wedding day and tricks her into being married, then keeps her from eating on her wedding night after an exhausting trip, rips up a dress she had her heart set on after he tempts her with it, and on and on.

Of course it is understood (as in the minds of abusive men and their, uh, "literature") that the woman really likes the rough and humilating treatment she is getting. It is also understood that while the woman's behavior means "she had it comin'" and warrants her being treated like property (which is exactly how Shakespeare has the new husband talk about his wife), the man's bufoonish, violent, alcoholic behaviors get no disapproval from anyone.

I just recently watched a John Wayne movie, McLintock. It seemed to me it might have been based on the Taming of the Shrew, which is why I have watched this movie. I was right. Same drunken loutish man who never improves in any way. Same shrewish woman who turns into a lamb after her husband abuses and humiliates her enough.

I give thanks to Heaven that we are told in Scriptures, "Be considerate of your wives or your prayers will not be answered" and that some men actually treat His daughters with love and respect.

The Taming of the Shrew is not a comedy to me, and I suspect to legions of women who have been "thus treated." It is more like a tragedy.

Good for the whole family
Our friends also own this movie and they also enjoyed it. This is a 'movie within a movie' because the actors play 'actors in a Shakespeare play' - and their private lives parallel the play they're in. The 'play' in the movie stays true to the orignal Shakespeare "Taming of the Shew".