The Coolidge Corner Theatre

Regular price. Free for Coolidge members.

Famed for both his opera productions at La Scala and the Metropolitan Opera House and his stellar film career, director Franco Zeffirelli gravitated towards divas throughout his career. For his cinematic recreation of Shakespeare's TAMING OF THE SHREW, he originally proposed Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni to star.

However, the Brangelina of their day, mega-stars and media darlings Elizabeth Taylor and her on-again-off-again husband, Richard Burton, ended up not only starring as the warring romantic leads, Katharina and Petruchio, but co-produced the film, putting $1 million of their own money into the production and waiving their combined $2 million+ salaries taking a percentage of the film's profits instead. Two Oscar nominations later, their gamble paid off. Of the eleven films the couple made together, this film shows them at their high-wattage best.

A witty, exuberant adaptation of Shakespeare's comic look at male chauvinism and women's lib in 16th century Italy, TAMING OF THE SHREW delights with glorious sets, costume, cinematography, and a marvelous soundtrack by Nino Rota.

Featuring a live pre-show performance by the Orfeo Group , from their production of "The Compete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)", which will be performed this summer at the Publick Theater.

dir. Franco Zeffirelli w/ Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton 2h2m