The Taming of the Shrew (BBC Television Shakespeare)

The Taming of the Shrew
(BBC Television Shakespeare)
1980
3/5 stars


Baptista Minola (John Franklyn-Robbins) of Padua has two lovely daughters: Katherina (Sarah Badel) and Bianca (Susan Penhaligon). Bianca has many suitors, being retiring and maidenly. Katherina, on the other hand, is a shrew, short of temper and sharp of tongue. Baptisa vows that he will not allow Bianca to marry until her older sister has. Petruchio (John Cleese) comes to Padua, intent on finding a rich wife. Katherina is just such a prospect, and he quickly arranges with Baptista to marry her, and then sets about to tame her.

I truly dislike the play itself (my review here), and watched this only in hopes that seeing it staged would give me a better appreciation for it.  Unfortunately, it didn't.  However, the play was mostly well-performed, with Cleese making a surprisingly good Petruchio.  I found that some of the actors tended to speak  too quickly when the character was excited, which made it difficult to understand the lines.  Overall, though, it was generally well-staged performance of a poor play.

This can be viewed for free with Amazon Prime.

Emma

Emma
4 part mini-series
2009
5/5 stars

Based on Jane Austen's novel, this mini-series focuses on Emma Woodhouse (Romola Garai), vain, spoiled, and the belle of her small town, as she tries her hand at matchmaking with disastrous results.  As with the novel, this Emma is almost unlikable, and yet. . . there is still a goodness about her that Mr. Knightly(Jonny Lee Miller) and the reader/viewer are able to see.

This is one of my favorite Austen novels for it's wit and perspicacity.  I was delighted with how closely the series followed the book, deviating only in minor matters.  The producers also kept a good feel of Regency times; I had issues, again, with only minor matters.  Costumes, hairstyles, locations, and sets were all fantastic. The actors were well cast, and they all did a fine job.  Tamsin Greig was particularly good as Miss Bates, as was Michael Gambon's portrayal of Mr. Woodhouse. I truly enjoyed this mini-series and would recommend it for both fans of the book, and those unfamiliar with the novel.

This movie is available with Amazon Prime.