|
|
|
Taming of the Shrew (The) AKA La Bisbetica Domata (Blu-ray)
[Blu-ray]
Blu-ray B - United Kingdom - Powerhouse Films Review written by and copyright: Rick Curzon (9th July 2025). |
|
The Film
 Richard Burton (Absolution) and Elizabeth Taylor (Secret Ceremony) star in The Taming of the Shrew, a vibrant and bawdy adaptation of Shakespeare’s immortal romantic comedy from director Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet). Nobleman Baptista (Michael Hordern, Girl Stroke Boy) seeks husbands for his two daughters. Bianca (Natasha Pyne, The Devil-Ship Pirates) has no trouble attracting suitors, but the headstrong and acerbic Kate (Taylor) drives men away ... until the nobleman Petruchio (Burton) is inspired by a sizeable dowry to take on the challenge. This lavish production’s all-star cast is rounded out by Cyril Cusack (Gideon’s Day), Michael York (Cabaret), Alan Webb (The Third Secret) and Victor Spinetti (A Hard Day’s Night) and features a lush soundtrack by the great Nino Rota (The Godfather, 8½).
Video
Lively, colourful, boisterous telling of Shakespeare's play which to modern eyes can be seen as sexist and misogynist. But, the filmmakers have made some deletions and changes and by the end its position on male and female sexual politics is less cut and dried. It's a comedy, so the broad playing is in keeping with the material and Zefferelli and his production team rise to the occasion to create a visual feast that wallows in colourful pageantry like a pig amongst the truffles. From the booklet: The Taming of the Shrew was sourced from Sony’s HD remaster. The film’s original mono soundtrack was remastered at the same time.This is a tricky source to transfer and Sony have generally done a decent job with the material; Oswald Morris' celebrated cinematography favours a filtered look and being shot in anamorphic Panavision has some inherent softness. This film has an abundance of deep, vivid reds and textured velvety browns. Whatever colour appears on screen it is very saturated and well delineated with no bleeding. Black levels are very strong although I did some crush occasionally but contrast ensures that despite the softness there is detail to be had; best in closeups, long shots are less defined. I don't think this is the strongest transfer I've seen from Powerhouse Films and I do think that a dual layered BD50 might have allowed the Sony master more breathing room. The bitrate rarely gets over 20Mbps and never over 26Mbps ... at least that I saw. The Fidelity in Motion encode is up to their usual high standards and this grain-heavy film looks as good as it can given the BD25 it's on. I saw no signs of print damage nor digital tinkering. It's probably the best home video version of this film released thus far, and if a BD50 with maxed out bitrate not on the cards, then a 4K UHD BD with HDR will make significant improvements ('B'). 1080p24 / AVC MPEG-4 / BD25 / 2.35:1 / 121:43
Audio
English LPCM 1.0 (48kHz, 16-bit) Subtitles: English HoH IMDB claims that 35mm prints had 4-track stereo but we only have a 1.0 track included (70mm blowup prints had 6-track). However, the vast majority of cinemas in 1967 would have only handled 1.0. It's a clear track, does it's job juggling the lively mix of shouting, music and sound effects. Shakespeare's dialogue does manage to come through clearly. Hard of hearing subtitles are excellent ('B').
Extras
Audio commentary with film historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson (2025) An excellent, detailed yaktrak that manages to cover all the expected aspects like how the film got made, the themes of the piece, sexual politics, the personal and professional lives of Burton & Taylor to the making of film as well as delving into the films press before, during and after the filming ... including the Russell Braddon interview. Braddon wrote The Naked Island (1952) based on his WWII experiences in Changi Prison after being captured by the Japanese which I've read (my grand father was also in Changi). There's lots of humour as both Heller-Nicholas and Nelson know each other well and come across like old colleagues. Most interesting are Heller-Nicholas thoughts on Elizabeth Taylor and how the press were obsessed with her weight, and Nelson's recounting of her troubles during production of Cleopatra (1963) in Italy. Presented in lossy English Dolby Digital 2.0 mono (48kHz, 192Kbps) and no subtitle options. "A Breathless Tussle: Matthew Sweet on The Taming of the Shrew" 2025 interview (21:25) "His Name is Biondello" 2025 featurette using a vintage interview with actor Roy Holder recorded before his death 2021 (6:04) Sweet gives us his usual meticulous, overview of the film, the play, and where the film sits in the culture of the late sixties, "kind of a war film", "Nixon's mad man theory of war" and how this applies to Burton & Taylor and their career with each other; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) and Cleopatra (1963) get mentioned. Also interesting is how Burton & Taylor's box office clout was fading when this was made and how Taylor was in il-heath during production. It seems to have been a no holds barred largesse of a production behind the scenes with aggressively heterosexual Burton not trusting the bisexual Zefferelli. We then have a brief reminiscence from Holder who tells the tale of how he got involved along with Michael York and how they had to fly back and forth between working on the film in Italy and on stage at The Old Vic in London. We also hear about Vincent Spinetti, the Burtons, makeup, Jeanne Moreau, the Dorchester, alcohol etc. Royal Film Performance Newsreel (1:44) French Premiere Footage (silent)(0:48) Typical black and white newsreel from the time of the film's release with the first having narration and footage of various celebrities including quite a number not in the film; the second is silent but similar. Both Presented in 1080p24 1.37:1 and the former with lossy English Dolby Digital 1.0 (48kHz, 192Kbps) and no subtitle options. Theatrical Trailer (3:52) Teaser Trailer (0:55) Vintage promos presented in 1080p24 2.35:1 (the trailer), 1.85:1 (teaser) with uncompressed English LPCM 1.0 (48kHz, 16-bit) sound with no subtitles. The Taming of the Shrew Image Gallery: Original Promotional Material (85 images) The Taming of the Shrew Image Gallery: US Film Programme (17 images) Colossal collection of HD images. 32-page liner notes booklet with new essay by Bethan Roberts, a contemporary on-set report by John Francis Taylor, an overview of critical responses and film credits The usual excellent hardcopy company with an insightful new essay and other ephemera providing excellent contextual added value.
Packaging
Not sent for review.
Overall
Zefferelli's lavish Burton & Taylor Shakespearean romantic comedy gets the deluxe treatment from Powerhouse Films. Image, although strong, could be better methinks. Sound is decent and the extras are top notch; a highliy recommended release ('B+')
|
|||||
|