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Bedford Falls Productions
Miramax
Universal Pictures
Not part of a collection.
Love is the only inspiration.
Young William Shakespeare is forced to stage his latest comedy, 'Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter', before it's even written. When lovely noblewoman Viola de Lesseps auditions for a role, they fall into forbidden love — and Shakespeare's play finds a new life (and title). As their relationship intensifies, the comedy soon transforms into tragedy.
CinemaSerf
Aug 28, 2023 · via TMDB
Set during the later reign of Engand's Queen Elizabeth, this joyful drama sees poor old William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) having a bit of a creative drought. Lacking ideas and cash, and being pursued by both Richard Burbage (Martin Clunes) and the wonderfully dead pan Geoffrey Rush as Philip Henslowe for work he's supposed to have already penned, things are looking a bit bleak. When Gwyneth Paltrow, an ardent theatre fan prohibited from taking to the stage by virtue of her sex, dresses as "Thomas Kent" and auditions for a part, he sees through the disguise quickly and his creative juices once again begin to flow... Snag is, she "Viola de Lesseps" is engaged to the poverty stricken "Lord Wessex" (Colin Firth) and Virginia bound - as soon as he can raise the dowry from her father... What ensues is a rapid-fire, lightly comical, romantic drama that sees quite a collection of acting talents contributing well to the ensemble effect of this story. Fiennes shines as the playwright in trouble - frequently - as do Paltrow, Rush, a surprisingly effective Ben Affleck, Imelda Staunton as her worldly-wise nurse with Jim Carter as the onstage version of that persona and Barnaby Kay as the mischievous little "Nol". The costumes and sets are magnificent; the writing from Marc Norman and the newly knighted Sir Tom Stoppard is witty and stimulating - cleverly incorporating quite a bit of the original bard's efforts into their screenplay as they go. It would have been easily possible for this embarrassment of acting riches to have overwhelmed this story, but John Madden keeps all pulling well in the same direction. The film will doubtless be remembered more as Dame Judi Dench's consolation Oscar (for not winning for "Mrs. Brown" the year earlier), and as far as they go her performances are fine - but there is much more to this story of the trials and tribulations of a bard in love. A wee bit long, it seems to end more than once, but it is still a story the eponymous writer himself might well have enjoyed.
GenerationofSwine
Jan 14, 2023 · via TMDB
Does anyone remember this? I do, but only because its what turned me off of the Oscars. Haven't watched them since. It was the rude awakening that they were fixed, the quality of the film didn't matter as much as the bribes. It beat Saving Private Ryan for best picture. And then it beat Bulworth for best screen play. That was sort of enough to turn my head. Both of them? Bulworth was far from best picture worthy, but best original screenplay seemed as much as a shoe in as Ryan for Best Picture. And then it went on to win Best score over Mulan, A Bug's Life, and Prince of Egypt which is curious because it didn't really fit the criteria for Musical or Comedy Score as much as it's competition. And then now, looking back, who remembers it? If it's remembered at all, it's remembered for beating Saving Private Ryan, which has become a classic. Shakespeare in Love is just remembered for it's sweep of the awards, both at the Oscars and beyond, but not for its quality.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
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Joseph Fiennes
Will Shakespeare
Gwyneth Paltrow
Viola De Lesseps
Geoffrey Rush
Philip Henslowe
Tom Wilkinson
Hugh Fennyman
Judi Dench
Queen Elizabeth
Imelda Staunton
Nurse
Colin Firth
Lord Wessex
Ben Affleck
Ned Alleyn
Simon Callow
Tilney
Jim Carter
Ralph Bashford
Rupert Everett
Christopher Marlowe
Martin Clunes
Richard Burbage
Tim McMullan
Frees
Joe Roberts
John Webster
Antony Sher
Dr. Moth
Georgie Glen
Lady in Waiting
Nicholas Boulton
Henry Condell
Barnaby Kay
Nol
Mark Williams
Wabash
Jill Baker
Lady De Lesseps
Nicholas Le Prevost
Sir Robert De Lesseps
Rebecca Charles
Chambermaid
Bob Barrett
George Bryan
Simon Day
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Rupert Farley
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Gregor Truter
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Patrick Barlow
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Martin Childs
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Jill Quertier
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Richard Greatrex
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Sandy Powell
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John Madden
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Toby Hefferman
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Bob Weinstein
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Julie Goldstein
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Mark Cooper
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Tom Stoppard
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Bicara Cinta
2020
The Pied Pipers of Harlow
1965
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Battle your watched movies head-to-head
Community Top Movies
Evil Dead II
1987 · 14 wins
The Dark Knight
2008 · 14 wins
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1978 · 13 wins
Final Destination
2000 · 12 wins
Halloween II
1981 · 11 wins
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