SHAKESPEARE

Synopsis

Musical comedy updating The Taming of the Shrew. Pamela Beren (Thelma Todd) is beautiful and spoilt, ferocious and shrewish, her fiery nature causing fear in her father, brother and the servants. Tom Daly, a song writer (Lupino) also has a robust temper. He sees Pamela in a traffic jam and writes a song about her ‘What’s Her Name?'. Through trickery he eventually succeeds in wedding Pamela, but it takes him several days to tame her, she becoming completely subservient only when she is offered a divorce. There is much knockabout domestic violence and somewhat cruel practical jokes which throw a disquieting and cynical veil over what is otherwise a standard British frothy comedy.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Film

Technical information

Black-and-white / Sound

Year of release

1933

Duration

70 mins; 6,338 feet

Credits

Director

Monty Banks

Cinematographer

John J. Cox

Writer

Clifford Grey; Noel Gay; Stanley Lupino

Screenplay

Frank Launder; Stanley Lupino

Music

Clifford Grey; Noel Gay; Stanley Lupino

Art Direction

David Rawnsley

Cast

Thelma Todd	Pamela Berne (Katherina)
Stanley Lupino	Tom Daley (Petruchio)
John Loder	Harry Berne (Baptista Minola)
Gerald Rawlinson	Jerry
James Carew	Oliver Berne

Additional Details

Production type

Operas and Musicals

Plays

Taming of the Shrew, The

Subjects

Drama

Keywords

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)

Notes

Notes

Released on DVD in the UK by Network in 2015. They are due to release it on Blu-ray in September 2019.

General

Clips from the film and stills may be accessed at www.screenonline@bfi.org.uk

History

For its New York opening the film was paired with footage of the Jimmy McLarnin - Barney Ross boxing match.

Reviews

Assessment on www.screenonline@bfi.org.uk

Production Company

Name

British International Pictures

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web

http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window

Phone

020 7255 1444

Fax

020 7436 0165

Address

21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN

Name

Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division

Web

http://catalog.loc.gov/ External site opens in new window

Phone

(20) 707-8572

Fax

(20) 707-237’1

Address

Motion Picture & Television Reading Room
James Madison Building, LM 336
101 Independence Avenue, SE
Washington, D.C.
20540-4690
United States

Distributor

Name

Retail outlets

Distributor (DVD)

Name

Network

Email

shop@networkonair.com

Web

http://networkonair.com/ External site opens in new window

Phone

01992 657707

Address

19-20 Blythe Road
Berghem Mews
Hammersmith
London
W14 0HN

Notes

Founded in 1997, Network specialises in distributing niche television programmes, predominantly licensed from Granada Ventures and Fremantle. They have recently branched into feature film distribution. Sale via retail outlets or direct via Network’s website, which has some’web exclusive’ offers.