The Taming of the Shrew - BBC Shakespeare Collection [1980] [DVD]

Itemas described and arrived in time and well packaged

Brilliant, Cleese at his finest. The overall pace is a little slow BUT older plays tend to feel this way. We are today so used to fast paced action that a decent play can feel slow by comparison. This however is not a complaint.The choice of Cleese in the lead is wonderful. Totally the opposite of what to expect.The story line I am sure you will know is about a woman who is determined NOT to get married just to spite her sister.And it backfires on her, all that bitchyness and the snarling is turned back in spades. Wonderful.A delight and a joy to watch. Very fine actors doing what they do best.

This is a wonderful play. I am more used to watching and reading Macbeth, Hamlet for example. But I enjoyed this immensely. Sarah Badel was brilliant and a surprising revelation was in the form of John Cleese, who played his role well but you could still see he was also extremely funny in parts as well. He and Sarah Badel played off each other very well indeed. Now all I have to do is save up for the entire BBC collection of these plays. They don't make them like this anymore with a few notable exceptions!

Despite a strong performance from John Cleese, this BBC version of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" is let down by stilted acting and a lack of energy, especially in the early scenes. Indeed, everyone involved with the production, both onstage and behind the camera, seems unwilling to make a special effort, or to take any risks - possibly the result of the BBC's decision to film Shakespeare's plays en masse.However, despite problems with some of the acting and uninspiring staging, the adaptor has done a good job of condensing the play into two hours without creating any major plot holes. Therefore it will certainly be of interest for those studying the play, for either scholarly or artistic purposes - just don't expect to be entranced by it.

The video is one I viewed many years ago and wanted to see again but was disappointed to find it very dated. No fault of the vendor of course, but sometimes it's better to move on!

I'd seen this play in the Christmas Season special programs on French television back in 1980. Just before another classic : the Quiet man .John Cleese is absolutely miraculous ! No praise can describe his acting talent . A great man for a very good play seldom equalled! It's even better for all its shortcomings to the version with Elisabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

This is an outstanding production of an amusing and also serious comedy. Sarah Badel and John Cleese are superb as Katherine and Petruchio. The emotional tension between them is beautifully handled. The happy end is very satisfying indeed.

This is literally the worst film ever, i would rather watch sharknado than this s***