The Taming of the Shrew (1929)

Director:

Sam Taylor

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Sam Taylor (adaptation)

Release Date:

30 November 1929 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

All Talking! All Laughing!

Plot:

Adapted from Shakespeare's play: Baptista Minola, a wealthy resident of Padua, is the father of Katherine and Bianca...

Plot Keywords:

Padua Italy | Verona Italy | Marriage | Padua | William Shakespeare

Cast

Mary Pickford	...	Katherine
Douglas Fairbanks	...	Petruchio
Edwin Maxwell	...	Baptista
Joseph Cawthorn	...	Gremio
Clyde Cook	...	Grumio
Geoffrey Wardwell	...	Hortensio
Dorothy Jordan	...	Bianca

Runtime:

63 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Elton Corporation

Trivia:

Douglas Fairbanks' and Mary Pickford's marriage had deteriorated so badly by the time they made this film that many onlookers said that Fairbanks exaggerated Petruchio's harsh treatment towards Katharina in order to take out his own frustrations on Pickford.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The American Experience: Mary Pickford (#17.6)" (2005)

PickFair

Mary Pickford (as Katherine) and Douglas Fairbanks (as Petruchio) star in Sam Taylor's abridged version of William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew". Ms. Pickford is best during the well-photographed Karl Struss storm, and post-storm, scenes; and, Mr. Fairbanks give the best overall performance in the picture. Pickford improves much upon her previous "Coquette"; and, Fairbanks proves himself a fine "talking" film actor. While relatively well-received, at the time of release, this "Shrew" fell considerably shy of being highly regarded. Still, for what it is, it's more enjoyable than embarrassing. Certainly, it should appeal to admirers of Pickford and Fairbanks.