Taming of the Shrew (1929)

William Shakespeare's classic comedy Taming of the Shrew comes again to the big screen, but for the first time as a talking picture brought to us by Untied Artist with its two big stars, and co-founders, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. To bring a production of one of the most famous stories in the English language with two of the most noted names in Hollywood would prove to be an easy lock as a picture to make money during its time. During the 1920s Fairbanks and Pickford were Hollywood royalty whose lives were followed by the masses, but this picture would play along the lines of what was really going on between the power couple behind closed doors, as their real life relationship was as rocky as the couple they portray on screen.

The film is the story most all English speaking people in the world has already heard of, the story of two strong willed people and their manipulative ways of love, or lake of love. Pickford portrays the stubborn and cynical Kathrine, who believes no man is made to suit her. Her attitude makes everyone believe she will never find a man willing to take her hand until Petruchio, played by Fairbanks, arrives to town. Kathrine's younger sister is far fairer then her sibling, but is forbidden to marry any suitor until Kate finds herself one and that is when Petruchio is, in a way, tricked into proclaiming himself as future husband of Kate. The movie is a playful banter back and forth throughout as the two try to one up each other ending in marriage and Kate explaining how a woman should serve her man while sharing a wink, letting us know she has not been tamed after all.

The film on the whole is rather difficult to watch. It plays as a terrible goofball-type of comedy. The Shakespearean style is altered and twisted in a way that is a bit painful to watch by any Shakespeare purtist. They keep the old English language, but it is very forced by the actors as it was an early talking picture. It feels like the equivalent of a modern picture where a studio remakes an older movie that everyone already knows and loves and puts well known stars to draw in the audiences and line their pocketbooks with the results. The best part of the film is that it only lasts a shade over an hour, for I am sure Shakespeare was rolling in his grave as this film hit marquees.

The film was produced by the largest pair in Hollywood Fairbanks and Pickford who at this time have been silent screen stars. Originally this picture was produced as a silent until sound came into play and was remade as a "talkie." Fairbanks style would not play as well in this style as he was known for his physique and dramatic hero posing in his silent works. Now he had to stop and talk, making him less compelling and makes his wide smile not fit in with his own words. Pickford does a fine job as a stubborn lady, for by this time she was very stubborn when it come to their marriage. Their rocky marriage fit the bitter characters. Some say you can see Fairbanks enjoy his putting down of Pickford. Mary I'm sure got her shots in when she strikes Fairbanks repeatedly and ends the film with a wink, for she was not tamed by the real Fairbanks. The two would be wed for a few unhappy years later, but eventually split. Fairbanks whose physicality was diminishing over the years would catch up to him eventually leading to a premature death only a decade after this picture came out.

Taming of the Shrew would make back a little over twice the money it cost to make, which we can assume was due to the large names attached to the story and stars. Overall the picture was nothing special at all. There are moments of good cinematography, but those moments are very few as most of the picture is covered in wide or medium shots. The film leaves nothing to note other then the quarrel of the stars, for personally they were enemies at that time, but professionals all the way on screen. This is far from what Shakespeare should be, but was easy money for United Artists in 1929.