Shakespeare in Love

  • Rated R
  • 1hr 53m
  • 87

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Videos & Photos

  • Trailer for Shakespeare In Love: Blu-Ray
  • Trailer
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Movie Info & Cast

Director:

John Madden

Producer:

Linda Bruce, Mark Cooper, Donna Gigliotti

Writer:

Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard

Release Date:

Dec 25, 1998

Runtime:

1hr 53m

Synopsis

A witty, fast-moving romantic comedy set in London in 1593, follows the trials and tribulations of Will Shakespeare, a struggling young playwright suffering from a dreadful bout of writer's block. No matter how hard he tries, he just can't seem to make any headway with his latest work, "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter." Somehow, even the title doesn't sound quite right. But then, Will meets and falls instantly in love with the startlingly beautiful Viola who, desperate to become an actor (in a time when women are not allowed to perform in the theater), disguises herself as a man to audition for his play. Inspired by love, Will's creative powers are unleashed as his great love story, "Romeo and Juliet," is brought to life for the first time.

Cast

  • Geoffrey Rush
  • Tom Wilkinson
  • Steven O'Donnell
  • Tim McMullan
  • Joseph Fiennes
  • Steven Beard
  • Antony Sher
  • Patrick Barlow
  • Martin Clunes
  • Sandra Reinton

Did You Know?

Trivia

  • The Priest near the beginning yells "a plague on both your houses", which is a famous quote from Romeo and Juliet.
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Goofs

  • When William Shakespeare and Viola are in bed together the morning after their first tryst, just as Will falls off the bed you can see that he is wearing a pair of black shorts.
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Quotes

    • Philip Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.
    • Hugh Fennyman: So what do we do?
    • Philip Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.
    • Hugh Fennyman: How?
    • Philip Henslowe: I don't know. It's a mystery.
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Metacritic

87
metacritic
Based on 33 Critics
7.2

USER SCORE (161)

Generally favorable reviews based on 161 Reviews
100

Some scholars may scowl, some lowbrows may scoff. But, like wordwise Will, these filmmakers know how to win a crowd -- from the queen down to the groundlings, from the sky above to the stage below. Bravo! [5 December 1998, Friday, p.A]

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Metacritic review by Michael Wilmington
Michael Wilmington
Chicago Tribune
100

I was carried along by the wit, the energy and a surprising sweetness.

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Metacritic review by Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
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