Italy, 16th century. Petruchio, a choleric, lying and poor rural landowner from Verona, arrives in Padua in search of fortune and a wife, while Baptista, a wealthy merchant, announces that he will not allow Bianca, his youngest daughter, to marry until the temperamental and unruly Katherina, his eldest daughter, does.
Ratings
Curator score: 3.4/10
IMDb: 7.1/10
Letterboxd: 3.21/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 82%
TMDB: 6.9/10
Director
Franco Zeffirelli
Production
Columbia Pictures, Royal Films International, FAI
Cast
Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, Natasha Pyne, Michael York, Cyril Cusack, Michael Hordern, Alfred Lynch, Alan Webb, Victor Spinetti, Roy Holder, Mark Dignam, Bice Valori, Giancarlo Cobelli, Vernon Dobtcheff, Ken Parry, Anthony Gardner, Tina Perna, Alberto Bonucci, Milena Vukotić, Alfredo Bianchini
Where to watch
fuboTV
Curator Review
Verdict
A lively, glossy Shakespeare adaptation with real star power and a strong sense of comic performance, but it’s also a story whose gender politics can feel abrasive or outright alienating today. If you can accept the play’s ugly premise, Zeffirelli’s energy, costumes, and the Burton-Taylor chemistry make it an entertaining period romp.
Best for
Shakespeare fans
campy period-comedy lovers
viewers interested in classic star vehicles
fans of ornate 1960s costume dramas
Skip if
you want a modern romantic comedy with healthy dynamics
you’re sensitive to misogynistic or coercive relationship stories
you dislike archaic language or stagey adaptation styles
you prefer subtle, psychologically grounded romance
Overview
Franco Zeffirelli turns Shakespeare’s battle-of-the-sexes farce into a bright, bustling showcase for Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. The film leans hard into physical comedy, lavish Renaissance detail, and the combustible charisma of its leads, making it feel more like a star-powered spectacle than a dusty literary assignment.
Worth noting
What keeps it watchable is the sheer force of the performances and Zeffirelli’s instinct for motion and color. Even when the material turns sour, the movie has enough wit, swagger, and visual polish to stay alive on the screen.
Bottom line
That said, the central premise is still the central problem: the “taming” is not softened much, and the ending lands with the same discomfort it has for centuries. For some viewers that will be part of the text’s historical interest; for others it will be a deal-breaker.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Jasmine (2.5★) · 212 likes
Kinda bold of them to remake 10 things i hate about you and completely fuck it up! What’s with the old timey setting? And the weird language? Works much better as a teen movie imo 😤
lizzie (3.5★) · 104 likes
I'm sorry but this was a lot of fun and Elizabeth did a great job for never doing anything close to Shakespeare before!
Is it problematic? Yes, it's a play from the 16th century. But I just really like seeing Elizabeth and Richard being crazy and having fun.
Josh Gillam (2.5★) · 92 likes
Strong-willed heiress Katharina (Elizabeth Taylor) meets her match while being courted by swaggering fortune hunter Petruchio (Richard Burton), in Franco Zeffirelli’s romantic comedy based on the Shakespeare play with Cyril Cusack, Michael Hordern, Michael York, Alfred Lynch and Natasha Pyne.
Just as he’d later do the following year for Romeo and Juliet, Zeffirelli condenses Shakespeare’s source material to shape it into a more cinematic and accessible form, bringing a sense of energy to this rowdy interpretation that’s brimming with exuberant… more
russman (3★) · 83 likes
Just say "No" instead of "I will not"
emma kathleen 🦋 (4★) · 82 likes
elizabeth taylor’s boobs should’ve got top billing for this film.
A romantic period piece driven by wit, performance, and longing rather than modern realism.
Topics
Shakespeare adaptation, period comedy, battle of the sexes, camp, costume drama, 1960s cinema, romantic farce, classic Hollywood star vehicle, Renaissance Italy, theatrical