The Taming Of The Shrew

BBC. Taming Of The Shrew. DVD Cover. 2005. re Posted On Film Web. Viewed 04/11/14. Available at:  http://www.filmweb.pl/film/Poskromienie+z%C5%82o%C5%9Bnicy-2005-275503 

What a funny movie. At the very start of the movie I did not think I would enjoy watching it... How I was wrong! This movie is hilariously entertaining and at the same time joins in with my studies.. Brilliant! The Taming of the shrew is a Shakespeare play which has been adapted into a modern version by the BBC. Boasting actors such as Shirley Henderson, Rufus Sewell and Jaime Murray.  

At the beginning of the movie the opening scene was of Shirley Henderson run walking through the corridors of what I think was her office, this instantly reminded me of a part in the film 'Elizabeth I' Where Queen Elizabeth was gracefully running through the halls and corridors of her palace. This was the first reference to the Elizabethan era I saw. 

The second reference to the Elizabethan era would be the hair styles I saw, Shirley Henderson tended to have her hair up, scraped back into a bun- hello Elizabethan! However, after her wedding she was seen with her hair down for the next few scenes which is the opposite way round in the Elizabethan era which makes me think they tried to keep this similarity but make it a little different/adjust it to a contemporary version. 

My third known reference to the era was marriage, You saw the main character (Shirley Henderson) being bullied into getting married- which was what Queen Elizabeth was being bullied into as well, Elizabeth was told she will never have a long reign or be successful if she did not marry and have a child. Shirley Henderson was also told she will not be successful if she did not marry- She did marry. To someone whom she had just met which is also another reference to the Elizabethan era. 

When asked if her marriage to her husband or her career was more important- Shirley replied My Career which also is another reference to Elizabeth, Elizabeth once said her reign as Queen was to serve her people not to serve a man-
'I am no mans Elizabeth' - (Queen Elizabeth, Film Elizabeth I 1999. Shekur Kapur.)

'Virgin' which is what the main character was, until her wedding night which is what was law back in the Elizabethan era- A woman was desired to be pure and innocent which meant being a virgin until marriage to give herself to her husband and her husband only. 

The main character, Shirley was not what we today, in our society would consider an 'Ideal Beauty' her Mother and Sister on the other hand were, This is an opposite reference to Elizabeth I by the main lead in the movie not being the 'It Girl'. Also, with Shirley's on screen sister being very beautiful, she got a lot of attention, Particularly from an Italian man, who tried to teach her Italian (Elizabethan Reference- Elizabeth I knew many languages) Italy was also apart of the Renaissance. 

On the day of Shirley's sisters wedding- she had a prenuptial agreement that was not taken well by her to be husband. This reference the Elizabethan era by men always wanting something from Elizabeth. 

I also noticed alot of pearl jewelry on Shirley's on screen mother. She also wore alot of velvet/bright upper class looking clothing which is also a reference to the Elizabethan era. Also alot of purple was worn which was classed as upper class back then. 

Low cut neck line tops/dresses and high padding within the shoulders also remind me of the Elizabethan era. 

I could not point out alot of obvious make up references in the film other than Shirley's quite often gaunt, pale face. 

BBC.Wedding Day. Taming Of The Shrew. 2005. [RePosted Blogspot] Flyhigh.Viewed 01/11/14. Available at:http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.co.uk/2010/08/shake-shake-shakespeare.html