Talk:Shakespeare in Love

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Can anyone explain or know the reason why Rupert Everett is not credited for his portrayal of the role of KIT MARLOW???

I'd like to know that too. Furthermore i think that the synopsis is rather short. The article is almost a stub.

The chronology explained by the quote "for instance, the colonization of North America by the English did not begin until 1584 and Romeo and Juliet was largely written by 1596 or 1597" seems not to be inconsistent with the plot of the movie. Either a different example of inconsistency was given, or more evidence should be given to show that there could have been no colonization of North America at the time when the movie is set.

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[edit] INCOMPLETE ?

All the awards are really unneccesary, but what about the plot or a detailed summary ? even an interpretation or analysis and a hint to the book, that appeared in stores some years ago would be nice!

  • I did my best to expand the References to Shakespeare's Work section, but it has been deleted. 24.235.251.230 02:25, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

I have added a synopsis section. Let me go ahead and admit it up front: it is LOOOONG. It is a 137 minute long movie, and the plot is a bit complex. It seems that whenever I tried to edit out a detail, it made something else not make sense. Lets call this a first draft, and if anybody can tighten it up, I think we'd all be grateful. Kjdamrau 06:47, 17 July 2007 (UTC)Ken Damrau

Dude, you've almost written the screenplay out! I've started hacking it, but it'll take a while. Cop 663 11:06, 17 July 2007 (UTC)
Yeah, I figured that it would be easier to work with starting with a lot of detail and sculpting it down, rather than trying to "sculpt it up" so to speak. The work you've done looks very good. I spent a few minutes on it today, mostly just taking out obviously extraneous details. Hopefully, working together, we can come up with something wiki-worthy. Thanks. Kjdamrau 03:05, 18 July 2007 (UTC)Kjdamrau
A synopsis that covers all the plot's complexities? I had the same problem when I tried - it ends up as long as the film!
A good idea would be to leave out all the little things that would spoil the film for a first time viewer. For example, the poster used to advertise Romeo And Juliet in the film is a throwaawy joke; it makes no more sense to include it in a synopsis than it would to include a description of Shakespeare's 'Present from Stratford upon Avon' mug.
Similarly, the subtle points of character and interaction can be left out. You enjoy them when you are watching the film, but not when you are reading a synopsis. Also, when you read them in a synopsis, they lose the subtlety and balance that they have when watching the film.
Tell you what, here's my synopsis, around 900 words (Ken's is nearer 3,000). How's it grab you?
London in 1593. The theatre is a precarious and insecure profession, not helped by Royal sanctions and The Plague. In addition to these general frustrations, William Shakespeare is afflicted by a lack of inspiration, recognition, patronage and money.
Viola De Lesseps, a nubile young woman with rich parents, is an ardent theatregoer with a consuming love of poetry - particularly Shakespeare’s. Even though women were not permitted on stage in Elizabethan England (female roles were performed by men), Viola is carried away by naive daydreams of an acting career. She disguises herself as a young man, ‘Thomas Kent’, and auditions for Shakespeare’s newest play by reciting some of his romantic verse.
Shakespeare is excited by Kent’s performance and demands a closer look at him. But Viola flees, worried her disguise won’t survive close inspection. Shakespeare pursues ‘him’ all the way to the De Lesseps house. Determined to persuade Kent to play Romeo, Will sneaks in amongst a band of musicians hired for a ball that night.
During the ball Will is simultaneously love-struck and struck-dumb by Viola, but is chased away by Lord Wessex. Wessex has negotiated to marry Viola (unknown to her) by offering his noble family name in return for De Lesseps’ money. Undeterred by Wessex’s threats, Will waits outside until Viola appears on her bedroom balcony. Viola responds willingly to Shakespeare’s wooing, her heart having already been partly won-over by the poetry in his plays.
Inspired by his surge of desire for Viola, Will rapidly writes the romantic opening scenes of his new comedy. He also composes a sonnet (“Shall I compare thee to a Summer’s day, …”), and enlists Kent as a go-between to deliver it to Viola. Viola is enraptured by Will’s poem, and almost completely swept off her feet.
Will interrogates Kent about Viola’s reaction to the sonnet. Viola takes advantage of her disguise to check Will’s true intentions. She presumes that, if Will is genuinely motivated by love, then whatever he tells Kent will be consistent with what he already told Viola. At the very least, Thomas Kent is in a better position than Viola to find out – are Shakespeare’s declarations sincere, or is he just trying to get into Viola’s knickers?
Moments after Viola is convinced of Shakespeare’s true love, Shakespeare learns Kent’s true identity. He steals into Viola’s bedroom; they consummate their love many times that night, and consummate it many more times on following nights. Will begins to express the veracity of their love in the scenes he writes each day. The quality of his writing gradually wins the approval of the theatre troupe.
Unfortunately, a menacing shadow is cast over Will and Viola’s future, by Viola’s impending arranged marriage to Lord Wessex and Shakespeare’s existing marriage to Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare’s play (by now re-titled Romeo And Juliet) starts to turn away from lightness and comedy towards darkness and tragedy. When Thomas Kent is exposed as a woman, and Shakespeare’s theatre closed as a consequence, Romeo And Juliet seems doomed. Likewise, “Will and Viola” seem destined for heartbreak.
But instead of breaking the love between Will & Viola, the forces trying to pull them apart seem to tighten the bond between them. Unlike Romeo and Juliet, who each choose death rather than life without the other, both Will and Viola prefer that the other should live; they choose to sacrifice their happiness rather than their lives.
Romeo And Juliet is rescued by a rival theatre company, in an act of defiance against a common enemy. Likewise, Viola defies her unloved new husband in order to attend the premiere. Fate, that took away Viola’s chance of playing Romeo (that part is taken over by Shakespeare), suddenly offers Viola the chance to play Juliet. Viola jumps at the chance.
And in one, glorious performance, Viola De Lesseps lives her impossible dream of performing on stage; in a play that embodies everything she loves about theatre, a play she knows expresses true love because it portrays her own, and a play that enshrines Will Shakespeare as the poet of the truth and nature of love.
Unhappily, the love between Viola & Will must be thwarted - when religion, duty and Royal command force Viola to depart with Wessex. Though Queen Elizabeth acknowledges the sorrow and suffering of a woman in a man’s profession, she admits that not even Royalty can defy God’s law.
The Queen commands a more cheerful play, and the film ends with Shakespeare composing Twelfth Night. It is a story about a woman with a spirit and soul more powerful than the ocean. Compelled to begin a new life disguised as a boy, she rises to acclaim among the best of men, possessed of outstanding loyalty and good judgement, yet retains the virtue, sympathies and boundless love of a woman.
Shakespeare describes her as his ‘Heroine for all time’; and he names her - Viola.
Sante Sangre 02:55, 22 August 2007 (UTC)
Second version, over 300 unnecessary words brutally expurgated, without mercy or regret!
London, 1593
The theatre is a precarious and insecure profession, not helped by Royal sanctions or the Plague. And William Shakespeare is suffering from a lack of inspiration, recognition, and money.
Viola De Lesseps, a nubile young lady from a wealthy family, is an ardent theatregoer with a consuming passion for the poetry of true love. She resolves to bring poetry and romance into her life by pursuing an acting career. But in Elizabethan England women were not allowed on stage, and female roles were performed by men. So Viola disguises herself as a boy, ‘Thomas Kent’, and auditions for a part in Shakespeare’s new play. Will is impressed and wants a closer look at Kent before giving him the part of Romeo; but Viola runs away because her disguise would not survive close inspection.
Shakespeare pursues Viola all the way to the De Lesseps house, and leaves a letter offering the part of Romeo to Thomas Kent. He sneaks inside among a band of musicians hired for a ball. When he sees Viola (as Viola) he is love-struck and struck-dumb, but is thrown out by her suitor Lord Wessex. Will waits outside until Viola appears on her balcony; he woos her and she responds favourably.
Inspired by Viola, Will easily produces the opening scenes of his new comedy. He composes a romantic sonnet for Viola and gets Kent to deliver it to Viola. Viola is completely bowled-over by the poem. Will questions Kent about Viola’s reactions; and Viola exploits her disguise to confirm that Shakespeare’s true feelings match his poetry.
Will discovers Kent’s real identity and climbs up to Viola's bedroom. They make love all night, and every subsequent night. He starts to express their love in the scenes he writes during the day; the quality of his verse gradually winning the support of the theatre troupe.
But Will is already married, and Viola’s family have contracted her to marry the impoverished Lord Wessex and go to America. Events conspire to threaten Will and Viola’s happiness, while underlining the strength of their love. Shakespeare’s play starts turning away from comedy towards tragedy.
When Thomas Kent is revealed as a woman, the theatre is closed. Both Romeo And Juliet and Viola’s stage career are finished before they have begun, and Viola unhappily accepts her fate with Lord Wessex. Then Romeo And Juliet is rescued by a rival theatre company, and Viola runs away from her new husband to attend the premiere.
Fate hands Viola the opportunity to play Juliet, with Shakespeare playing Romeo. For one triumphant performance Viola realises her dream of acting on stage in a play that shows the very truth and nature of love – her own love. During the ovation Viola’s gender is almost exposed again, but the company is saved from arrest by Queen Elizabeth, who readily sympathises with a woman in a man’s profession.
However, nobody can rescue Viola from her role as Lady Wessex. When Viola and Will say their final farewell she urges him to keep writing for her, then they part forever.
The film ends with Shakespeare composing Twelfth Night. It is a story of a woman disguised as a boy to survive and make her way in the world. She prospers as both man and woman thanks to her wit, virtue, and boundless love. Shakespeare declares she will be his heroine for all time, and names her Viola.
Comments/criticisms/suggestions welcome of course. Sante Sangre 01:23, 23 August 2007 (UTC)
Third version! Another 200+ words banished to Room 101. It is now about a tenth the length of Ken's synopsis. I ought to get paid for this.
In 1593 William Shakespeare is suffering from a lack of inspiration.
Viola De Lesseps is an ardent young theatergoer, determined to pursue an acting career. But women were not allowed on stage so Viola disguises herself as a boy, ‘Thomas Kent’, and earns the part of Romeo in Shakespeare’s next play.
Shakespeare meets and falls in love with Viola, not realizing she is Thomas Kent. He writes the opening scenes of his new comedy and composes a romantic sonnet to Viola. Kent, acting as go-between, questions Shakespeare about his true feelings, and Shakespeare learns Kent's real identity. Will and Viola begin a passionate love affair that inspires the poetry of Romeo And Juliet.
But Viola is promised in marriage to Lord Wessex, who intends taking her to America. Will and Viola’s love is threatened even as it grows, reflected by Romeo And Juliet turning away from comedy towards tragedy.
When Thomas Kent is revealed to be a woman, the theatre is closed. Viola’s stage career is finished before it has begun, and she unhappily accepts her fate with Lord Wessex. But when Romeo And Juliet is rescued by another theatre, Viola runs away from her new husband to attend the premiere. Fate hands Viola the opportunity to play Juliet opposite Shakespeare as Romeo; she realises her dream of acting in a play that shows the very truth and nature of love, albeit for only one triumphant performance. Viola's gender is almost exposed again, but the company is saved from arrest by Queen Elizabeth, who sympathises with a woman in a man’s profession.
However, nobody can rescue Viola from her role as Lady Wessex. She says her final farewell by urging Will to keep writing for her sake, and they part forever. Shakespeare starts writing Twelfth Night, about a woman disguised as a boy to make her way in the world, who prospers thanks to her wit, virtue, and boundless love. Shakespeare says she will be his heroine for all time, and names her Viola.
Sante Sangre 15:57, 25 August 2007 (UTC)
If no objections appear in the next month or so, I'm going to put my synopsis on the main page, and paste Ken Damrau's here. Sante Sangre 22:32, 10 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Queen Mab's speech

Is Mercutio's Queen Mab speech regarded the longest speech in Shakespeare? It's only 43 lines whereas Berowne's speech from Love's Labours Lost, Act Four, Scene iii l. 285, is 76 lines long. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 142.167.43.204 (talk) 15:22, 11 May 2007 (UTC).

  • I agree. I'd normally slap a {fact} tag on that, but given that it seems very unlikely to me that Queen Mab is Shakespeare's longest speech I've removed the paragraph (but without prejudice to restoration by someone who can source it). AndyJones 10:15, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Summary

A summary does not exist. If somebody has seen the movie or is knowledgeable about it, can you please include one Canking 21:26, 26 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Geoffrey Rush

I recently watched the movie again, and every time Geoffrey Rush's character clamored for pirates and a dog to be included in the supposed comedy that Shakespeare was to have been writing I chuckled. Subustitue monkey for dog and there's a bit of odd ironic humor in that isn't there? Not to mention that the whole Pirates franchise has great debt to Shakespearian plot devices etc.

[edit] Title

A bit of trivia about that title that I wonder if should be included:

The title of the movie is originally the title of a play by Dion Boucicault (the play which I believe is not extant), but is also referenced in the play Two Shakespearean Gentlemen by Richard Nelson, which premiered at The Royal Shakespeare Company, London (in the play the context is that Boucicault is writing Shakespeare in love over the course of the play). While Boucicault's play has no relation to the movie, Stoppard, knowing this, surely lifted the title. Liontamarin 20:38, 19 June 2007 (UTC)

Stoppard didn't invent the title. The film was knocking around Hollywood for many years before he began work on it. Cop 663 11:23, 18 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Plot summary

In my opinion the plot summary, currently 500 words, isn't excessively long. I've removed the {{plot}} tag. --Tony Sidaway 05:15, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Actually seems that it was shortened a week or so ago in this edit. --Tony Sidaway 05:17, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Classification?

I added 'drama' to its classification, if only because classifying it as only a "romantic comedy" brings about the stereotypes along with it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.177.120.179 (talk) 08:45, 10 May 2008 (UTC)