Tweet Restored Taming of the Shrew (1929) in DC on Jan 12

Mary Pickford: Queen of the Movies editor Christel Schmidt will introduce a screening of the Taming of the Shrew (1929) at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC on January 12, 2013 at 1:30pm. A book signing follows the program. To have a copy of the book held in advance contact the National Gallery of Art bookshop at 202-842-6477.

The 35mm restoration print is courtesy of the Museum of Modern Art.

http://www.nga.gov/programs/film/index.shtm#tamingshrew
http://www.facebook.com/MaryPickfordQue ... s?__req=10

I'm intrigued! Will this be the coveted original version, and not the 60's truncated re-issue? Thanks!

Did they fix the soundtrack? That drove me berserk in the one theatrical screening i saw of this. It sounded like the music was re-recorded and was way louder than the dialogue sequences, so you were alternately being bombarded with loud music, then struggling to hear what they were saying.

greta

Hello Greta,

This is a new restoration by the Museum of Modern Art from material in the Fairbanks Collection.

I saw the Fairbanks version at MOMA in 1973 and was very impressed. Fairbanks was excellent and he sounded great. Pickford didn't come off as well and I can understand why she felt, perhaps a bit too extravagently, that the film ruined her career. They would have been better off doing a modern dress romantic comedy, directed by Ernst Lubitsch. The problem was that as producers, no director was going to tell them what to do. At any rate, it would be terrific to see the restored SHREW out on home video.

If only the film were as colorful as the lobby set!

Personally, I'd like to know if the original writing credit will be restored. You know the one: "By William Shakespeare. Additional dialogue by Sam Taylor." Since it was changed to "Adapted and directed by Sam Taylor" in the 1966 reissue print, some insist it was an urban legend. But several critics mentioned the credit in their reviews after the premiere, and it was even used in the film's publicity.

Here's one of those reviews -- Frederick James Smith writing in the November 2, 1929 issue of Liberty:

* * * (out of four -- excellent) THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

A lot of interest centers in the appearance of Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. It is the talkies' first stab at Shakespeare. And, of course, it is the first co-starring venture of the lord and mistress of Pickfair.

The result is a rough, almost slapstick, adaptation (sexed up just a bit, as they say in Hollywood) of the immortal cure of the fiery-tempered Katharina as accomplished by Petruchio, gay blade of Verona.

Katharina, as you know, was a sore distress to her wealthy father until Petruchio came along, bent upon matrimony and (I regret to report) the handsome accompanying dowry.

Pies are tossed, breakaway chairs and tables are smashed over the eminent co-stars' august brows, and all the tried and true tricks of the early and unashamed Mack Sennett are interpolated.

Still, I doubt if Shakespeare would protest at this. Probably The Taming of the Shrew was done pretty roughly in those robust Elizabethan days.

The movie version, however, changes the basic idea of Mr. Shakespeare, as Hollywood versions always do. When Petruchio, groggy from a well directed boudoir bench, capitulates on the wedding night in Katharina's arms, it seems to me that the bridegroom has lost the battle, for all his bombast and storming.

And that, of course, was not what the bard intended, not by a long shot.

Mr. Fairbanks, in the role of Petruchio, far outshines his wife. Miss Pickford seems to me ill-fitted for the part of Katharina. Her shrewish tirades come nearer to being petulant pouts than storms to send all Padua quaking. The other members of the cast are merely incidental.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is short, running but little over an hour, and it isn't going to set the film world afire.

Even at that, Shakespeare does not get all the credit. Director Sam Taylor is listed as aiding in the dialogue. These improvements appear to consist principally of inserting Petruchio's comment, "What a wench!" here and there.

I have the laser disc which is the 1966 reissue. I quite like it and have watched it many times but agree with most of the general criticisms. Mary looks pretty but sounds hoarse and husky and is always scowling. Fairbanks is much better, quite amusing but his voice never seems to fit his silent dashing persona. Would have been a better film if both just remained producers and found others to play their parts. The supporting cast were better. But then there were few actors who were comfortable with sound and Shakespere has always been difficult to transfer on film. Dorothy MacKaill would have been great as Katherina IMO though. I will love to see the original uncut version.

I like the 1929 sound much better. I'm looking forward to seeing MoMA's restoration from Fairbanks's material. It should be fun!

Best,

Christel

Personally, I'd like to know if the original writing credit will be restored. You know the one: "By William Shakespeare. Additional dialogue by Sam Taylor." Since it was changed to "Adapted and directed by Sam Taylor" in the 1966 reissue print, some insist it was an urban legend. But several critics mentioned the credit in their reviews after the premiere, and it was even used in the film's publicity.

I saw it today, and there was no "Additional dialogue by Sam Taylor" in the title cards. As mentioned in this thread, the source of the print shown was Fairbanks' own print donated to MOMA in the 1930s, not a reissue print.

John I hoped you enjoyed the program. I thought the print look and sounded pretty good. The audience seemed to really enjoy it.

Best,

Christel

Christel,

I thought that the print was very good, and for an earlier talkie it's very well done technically.. You are right, the audience really enjoyed it. I thought that Pickford's performance was quite good, but as you said in your introduction, the way that Fairbanks walks away with the movie--well--it's pretty hard for anyone else in the cast to compare. Thanks for such a great program, the home movie and newsreel clips were fascinating too.