Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Kenneth Branagh

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Kenneth Branagh (screenplay)

Release Date:

7 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | War

Plot:

Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick and Beatrice to wed as well.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Bachelor | Breaking The Fourth Wall | Brother | Male Frontal Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Richard Briers	...	Leonato
Kate Beckinsale	...	Hero
Imelda Staunton	...	Margaret
Jimmy Yuill	...	Friar Francis
Brian Blessed	...	Antonio
Andy Hockley	...	George Seacole
Chris Barnes	...	Francis Seacole
Conrad Nelson	...	Hugh Oatcake
Phyllida Law	...	Ursula
Emma Thompson	...	Beatrice
Alex Lowe	...	Messenger
Denzel Washington	...	Don Pedro
Keanu Reeves	...	Don John
Richard Clifford	...	Conrade
Gerard Horan	...	Borachio

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Villa Vignamaggio, Greve in Chianti, Florence, Tuscany, Italy

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

First cinema film of Kate Beckinsale.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the final scene, one musician is shown playing a piano accordion, an instrument which was invented centuries later.

Quotes:

Claudio: Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gossip Girl: Much 'I Do' About Nothing (#1.18)" (2008)

Don John

Shakespeare intentionally created Don John, a villain with no cause and out of place, for the sole purpose of having a villain in advancing the story. Don John is supposed to be WOODEN , rotten to the core for no reason. Keanu Reeves actually played the role very well. I don't see how otherwise Don John could be portrayed. The movie is a fine piece, I particularly like the line "If I were a man" by Beatrice. I think Beatrice is one of the strongest heroines in Shakespeare's plays.