The Taming of the Shrew

Baptista (Sir Michael Hordern), a wealthy Paduan merchant, proclaims that his fair young daughter, Bianca (Natasha Pyne), will continue to be unwed until her older sister, Katharina (Dame Elizabeth Taylor), a hellish shrew, has wed. Lucentio (Michael York), a scholar and the son of a rich Pisan merchant, has fallen in love with Bianca. He poses as a train of music and poetry to benefit front to the Baptista household and to be near Bianca. Meanwhile, Petruchio (Richard Burton), a fortune-looking scoundrel from Verona, arrives in Padua, hoping to seize a wealthy wife. Hortensio (Victor Spinetti), some other suitor of Bianca, directs Petruchio’s interest to Katharina. When Hortensio warns him about Katharina’s scolding tongue and fiery temper, Petruchio is challenged and resolves to capture her love. Hortensio and some other suitor of Bianca, Gremio (Alan Webb), agree to cover Petruchio’s charges as he pursues Katharina.