Name: Ukroshchenie stroptivoy
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: 1961-09-24
Duration: 1 h 25 min
Rating: 7.3
Cast: Lyudmila Kasatkina, Andrei Popov, Vladimir Blagoobrazov

How to love and conquer a wife or An excellent Soviet film adaptation of Shakespeare's immortal comedy

Comedy, romance. The film adaptation of the comedy of the same name by the immortal English playwright William Shakespeare, which we read with interest at the time, so we will evaluate the film adaptation with the original play. We found out about this picture on the notorious TV channel "Spas" (which has very odious content, but they often play Soviet films and cartoons), and we came across the most famous fragment of this film adaptation - this is Petruchio's matchmaking to Katarina. And that's what interested us, the dialogues were so good, in verse, by the way. And we decided to get acquainted with the whole picture, and re-read the comedy itself. And it was worth it. And here's a brief opinion - An excellent Soviet film adaptation of Shakespeare's immortal comedy. It should be noted right away that there are no flaws in the picture (but there is an important point that needs to be mentioned in a separate paragraph), but for now we will focus your attention on the obvious advantages of this masterpiece of Soviet cinema.

So, here they are: 1. The script is a local script based on the theatrical production of the same name, which in turn quotes the Shakespearean text verbatim, without changing, adding, or changing anything. Petruccio, a nobleman, arrives in the city of Padua, to whom an old acquaintance offers to marry Katarina, the eldest daughter of a rich local nobleman, Baptista, because all the local suitors (and not only) are hunting for his youngest daughter Bianca. Petruchio agrees, and wins the heart of the obstinate beauty Katarina. He was able to reform her. Along the way, we witness the marriage of Bianca, who is being courted by several suitors, but she will choose only one - the best and most persistent. And it's nice to watch all this. There's romance, and life, and laughter, and morality, and the history of Italian society at the end of the seventeenth century. Well, the finale is both grandiose and romantic. Just bravo!

2. The scene of Petruchio's matchmaking to Katarina - six minutes of tossing, exchanging barbs, tenderness, love, passion, and the like. Here the "spark" between Andrei Popov and Lyudmila Kasatkina played. Here, both characters are equal in strength of character, both do not intend to give up their positions without a fight, and this very battle is not the culmination in the overall timeline of the picture, but it is definitely the most important scene that determined the winner. The climax came much later.

3. Humor is great here. There are verbal jokes, comical situations, funny antics, and much more. Just a feast for the eyes and ears. Yes, it is possible that he will no longer be completely understandable to modern viewers, but this does not beg him one bit.

And of course, it should be noted the excellent costumes and decorations, as well as the interiors of houses, rooms, and other small props. Everything was done expertly. Immersion in the era is explicit and complete.

Now about the important point, the fact is that Petruchio defeated Katarina here, his wife submitted to him, despite repeated attempts to resist, and in the finale she explains why she did it. We believe that she said everything correctly (even now it's okay). But the frostbitten feminists (who still exist) will simply scream from this picture, as well as from the original Shakespeare comedy. I just want to remind you about the context of the era and the norms of the society of that time, where such a model of behavior was considered the norm, which did not exclude the legendary women whom we still remember for their determination, ambition, and indomitable character, for example, Eleanor of Aquitaine, Empress Theodora. But these are the exceptions, the bright ones, of course. Keep this in mind before you strictly judge the morality of this comedy, both the play and this film adaptation.

A little bit about the main characters: 1. Petruchio, played by Andrei Popov, is a Veronese nobleman, confident, determined, brave, intending to conquer the obstinate Katarina, whom all the suitors of Padua fear like fire. Using cunning and talent, he was able to "knock down the arrogance" of the indomitable Katarina. Andrey Popov was incredibly convincing and played amazingly. Bravo!

2. Katarina, played by Lyudmila Kasatkina, is the daughter of a nobleman, very proud, sharp and sharp-tongued, who could not be conquered by anyone except Petruchio. Lyudmila Kasatkina in this role is an impenetrable castle, with many obstacles that only Petruchio could overcome. And tame the temper of such an overbearing girl. Lyudmila Kasatkina was beautiful and gorgeous. Bravo!

And the rest of the actors did their best here. We cannot but mention Yuri Nikulin, in a small role as the head of the church choir. The role is small, comical, and memorable.

It's a pity that such masterpieces of Soviet cinema are almost never shown on the box. Moreover, there are very few film adaptations of this level, and even after watching the Soviet version, there is no need for others, to be honest. I saw this one, and no one would jump higher, no matter how hard they tried!

Rating 9 out of 10 and recommended for viewing!

Russian cinema is distinguished by its epic scale, philosophical depth, and innovative visual language. It often explores history, ideology, and the human psyche, with a tradition of psychological realism and artistic experimentation. Russian cinema contributed revolutionary theories of editing and later a spiritual approach to film language. It remains known for combining formal experimentation with profound explorations of endurance and belief.

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The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The romance genre features the theme of romantic relationships and emotional connections between characters. These stories focus on the development of love, desire, and intimacy between protagonists, often exploring the challenges, conflicts, and triumphs that arise in their relationships.

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The swaggering Petruchio agrees to marry the spitting hellcat, Katherine.

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