Much Ado About Nothing (1993)

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:

Bachelor | Wedding | Homecoming | Love | Presumed Dead

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
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Claudio
Kenneth Branagh	...	Benedick
Patrick Doyle	...	Balthazar
Alex Scott	...	The Boy
Michael Keaton	...	Dogberry
Ben Elton	...	Verges
Edward Jewesbury	...	Sexton

Directed by
Kenneth Branagh

Writing credits
William Shakespeare		(play)
Kenneth Branagh		(screenplay)

Produced by
Kenneth Branagh	....	producer
Stephen Evans	....	producer
David Parfitt	....	producer

Original Music by
Patrick Doyle

Cinematography by
Roger Lanser

Film Editing by
Andrew Marcus

Casting by
Pam Dixon

Production Design by
Tim Harvey

Art Direction by
Martin Childs

Costume Design by
Phyllis Dalton

Makeup Department
Paul Engelen	....	makeup artist
Suzanne Stokes-Munton	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Mark Cooper	....	production supervisor
Rosanna Roditi	....	production manager: Italy

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrew Marcus	....	second unit director
Justin Muller	....	second assistant director
Christopher Newman	....	assistant director
Carl Oprey	....	assistant director

Art Department
Celia Bobak	....	property buyer
Gavin Gordon	....	carpenter
Diana Trotter	....	artistic department translator

Sound Department
David Crozier	....	production sound mixer
Lucy Fawcett	....	foley artist
Pauline Griffiths	....	foley artist
Gerry Nucifora	....	sound assistant
Robin O'Donoghue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andrew Sissons	....	boom operator

Visual Effects by
Nicholas Brooks	....	visual effects
Paddy Eason	....	digital effects designer
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: CFC

Stunts
Bronco McLoughlin	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
John Breedon	....	second grip
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
Stephen Finch	....	electrician
Tommy Finch	....	gaffer
Simon Finney	....	clapper loader
Steve Kitchen	....	electrician
Keith McNamara	....	focus puller
Toby Plaskitt	....	grip
Chris Plevin	....	focus puller
Roger Sharland	....	camera engineer
Andy Shuttleworth	....	Steadicam operator
Jonathan Sykes	....	focus puller

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Stephanie Collie	....	wardrobe assistant
Naomi Critcher	....	wardrobe assistant
Jane Hamilton	....	assistant costume designer
Stephen Miles	....	assistant costume designer (as T. Stephen Miles)
Lisa Shanley	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Simon Cozens	....	assistant editor
Michael Trent	....	assistant editor
Bob Wenokur	....	studio post-production representative

Music Department
Gerard McCann	....	music editor
Roy Prendergast	....	supervising music editor

Other crew
Liz Barron	....	production accountant
Joyce Branagh	....	unit runner
Paola Colpani	....	account assistant
Hugh Cruttwell	....	production consultant
Jonathan Evans	....	unit runner
Giorgio Gallani	....	location manager: Italy
Francesca Gentili	....	account assistant
Dr. Russell Jackson	....	text consultant
Giulia Maura	....	production assistant
Iona Price	....	production coordinator
Janet Rogers	....	horse supplier
Paul Shersby	....	location manager
Enzo Sisti	....	fiscal representative: Italy
Annie Wotton	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Renaissance Films

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1995) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Look Filmes (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (multi matte dissolves)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  light equipment
• Epic Soundtrax  soundtrack published by
• Grip House  grip equipment
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

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:

Much of the singing was not re-recorded.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the opening when the women are undressing and preparing for the arrival of the prince, a few bare bottoms are showing. All have bikini lines.

Quotes:

Don Pedro of Aragon: Officers, what offense have these men done?
Dogberry: Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly; they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves.
Don Pedro of Aragon: What is your offense, masters? This learned constable is too cunning to be understood.

Movie Connections:

References Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Stunning and witty--Shakespeare at his best

Kenneth Branagh has done so much for Shakespeare...I've almost become a complete zealot of his work. This screen adaptation of one of Shakespeare's lesser-known comedies is absolutely divine. The lovers Claudio and Hero are completely and wonderfully upstaged by Benedick and Beatrice, the most perfectly mismatched pair in the history of love, exactly as they were meant to be. The chemistry between Ken and Emma is so believable (after all, this was filmed before their marriage ended), the lines are so cunningly delivered, and the plot is so beautifully twisted and resolved that this movie is at the very top of my list of favorites. The setting is absolutely gorgeous--Italy in all its Summer glory. You can fairly taste the sunshine. Each part is completely delightful (Michael Keaton is perfect in one of the most bizarrely comedic roles I've ever seen, and as far as Keanu Reeves' performance, all I can say is that the part was written to be played in that manner. Don John was a bad guy of necessity--every comedy must have a foil). I found the entire production to be beautifully done and quite up to the professional standards that I've come to expect under Branagh's excellent direction. The wit sparkles and cracks between Beatrice and Benedick; a direct counter to the more traditional and borderline sappy form of Elizabethan love exhibited between Hero and Claudio. *This* is how the wise woo, and no, it is never peaceably! A smart, funny and visually stunning gem of a film to add to Branagh's already distinguished repertoire. I'm waiting for his MacBeth.