The Merchant of Venice (2004)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Michael Radford

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Michael Radford (screenplay)

Release Date:

3 December 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In 16th century Venice, when a merchant must default on a large loan from an abused Jewish moneylender for a friend with romantic ambitions, the bitterly vengeful creditor demands a gruesome payment instead.

Plot Keywords:

Merchant | Jew | Loan | Love | Christian

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Al Pacino	...	Shylock
Jeremy Irons	...	Antonio
Joseph Fiennes	...	Bassanio
Lynn Collins	...	Portia
Zuleikha Robinson	...	Jessica
Kris Marshall	...	Gratiano
Charlie Cox	...	Lorenzo
Heather Goldenhersh	...	Nerissa
Mackenzie Crook	...	Launcelot Gobbo
John Sessions	...	Salerio
Gregor Fisher	...	Solanio
Ron Cook	...	Old Gobbo
Allan Corduner	...	Tubal
Anton Rodgers	...	The Duke
David Harewood	...	Prince of Morocco
Antonio Gil	...	Aragon (as Antonio Gil-Martinez)
Al Weaver	...	Stephano
Norbert Konne	...	Doctor Bellario
Marc Maes	...	Cush (as Marc Maas)
Jean-François Wolff	...	German Count
Pieter Riemens	...	English Baron
Stéphan Koziak	...	Soldier
Tom Leick	...	French Nobleman
Jules Werner	...	Franciscan Friar
Tony Schiena	...	Leonardo
Julian Nest	...	Clerk
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stéphane Fragili	...	Venetian Nobleman (uncredited)
Paul Rockenbrod	...	Venetian Nobleman (uncredited)
Ben Whishaw	...	Servant to Portia (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Radford

Writing credits
William Shakespeare		(play)
Michael Radford		(screenplay)

Produced by
Andreas Bajohra	....	post-production producer
Cary Brokaw	....	producer
Michael Cowan	....	producer (as Michael Lionello Cowan)
Jimmy de Brabant	....	co-producer
Edwige Fenech	....	co-producer
Nigel Goldsack	....	co-producer
Gary Hamilton	....	co-executive producer
Michael Hammer	....	executive producer
Peter James	....	executive producer
Robert Jones	....	executive producer
Pete Maggi	....	co-executive producer
Alex Marshall	....	executive producer
Luciano Martino	....	co-producer
Barry Navidi	....	producer
Jason Piette	....	producer
Bob Portal	....	post-production producer
Jean-Claude Schlim	....	line producer: Luxembourg
James Simpson	....	executive producer
Julia Verdin	....	co-executive producer
Clive Waldron	....	associate producer
Clive Waldron	....	line producer
Manfred Wilde	....	executive producer
Roberto Almagià	....	assistant producer (uncredited)
Federico Demontis	....	assistant executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Jocelyn Pook

Cinematography by
Benoît Delhomme

Film Editing by
Lucia Zucchetti

Casting by
Sharon Howard-Field

Production Design by
Bruno Rubeo

Art Direction by
Jon Bunker
Tamara Marini

Set Decoration by
Gillie Delap

Costume Design by
Sammy Sheldon

Makeup Department
Anna Brangaitis	....	hair stylist: Luxembourg
Anna Brangaitis	....	makeup artist: Luxembourg
Ann Buchanan	....	hair designer
Ann Buchanan	....	makeup designer
Nuala Conway	....	hair stylist: Italy
Nuala Conway	....	makeup artist: Itlay
Aurélie Elich	....	makeup artist
Lorraine Hill	....	hair stylist
Lorraine Hill	....	makeup artist
Josy Howard	....	hair stylist
Josy Howard	....	makeup artist
Claudine Moureaud	....	hair stylist: Luxembourg
Claudine Moureaud	....	makeup artist: Luxembourg
Helen Speyer	....	hair stylist
Helen Speyer	....	makeup artist
Xanthia White	....	hair stylist
Xanthia White	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Luca Fortunato Asquini	....	unit manager
Tommaso Dabala	....	unit manager
Ragna Arny Larusdottir	....	production manager: Luxembourg
Philip James Morgan	....	unit manager: Luxembourg
Rosanna Roditi	....	production manager: Italy
Elena Zokas	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Emilie Cherpitel	....	second assistant director
John Dodds	....	first assistant director
Stefan Magnusson	....	third assistant director
Carlo Paramidani	....	second second assistant director: Italy
Jim Probyn	....	third assistant director: Luxembourg
Christopher Rose	....	first assistant director
Jordan Stone	....	first assistant director: Italy
Andrei von Kamarowsky	....	trainee assistant director: Luxembourg

Art Department
Alex Aitkin	....	head plasterer
Benoît Bechet	....	draftsman
Matteo Bertelli	....	painter
Klaus Bienen	....	carpenter
Tracey Curtis	....	modeller
Paolo Cusin	....	buyer
Paolo Cusin	....	property assistant
Paolo Cusin	....	props
Manuel Demoulling	....	assistant set decorator
Ron Downing	....	property master
Tomislav Findrik	....	storyboard artist
Nicola Gomiero	....	property assistant
Toby Hawkes	....	modeller
Neil Hearfield	....	painter
Malin Lindholm	....	stand-by art director
John Maher	....	construction manager
Tamara Marini	....	art director: Italy
François Mast	....	carpenter
David Orlandelli	....	storyboard artist
Edouard Pallardy	....	painter decorator
Julie Philpott	....	draughtsman
Yair Popritkin	....	props
Manu Poupard	....	chargehand stand-by props
Barbara Prati	....	painter
Olivier Printz	....	assistant property master
Lorenzo Sartor	....	carpenter
Fabrice Spelta	....	draughtsperson
Otfried Suppin	....	art department assistant

Sound Department
Tim Alban	....	dubbing mixer
Tim Alban	....	foley supervisor
Antonia Bates	....	dialogue editor
Richard Davey	....	dubbing mixer
Richard Davey	....	second re-recording engineer
Paul Davies	....	supervising sound editor
Anthony Faust	....	adr mixer
Jack Gillies	....	assistant sound editor
Alain Goniva	....	boom operator
Christian Koefoed	....	sound effects editor
Richard Kondal	....	assistant dialogue editor
Haresh Patel	....	foley editor
Andre Schmidt	....	supervising dialogue editor
Brian Simmons	....	sound mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator

Special Effects by
Tiberio Angeloni	....	special effects
Alain Couty	....	special effects coordinator
Franco Galiano	....	special effects
Clive R. Kay	....	special effects contact lenses
Lawrence Michael	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Tim Baxter	....	film recording
Neil Culley	....	digital artist
Sean Farrow	....	visual effects supervisor (as Sean H. Farrow)
David Gibbons	....	digital artist
Mick Harper	....	digital artist
Barrie Hemsley	....	visual effects producer
Sarah Hemsley	....	production and operations
Richard Higham	....	digital artist
Robin Huffer	....	digital artist
Tim Jones	....	digital artist
Simon Leech	....	digital artist
Warren J. Mills	....	digital I/O
Alberto Montañés	....	digital artist
Nick New	....	digital artist
Jeff North	....	digital artist
Anna Panton	....	visual effects coordinator
Dylan Penhale	....	digital systems manager
Rupert Smith	....	production and operations
Paul Tuersley	....	digital artist

Stunts
Andy Bennett	....	stunt arranger
Andy Bennett	....	stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunt coordinator
Rob Hunt	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Werner Bacciu	....	key grip: Italy
Etienne Braun	....	still photographer
Sonny Burdis	....	best boy
Hélène Coker	....	video assist operator
Guillaume De Esteban	....	film loader
Gilbert Degrand	....	electrician
Kevin Dresse	....	electrician
Ingo Gardner	....	balloon light technician
Cristiano Giavedoni	....	co-gaffer
Max Jacoby	....	clapper loader: "b" camera
Max Jacoby	....	clapper loader: second unit
Graham Johnston	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Graham Johnston	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Oliver Krupke	....	electrician
Martin Neuse	....	electrician
Elvis Pasqual	....	electrician
Thierry Ramanana	....	grip
Jako Raybaut	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Jako Raybaut	....	cinematographer: second unit
Jean-François Roqueplo	....	head key grip
David Smith	....	gaffer
Théodore Theodorides	....	clapper loader: "a" camera
Stéphane Thiry	....	grip
Dean Thompson	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera

Casting Department
Abigail Barbier	....	adr voice casting
Louis Elman	....	adr voice casting
Tiziana Kinkela	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frieda Basso Boccabella	....	wardrobe trainee
Catherine Buyse Dian	....	wardrobe supervisor
Charlotte-Rose Kay	....	assistant costume designer
Anna Kovacevic	....	key costumer
David Otzen	....	costume assistant
Katia Scarpa	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Pani Ahmadi-Moore	....	first assistant editor
Perry Gibbs	....	colorist: mastering
Alec Gibson	....	color timer
Eddy Kolkiewicz	....	negative cutter
Alexandra Kosevic	....	post-production coordinator
Andrew Robinson	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Harvey Brough	....	additional score arranger
Harvey Brough	....	associate music producer
Jake Jackson	....	assistant score mixing engineer
Jake Jackson	....	score recordist
Haresh Patel	....	music editor
Jocelyn Pook	....	music producer
Robert Prizeman	....	choir director
John Sachs	....	music supervisor
Hilary Skewes	....	musician contractor
Nick Wollage	....	score mixing engineer
Nick Wollage	....	score recordist

Transportation Department
Luca Fortunato Asquini	....	transportation manager: Italy
Alessandra Asta	....	transportation assistant
Svet Hrouchoff	....	additional driver
Simon Jones	....	driver: Al Pacino, UK
Gaby Meyers	....	facility/truck driver
Francois Muller	....	truck driver
Gary Sharp	....	driver: cast
Kevan Willis	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Denver Beattie	....	assistant: Al Pacino, Italy
Bob Bellion	....	financial manager
Nicky Bell	....	assistant: Mr. Radford
Shirine Best	....	development assistant
Corrina Bonicelli	....	technical advisor
Alexandre Brown	....	production assistant
Fabrizio Cerato	....	location manager
Deborah Cesana	....	set runner
Erasmo Colucci	....	co-accountant
Veronica Coppola	....	assistant production coordinator
Lou Crisa	....	special assistant and security: Mr. Pacino
Warren Demer	....	assistant accountant
Bernardo Galli	....	assistant accountant: Italy
Judy Geletko	....	administrator: Avenue Pictures
Geoffrey Goodman	....	assistant: Mr. Brokaw
Matteo Gottardis	....	unit manager assistant: Italy
Nicole Gregory	....	unit publicist
Monica Hayford	....	assistant to producer: UK
Mel Hider	....	assistant: Mr. Cowan and Mr. Piette
Patrick Hoffmann	....	production assistant
Polly Hope	....	assistant production coordinator
Brittany Hymore	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino, Italy
Tim Judge	....	executive assistant: Mr. Pacino
Patricia Kretschmer	....	assistant: Mr. De Brabant, Luxembourg
Antonella Longato	....	production assistant
Roberto Longobardi	....	production accountant
Nadia Mattera	....	assistant: Mr. Navidi
Jack Murphy	....	movement coach
Pascale Noël	....	location assistant
Alessandro Palestro	....	set production assistant
Jessica Reavis	....	stand-in
Laurence Rexter-Baker	....	assistant: Mr. Pacino, Luxembourg
David Morais Rocas	....	location assistant
Debbie Rothstein	....	legal assistant
Andrea Santuari	....	production assistant
Adelaide Scardino	....	assistant: Mr. Brokaw
Shalom Shabazi	....	poet
Emma Short	....	assistant production accountant
Lucy Shuttleworth	....	development executive
Mannes Steve	....	location trainee
Anita Tomaselli	....	production coordinator: Italy
Sophie Treacher	....	production coordinator: Luxembourg
Emma Tweed	....	assistant: Mr. Radford
Tim Van Rellim	....	production executive
Stephane Wasila	....	location manager
Beverly Winston	....	script supervisor
Federico Demontis	....	assistant to co-executive producer (uncredited)
Pietro Dioni	....	assistant to co-executive producer (uncredited)

Thanks
Marlon Brando	....	special thanks
Danny Huston	....	special thanks
Radica Jovicic	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Spice Factory (as Spice Factory Production)
• UK Film Council (in association with)
• Film Fund Luxembourg
• Delux Productions
• Immagine e Cinema
• Istituto Luce
• Avenue Pictures Productions (as Cary Brokaw/Avenue Pictures)
• Navidi-Wilde Productions Ltd. (as Navidi-Wilde)
• 39 McLaren St. Sydney
• Dania Film

Distributors

• Movision (2004) (worldwide) (all media) (rights)
• Arclight Films (2004) (worldwide rights) (all media)
• New Films International (2004) (non-USA) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Art Port (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Benelux Film Distributors (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Blue Sky Film Distribution (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Blue Sky Media (2006) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• CDI Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)
• Istituto Luce (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Manga Films (2005) (Spain) (all media)
• Mongrel Media (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Optimum Releasing (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Releasing (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Zima Entertainment (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)

Special Effects

• Senate Visual Effects, The (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lab  camera and lighting equipment
• ARRI Lab  film lab
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting
• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Air Lyndhurst, London)
• Alf Service  balloon lighting: Italy (as Alf Service S.r.l., Florence, Italy)
• Angels the Costumiers  costumes
• Artistic Theatrical Footwear  costumes
• Bollux  grip rentals
• Boom Post Production  sound re-recording
• Capital FX  end roller
• Clarity Post Production Sound  foley recording
• Clarity Post Production Sound  sound post-production
• Cornejo  costumes (as Sastreria Cornejo S.A.)
• Costumi d'Arte  costumes (as Costumi d'Arte, Roma)
• Decca Records  soundtrack published by
• Deluxe  colour
• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• Farm Group, The  high-definition digital mastering
• Film & Television Facilities  facility vehicles
• Independent Media Support  subtitling and captioning
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Libera  choir
• Location Consulting & Facilities  facilities vehicles
• London Editing Machines Ltd.  editing facilities: production
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording
• Mayflower Studios  sound post-production
• Nicolao Atelier  costumes (as Nicolao Atelier, Venezia)
• Offline Editing Company, The  post-production facilities
• Reel Skill  negative cutting (as Reel Skill Film Cutting)
• Senate Visual Effects, The  title sequence
• Tirelli Costumi  costumes (as Tirelli Costuma, Roma)
• UMG Soundtracks  soundtrack published by

Also Known As:

Il mercante di Venezia (Italy)
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (USA) (complete title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some nudity.

Runtime:

138 min | Finland:134 min

Country:

USA | Italy | Luxembourg | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Mexico:B | Iceland:12 | South Korea:12 | Peru:14 | Brazil:14 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-7 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg

Company:

Spice Factory

Trivia:

Dustin Hoffman was interested in playing Shylock; however, when he contacted director Michael Radford about it, Al Pacino had already been cast.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Basanio and his entourage are walking with Portia to inspect the chests they pass a pond with a black swan. Black swans are from Australia and weren't known to Europe until after their discovery in western Australia by Dutch explorers in 1697. The Merchant of Venice takes place more than 100 years earlier.

Quotes:

Bassanio: For thy three thousand ducats here is six.
Shylock: If every ducat in six thousand ducats were in six parts and every part a ducat, I would not draw them; I would have my bond.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 'Merchant of Venice': Shakespeare Through the Lens (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Bridal Ballad

Beautiful, shocking, and above all, honest

Michael Radford has done an excellent job bringing this difficult play to the screen. He has taken a play with a reputation for anti-semitism, and shown us that Shakespeare knew quite well the humanity of the Jews. Radford said after the screening, and I agree, that Shylock is his first tragic hero, the first of his characters to be undone by a driving, compulsive need for revenge. He also points out, quite rightly, that a man who was anti-semitic could not have written Shylock's speech of "If you prick me, do i not bleed?" Radford is himself of Jewish descent and he has picked out the good and bad of all characters with delicacy and honesty. no character is free from flaws; no character is evil. Radford has placed the play in the 16th century, which gives a lush background of Venetian politics and decadence on which to project Shakespeare's words.

If you get a chance to hear Radford speak about the film, I highly recommend you take it, since he gives details about life in 16th century Venice that illuminate a lot of the choices he made and give considerable extra depth to the viewing. I'm hoping that the DVD will come out with extensive commentary.

Jeremy Irons does a gorgeous portrayal of Antonio, a man who resigns himself to bearing the burden of his past misdeeds. Lynn Collins, a relative unknown, gives us an absolutely flawless, stunning, and detailed job as Portia. Not only is Ms. Collins beautiful - she also gives Portia layers of intelligence and humor prior to the trial scene i've rarely seen in any production of this play. the rest of the cast also does a terrific job, with a notable performance by Kris Marshall as Gratiano, and a beautifully subtle work by Allan Corduner as Tubal, playing the foil to Shylock. Finally, while Al Pacino pulls out his usual strong (and loud) performance, his best moments are when the camera focuses on him and he says no words, but you can see all the emotions and madnesses flowing into and out of him as he perceives his fortunes changing.

If you like period movies, I cannot recommend this movie enough.