Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12550 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-12-27
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Edward "Ned" Knyaston (Billy Crudup) is a beautiful man, and as an actor in 17th-century London that means he's quite popular portraying women, since females are forbidden to tread the boards. His mischievous air of entitlement, unfortunately, soon sets in motion a chain of events that will see King Charles II (Rupert Everett) lifting the ban on actresses, allowing Ned's devoted dresser, Maria (Claire Danes), to become the city's reigning theatrical diva.

Director Richard Eyre (Iris) is still best known for his stage work, and it shows: Stage Beauty is rich in character and attention to detail, yet it doesn't have a popcorn-and-soda pop ease. Jeffrey Hatcher's well-observed script, based on his own play, romps a little self-consciously in Eyre's hands--you can tell it would like to be Shakespeare in Love if it could only relax. The gorgeous Crudup and dewy Danes don't quite click here, but the supporting cast is having a good time going way over-the-top, so if you're hungry for an elaborate historical confection there's enough here to satisfy your taste buds. --Steve Wiecking

Synopsis
In the seventeenth century the roles of women in live theatre are played by men and one of the most famous is Ned Kynaston. When Charles II tires of the same old faces he decides to allow real women on the stage. Overnight Ned becomes a nobody and heads towards suicide until an actress named Maria decides to rescue him.

Customer Reviews

Love of language and theatre
Cross dressing Shakespearean actors on the Restoration scene. The eternal questions of rôle and identity. Wit and vulgarity. A scene-stealing Merry Monarch and his delectable Nellie. The bustle, filth and sheer energy of 17th century London. Not least, a light touch and clear sense of fun from the entire cast, with some outstanding performances. What's not to like?

I can live with the artistic license taken with the period -- at times, one gets the impression that Bardolatry was anywhere near as widespread as it is today, and the post-Brando acting at the end would probably have elicited boos rather than cheers from its audiences -- but anything true to its time would be alien to us. And, hey, the ever-iterated Desdemona death scene really does finally work!

On the minus side, the four-plus initial minutes of unskippable commercials and previews definitely robs this DVD issue of one star. Would that there were a warning system -- or better, that DVD producers recognized simple politeness as a selling point.

A beauty
Without knowing why, I was intrigued by this film from seeing it advertised. I consider myself thoroughly intrigued now I've seen it! "Stage Beauty" possess a magestic grace and effortless wit that even "Shakespeare In Love" did not possess. A riot of colours, rich fabric and make-up and a splatter of absorbing characters (not to mention the intelligent acting behind it) makes Stage Beauty one of the best films I have had the pleasure to see this year. The sets are glorious, the costumes quite exquisiste and there is a fresh humour in the script I haven't seen the like of since Moulin Rouge.
the two leading actors. (Clare Danes and Billy Crudup) give a superb performance, particularly as Crudup would have been greatly challenged to find the awkward character of Ned in himself. Danes, of course, is quite on form and is truly excellent as Ned's dedicated dress mistress. A fresh, honest film about love, truth and the true meaning of beauty. Buy it.

One of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen
As a non-English native speaker, it is difficult for me to express my enthusiasm for this magnificent movie - especially since it deals with one of the richest, unique elements of English culture - the world of Shakespeare.

But I'll try, because the movie is just extraordinary.

Stage Beauty is conceived much like a play by Shakespeare, with its layers of complexity behind the apparent simplicity of its powerful story, its well-crafted characters, and its underlying themes (interactions between genders, definition and pursuit of Excellence, disorder versus order). In fact, it is highly reminiscent of Othello in its central themes - and, not surprisingly, Othello the play is at the heart of the movie.

The performance of the actors is simply stunning - they effortlessly take viewers from one emotion to the next; and watching them portray players who in turn play roles (of their own gender or not) is an absolute delight.

However, acting skills are enablers - what really allows the cast to deliver such a compelling performance is the movie's overall structure, and the consistent way in which it deals with its core themes. In fact, the movie progresses in such an irresistible way that it culminates with a man and a woman simply greeting each other before a rehearsal - the masculine Excellence and the feminine Excellence, finally defined, and facing each other at last - after a period of disorder and conflicts.

An absolute jewel.