Shakespeare in Love (1998)

Directed by John Madden. With Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson. A young Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays.

Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 American romantic period comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard.

William Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes) is on a cold streak. Not only is he writing for Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush), owner of "The Rose," a theatre whose doors are about to be closed by sadistic creditors, but he's got a nasty case of writer's block.

There is a boatman in "Shakespeare in Love" who ferries Shakespeare across the Thames while bragging, "I had Christopher Marlowe in my boat once." As Shakespeare steps ashore, the boatman tries to give him a script to read. The contemporary feel of the humor (like Shakespeare's coffee mug, inscribed "Souvenir of Stratford-Upon-Avon") makes the movie play like a contest between "Masterpiece Theatre" and Mel Brooks. Then the movie stirs in a sweet love story, juicy court intrigue, backstage politics and some lovely moments from "Romeo and Juliet" (Shakespeare's working title: "Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter").

Amazon.com: Shakespeare in Love: Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Steven O'Donnell, Tim McMullan, Steven Beard, Antony Sher, Patrick Barlow, Martin Clunes, Sandra Reinton, Simon Callow, John Madden, Bob Weinstein, David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Edward Zwick, Harvey Weinstein, Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard: Movies & TV

Shakespeare in Love: Shakespeare in Love, American-British film (1998) that was a lighthearted imagining of the genesis of Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet.

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Triumphant winner of 7 Academy Awards® -- including Best Picture -- this witty, sexy smash features Oscar®-winning Best Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (SLIDING DOOR...

Overview of Shakespeare in Love , 1998, directed by John Madden, with Geoffrey Rush, Tom Wilkinson, Steven O'Donnell, at Turner Classic Movies

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