The Taming of the Shrew (1929 film)

The Taming of the Shrew is a 1929 American pre-Code sound film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play of the same name. It was directed by Sam Taylor and stars Mary Pickford as Katherine and Douglas Fairbanks as Petruchio. It was the first sound film adaptation of the play.

The film is notable for several departures from Shakespeare's original text, including substantial cuts and additions made to streamline the narrative for a cinematic audience. Dialogue was adapted and some scenes were re-written to better suit the capabilities of early sound film technology. The play's induction and some subplots were omitted.

The Taming of the Shrew was a significant commercial success, though critical reception was mixed. Some critics praised Fairbanks and Pickford's performances, while others found the adaptation to be a simplification of Shakespeare's work. The film is also remembered for its on-screen billing: "William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew with additional dialogue by Sam Taylor." This reflected the studio's concern about the play's length and complexity for a general moviegoing audience.

The film is preserved by the Academy Film Archive.