[18], The child John Webster (Joe Roberts), who plays with rats, is a reference to a leading figure in the next, Jacobean, generation of playwrights. As things continue to fall apart, one of Wills rivals claims he has rights to the Romeo and Juliet manuscript and attempts to get it away from the cast during a rehearsal. Did it sway the voters? As the play ends, the audience roars with approval. Rosaline, with whom Will is in love at the beginning of the film, is a namesake of Romeo's love-interest at the beginning of the play. She plays opposite Shakespeare, as Romeo, and their love is so true, it burns up the stage. The website's critical consensus states: "Endlessly witty, visually rapturous, and sweetly romantic, Shakespeare in Love is a delightful romantic comedy that succeeds on nearly every level. The movie, which satirizes theatre life and plays with what is known and what is unknown about Shakespeares life and times, won the Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for best film as well as the Golden Globe Award for best comedy or musical. Similarly to the ending of Romeo and Juliet, Will sees Viola and pleads if she be dead, that he die too. In 'Sonnet 130,' Shakespeare satirizes the tradition - stemming from Greek and Roman literature - of praising the beauty of one's affection by comparing it to beautiful things, typically in a hyperbolic manner. And ready to talk about life, love, and learning to be a feminist. Miramax Films spokesman Andrew Stengel derided the claim, filed in the US District Court six days before the 1999 Academy Awards, as "absurd", and argued that the timing "suggests a publicity stunt". Shakespeare receives advice from rival playwright Christopher Marlowe, but is despondent to learn Rosaline is sleeping with Master of the Revels Edmund Tilney. The movie, which satirizes theatre life and plays with what is known and what is unknown about Shakespeare's life and times, won the Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for best film as well as the . The scene with Shakespeare and Viola in the punt was re-shot, to make it more emotional, and some lines were re-recorded to clarify the reasons why Viola had to marry Wessex. She faints, believing he means Will; but when Will enters looking for Viola, Wessex flees thinking him the ghost of Marlowe. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Capulet deciding to vanish Romeo, separates the two lovers Romeo and Juliet. [24][25] An out-of-court settlement was reached, but the sum agreed between the parties indicates that the claim was "unwarranted". Will tries to convince Viola to run away with him instead of marrying Wessex. Repetitive scenes in Orsino's palace show the paralyzing stasis of his love-melancholy. She knows she can never do this, and that she must go with Wessex to receive the Queens approval for their marriage. Spring is the story of an ordinary, uninteresting young man who somehow we never know how convinces an amazing, extraordinary woman to fall in love with him. 2. Love wanes over time, as does its chief cause, physical beauty. [16][17] The only surviving text of The Massacre at Paris is an undated octavo that is probably too short to represent the complete original play. Paltrow, Weinstein, and Minnie Driver after the 1999 ceremony. He was an important member of the King's Men company of theatrical players from roughly 1594 onward. As a literate love story posing what might have been the inspiration for Shakespeares first theatrical hit, it made its mark instantly with many of us, said Tony Angellotti, an Academy member and publicist whom Weinstein hired as a consultant on the film. Later, in a tavern, another playwright, Christopher Marlowe (Rupert Everett, in an uncredited role) offers Shakespeare suggestions for the plays plot. Shakespeare in Love, a fictional account of the life that inspired the art-Romeo and Juliet, is an excellent and lamentable original screenplay by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard, its every word and staged action a tribute to the Bard. Nearly 20 years later, Bob Weinstein would advocate for Harveys firing from the company the two had built together, and the Academy would break with its long-standing tradition of ignoring members private behavior. The studio wanted a version where Paltrows character appeared more empowered than devastated, a conclusion that would leave the audience hopeful. It is the beginning of Shakespeare in Love, which tells us that it's 1593. Demetrius. After a brief discussion about Will's feeling's for Viola, Thomas (Viola) kisses a surprised Will Shakespeare, then rushes away when the boat docks. It was also, at its heart, about the creative process, and, taking that a step further, analogous to the filmmaking process.. Shakespeare In Love. Shakespeare in Love What's Up With The Ending? A limited-release opening weekend in eight theaters brought in $224,012, a respectable showing that suggested a robust box-office future. Who is Hamlet's true love? Paltrow told Stern that she was "very sad" and said, "'I'm not going to work' and all that nonsense" (listen above at around 31:20). His ideas for his new comedy, Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter, are less than genius and the owner of the theatre is under scrutiny from the producer, to whom he owes money. Throughout the film, Viola has masqueraded as a man to play Romeo. Viola's identity is exposed, leaving Shakespeare without a stage or a lead actor, until Burbage offers his theatre and the heartbroken Shakespeare takes the role of Romeo. While serving Dench's Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love, they were given the anonymous "ladies in waiting" billing. Vanity Fair may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. The Rose players repel Burbage and his men and celebrate at the pub, where a drunken Henslowe lets slip to Viola that Shakespeare is married, albeit separated from his wife. . "That woman is a WOMAN!" She retired Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In an October New York Times story that furthered the deluge of accusations against Weinstein, Paltrow said that when she was 22, she reported for a meeting with the producer at the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel to discuss her first starring role, in his 1996 film Emma. Still, as the old saying goes, "Never let the facts get in the way of a good story," which explains co-screenwriter Tom Stoppard's argument that it's okay for the movie to be a far cry from reality. That was just Good morning. The story of Shakespeare in Love may be fictional, but in addition to William Shakespeare, his rival Christopher Marlowe (Rupert Everett) and, as previously mentioned, Queen Elizabeth I, many of the other characters featured in the film did exist during the Bard's time. Analysis. Literally. 200 Easy General Knowledge Questions and Answers Q. This puts her firmly in place not as a great actress or a passionate lover, but as Shakespeare's muse. Contact me | Privacy policy | Join the mailing list | Links. Friar Laurence speaks up to clear the air. We used to joke that working at Miramax was like working at a tiny labor camp with a nice lobby., Weinstein strong-armed the movies talent into participating in an unprecedented blitzkrieg of press. Here Will sees Viola for the first time, and soon a scene similar to the initial meeting of Romeo and Juliet takes place. Peter Biskind, "Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film" (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004), p. 327. Macbeth), and the "play within a play". The angle changes to a wider side angle and his hand has no hair around, even though he hasn't moved it at all. He delivered a speech thanking a roster of collaborators, including his brother, Bob, my partner and best friend every day., Despite the conventional pushback, Miramaxs Shakespeare campaign became a model going forward. After the film's release, certain publications, including Private Eye, noted strong similarities between the film and the 1941 novel No Bed for Bacon, by Caryl Brahms and S. J. Simon, which also features Shakespeare falling in love and finding inspiration for his later plays. His cash-strapped benefactor and owner of the Rose theatre desperately needs the play to be completed so he can pay off his ruthless creditors from the profits. However, just as the curtain is rising, the man playing Juliet can no longer play . William Shakespeare: Love knows nothing of rank or river bank. To complicate things, Helena is in love with . Photographed by Mario Testino for the September 2000 issue. Dark energy, together with dark matter, make 95% of the universe - yet we have little idea of what it is. That night Shakespeare sneaks into a party celebrating Violas engagement to Lord Wessex (Colin Firth), but when Wessex notes the obvious attraction between Shakespeare and Viola, he threatens Shakespeare, who gives his name as Christopher Marlowe and flees the party. Shakespeare In Love won the Best Picture Oscar at the 71st Academy Awards, controversially beating critically favored Saving Private Ryan and becoming the first comedy to win the award since Annie Hall (1977). Two teenagers, aged thirteen and eighteen years old, meet at a dance, fall in love, and get married. This is a reference to the fact that several versions of Shakespeare's signature exist, and in each one he spelled his name differently.[21]. In trying to soothe her, he says, her parents married her to Paris but only drove Juliet further into her grief. When Prince Edward got married in 1999, his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was going to make him the Duke of Cambridge (the title eventually bestowed upon Prince William when he married Kate Middleton in 2011). While it's true Shakespeare was in . Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 romantic period comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard, and produced by Harvey Weinstein. This was due to Everett's decision. The ending was re-shot several times, until Stoppard eventually came up with the idea of Viola suggesting to Shakespeare that their parting could inspire his next play. [37][38] Weinstein was reported to have strong-armed the movie's talent into participating in an unprecedented blitzkrieg of press. We will write a custom Essay on "Shakespeare in Love": Movie Analysis specifically for you. Viola and Sebastian's reunion resolves the various confusions and deceptions amongst the Twelfth Night characters and restores society-approved heterosexual marriages and class distinctions. Before Will even begins writing Romeo and Juliet, he overhears a minister ranting about "a plague on both your houses!" Geoffrey Rush's buffoonish, always-in-debt theater manager Philip Henslowe may appear to be someone straight out of the creative mind of Tom Stoppard (who, let's not forget, gave us Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead), but he, too, was a real person; his diaries defend the idea that he was as much of a kook as the film suggests. After becoming more depressed, he begins to lose ideas of how the plot of his play will end because Romeo dies at the end of his play. The Academy's decision was criticized by many for awarding the film over Saving Private Ryan,[34][35][36] and Gwyneth Paltrow winning Best Actress over frontrunner Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth. Wessex visits Viola and informs her of their impending marriage and journey to Virginia. Demetrius loves Hermia, but Hermia is not interested in him. More. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. It was the first time, at least for me, that negative campaigning and trash-talking somebody elses movie became de rigueur.. David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Gwyneth Paltrow, Edward Zwick, and Marc Norman at the 71st Academy Awards, March 21, 1999. News arrives that Marlowe has been murdered. Design and text 1996 - 2023 Jon Sandys. At the Romeo and Juliet premiere, the actor playing Juliet loses his voice, rendering him incapable of performing. Lord Wessex: Apparently the prince just liked the sound of Wessex (there is no proof that he was a fan of Firths snobbish and greedy nobleman). Through its two unfortunate protagonists, Will Shakespeare 'a lowly player' with writer's block and wealthy Viola . [about Marlowe's death in a tavern] Ned Alleyn : A quarrel about the bill. In the late 1990s, Weinstein was at the height of his power in Hollywood, but during the smooth, $25 million production of Shakespeare in Love, supervised by Miramax production chief Meryl Poster and producer Donna Gigliotti, he had little cause to wield it. Put away the extinguisher.). The play is a success, but Master Tilney shows up to arrest them all for putting on a play with a woman actor. Drawing on more than 100,000 leaked documents, a, Inside the New Right, Where Peter Thiel Is Placing His Biggest Bets. It was this blanket commitment of resources. With so many disruptions, what happens now to Wills new play and where will the players go? Dancing with Viola, Shakespeare is struck speechless. Team #1 gets first crack at question # 1. Before she leaves, she inspires Will to write Twelfth Night in which he imagines her ship wrecks, killing everyone (especially Wessex who he probably fantasizes being eaten by sharks as well), but Viola survives. I said [to Steven Spielberg], Listen, this is whats going on. Steven said to me, I do not want you to get down in the mud with Harvey., Weinstein played into the inherent narcissism of the Academyits love of seeing actors and writers like themselves as heroic characters on-screenand he pushed the novelty of the film. Harvey gave birth to it. Philip Henslowe: Nothing. His voice as changed. Inspired by Viola, Shakespeare quickly transforms the play into what will become Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 film about a young William Shakespeare, out of ideas and short of cash, who then meets his ideal woman and is inspired to write one of his most famous plays . The ferryman comments to Will that it was actually Lady Viola. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster. ", One of the reasons co-screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard were able to take so many liberties with the script was that not much is known about Shakespeare's life between the years 1585 and 1592. Madden re-shot one key scene, of Viola tearfully saying good-bye to Shakespeare at the end of the film. for only $11.00 $9.35/page. The 1998 film, which cleaned up the following year at the Academy Awards, told the tale of a writer's-block-stricken William "Will" Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes), and how he went on to compose his most famous love story, Romeo and Juliet. At the Romeo and Juliet premiere, the actor playing Juliet loses his voice, rendering him incapable of performing. Lord Wessex arrives looking for his runaway bride, and Elizabeth informs him he has lost his wager - that a play can show the truth and nature of love. The first reason why I believe Capulet is to blame for Romeo and Juliet's death is because he decided to vanish Romeo to Mantua after he killed Tybalt. Judi Dench had less than 10 minutes of screen time, but still snagged an Oscar. Have the class perform an exercise with the Shakespeare in Love Worksheet. Scenes from Saving Private Ryan and Shakespeare in Love. "Shakespeare in the Classroom" used Shakespeare in Love as a visual and historical aid to teach students about life during the Bard's time. Omissions? The speech 'Our revels now are ended' is famous as Shakespeare's farewell address to us, his audience. Though Hulu's movie is inspired by Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet, Rosaline has a different ending. At long last, the boorish New Yorker was basking in the recognition of the Hollywood establishment. When the angle is behind Viola, we see that her hair gets caught around his left hand's fingers. Known . Queen Elizabeth is in the audience, and she reveals herself suddenly and declares that the actor playing Juliet is Thomas Kent. A Midsummer Night's Dream, comedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written about 1595-96 and published in 1600 in a quarto edition from the author's manuscript, in which there are some minor inconsistencies. [5] Norman wrote a draft screenplay which he presented to director Edward Zwick, which attracted Julia Roberts, who agreed to play Viola. [62] Based on the film screenplay by Norman and Stoppard, it was adapted for the stage by Lee Hall. The movie's cast participated in a classroom video supplement on Shakespeare. It has been suggested that it is a memorial reconstruction by the actors who performed the work. While Curio looks for him, the musicians start playing. When the angle is behind Viola, we see that her hair gets caught around his left hand's fingers. When Weinstein took the stage that night to accept the best-picture prize, it was an unorthodox move for a studio chief, and one that rankled some Academy members in its audacity. John Webster, an unpleasant boy who hangs around the theatre, spies on Shakespeare and Viola making love and informs Tilney, who closes the Rose for breaking the ban on women actors. Romeo and Juliet is unmatched, in Shakespeare and in the world's literature, as a vision of an uncompromising mutual love that perishes of its own idealism and intensity. Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. In Shakespeare in Love, director John Madden told the fictional tale of the Bard of Avon, who, while struggling to write what would become Romeo and Juliet, falls in love with Viola de Lesseps, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Shakespeare discovers Viola's true identity, and they begin a secret affair. However, according to a 2010 article in The Telegraph, Edward asked to be styled the Earl of Wessex instead, after seeing Shakespeare in Love and noticing Colin Firth's fictional character was named "Lord Wessex." Weinstein was concerned and, mid-screening, demanded an explanation from a colleague at the event. Yes, Romeo killed Tybalt but as Capulet said if anyone starts any fights it will lead to death. [29], Janet Maslin made the film an "NYT Critics' Pick", calling it "pure enchantment". Between Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night, Shakespeare wrote ten other plays over a period of six years. If they can't answer, Team #2 gets a chance. Long a pet topic of Oscar obsessives and industry insiders, it is impossible to revisit the 1999 Oscars and not see the campaign now as Weinsteins bully masterpiece. Hermia loves Lysander, but her father, Egeus, has ordered her to marry Demetrius. Love In The Villa Plot Synopsis. Powerless to end a lawful marriage, she orders Viola to sail with Wessex to Virginia. I told him, These people are rooting against you to succeed, not for you to succeed, the associate said. pressure like that from other studios.. 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. She is reversing the gender-reversal by playing her own gender. Then again, it would make sense that someone as idiotic as Lord Wessex would make arrangements to move halfway across the world to a place that existed only in his head. end, love, tears . Suffering from writer's block with a new comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter, Shakespeare attempts to seduce Rosaline, mistress of Richard Burbage, owner of the rival Curtain Theatre, and to convince Burbage to buy the play from Henslowe. We think the reason it does is because the two actors are in love. In Shakespeare in Love, Viola de Lesseps secretly poses as male actor Thomas Kent in order to subvert the laws preventing women from performing onstage. Its existence was first speculated to explain the rate at which the universe is expanding. From a Dramatica point of view, it is intriguing how the two compare (see Romeo . Jacobs is the author of "San Fran '60s . [20], Will is shown signing a paper repeatedly, with many relatively illegible signatures visible. Or at least until he needs to write another play. However, her scam is revealed by a meddling, rat-loving street urchin, who happens to go by the name of John Webster. The best movie quotes, movie lines and film phrases by Movie Quotes .com . Young Will Shakespeare has writer's block and needs some inspiration. The nurse discovers Will before he escapes, but now the household is onto himbut by the name Marlowe. The instability of the couplings of Viola-Orsino and Olivia-Sebastian, exclusion of Malvolio and Antonio from the festive resolution, and Feste's song towards the end raises doubts about the so-called 'happy ending' of Shakespeare's comic play. The audience gasps, either because a woman is one stage, or they can't possibly believe a man could be that beautiful. Young Will Shakespeare has writers block and needs some inspiration. In the end, Puck reverses the magic, and the two couples reconcile and marry. And to that end, we've put together this collection of questions that most people should be able to do relatively well on. The studio then brought in playwright Tom Stoppard to add to the script. This is, in many aspects, a tediously familiar story, one we've seen numerous times onscreen. "And the daughter mutilated with knives Plenty of blood. We hope you enjoy this Study Guide, but while youre here you may want to explore the Festival a bit further. Oscar Voters Today Would Make 'Brokeback Mountain' Best Picture Over 'Crash', "The 71st Academy Awards (1999) Nominees and Winners", "The ASC Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography", "3rd Annual Excellence in Production Design Awards", "Broadcast Film critics name 'Saving Private Ryan' best film", "51st Annual DGA Awards: Winners and Nominees", "Winners & Nominees: Shakespeare in Love", "National Board of Review of Motion Pictures:: Awards", "National film critics tap 'Out of Sight", "New York Film Critics Circle Awards: 1998 Awards", "Producers tap 'Ryan'; Kelly, Hanks TV winners", "International Press Academy website 1999 3rd Annual SATELLITE Awards", "The 5th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients", "WGA Awards: Previous Nominees and Winners", "Disney Theatrical Gets Busy with 'Shakespeare in Love' and 'Newsies', "Shakespeare in Love to get West End play", "Shakespeare in Love, review: 'the best British comedy since One Man, Two Guvnors', "Shakespeare in Love: Deliciously funny and absurd", "Shakespeare in Love review a heady celebration of the act of theatre", " SHAKESPEARE OF TRUE LOVE | | ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shakespeare_in_Love&oldid=1141812415, David Parfitt, Donna Gigliotti, Harvey Weinstein, Edward Zwick and Marc Norman, Robin O'Donoghue, Dominic Lester, Peter Glossop and John Downer, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 23:09. In November 2011, Variety reported that Disney Theatrical Productions intended to produce a stage version of the film in London with Sonia Friedman Productions. Benedick and Beatrice's progression from mutual hate to romantic love is an ironic but very true insight into how many real romances develop, and it remains a testament to Shakespeare as an observer of how human relationships work. After the wedding, Violas nurse helps her to escape to the theatre to see the play. This was not saying to the stars, O.K., you can go on a couple of talk shows to open the movie and do a weekend of interviews at a junket and thanks so much for helping, Gill said. Demetrius is Egeus' chosen suitor for his daughter Hermia. The actors real-life wife, Imelda Staunton, played Viola's Nurse, who inspired the Romeo and Juliet role in the film. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Burbage learns Shakespeare has seduced Rosaline and cheated him out of payment for the play, and starts a brawl at the Rose with his company. Young playwright, Will Shakespeare, has lost his creative muse and struggles to finish his latest play, Romeo and Ethyl, the Pirate's Daughter. Only this time Weinstein was going up against Hollywood royalty in Spielberg, no-nonsense marketer Terry Press, then at DreamWorks, and a film that had been the front-runner since July. Will follows Kent from rehearsal and divulges his desperate love for Viola. Shakespeare in Love quotes: the most famous and inspiring quotes from Shakespeare in Love. Meanwhile, across town, a rival theatre performs Will's The . [28] Another historical liberty concerns the central theme of Shakespeare struggling to create the story of Romeo and Juliet, as in real life he simply adapted an existing story for theatre. Viola de Lesseps, daughter of a wealthy merchant, who has seen Shakespeare's plays at court, disguises herself as a man named Thomas Kent to audition. After rehearsal, Shakespeare discovers that Kent, the actor playing Romeo, is in fact Viola, and he and Viola begin a love affair as he continues working on the play, which becomes Romeo and Juliet. The dates in the movie aren't historically accurate. [66][67] It was not related to Lee Hall's play. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster. Please select which sections you would like to print: Pat Bauer graduated from Ripon College in 1977 with a double major in Spanish and Theatre. Writer Marc Norman, inspired by a suggestion from one of his sons, began writing a script for Shakespeare in Love in the late 1980s and sold it to Universal Pictures. He becomes depressed after many failed attempts of writing the last scene. Viola is summoned to court to receive approval for her proposed marriage to Wessex. Explain why it was worth learning about. DIGNAN.ME HOME ; Dignan's Original Music (Rough cuts) Willie and Annie Nelson ; Eric Chase Anderson ; Allen Ginsberg ; Seltzer Man ; Nobu 57 ; John Rodman To revist this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. Thomas Kent, an actor auditioning for the part of Romeo, impresses Shakespeare but flees the theatre. However, just as the curtain is rising, the man playing Juliet can no longer play her. THE NOVELIST. For a romantic comedy, the ending to Shakespeare in Love is pretty tragic. Her verdict: It can. Dakota Johnson on Family, Sexual AgencyAnd the Psychotic Making of, Prince Harry on Williams Hairline and Their Wicked Stepmother. Julie, who works as a kindergarten teacher, is getting ready for her long-awaited trip to Verona too. Along . Colors of the Rainbow. Prince Edward was originally to have been titled Duke of Cambridge following his marriage to Sophie Rhys-Jones in 1999, the year after the film's release. While Shakespeare in Love's version of how Romeo and Juliet came to be is an imagined onethe movie's plot has the penniless Will falling for the fictional Viola de Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow), a wealthy merchant's daughter who subsequently becomes his musemany of the characters in the film did exist in real life. He pursues Kent to Viola's house and leaves a note with her nurse, asking Kent to begin rehearsals at the Rose. After decades of dreaming, the women finally decide to make a pilgrimage to the Super Bowl for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet their favorite player, noteworthy NFL mainstay Tom Brady. Shakespeare, the Renaissance Man. After the turmoil, Shakespeare produces "Romeo and Juliet," the play that would make Shakespeare famous all over the world (Madden, "Shakespeare in Love"). By the final act, of course, they realise they are in love and end up married. Many have spoken to the sheer ridiculous nature of the plot. Tybalt, Mercutio, Paris, Lady Montague, Romeo, and Juliet's deaths are all the direct result of the . Peter Biskind, "Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance and the Rise of Independent Film" (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004), pp. He was like, Can you do these radio call-ins all morning? He calls the clients directly and guilts them. Viola and Shakespeare say their goodbyes, and he vows to immortalize her, as he imagines the beginning of Twelfth Night, in character as a castaway disguised as a man after a voyage to a strange land. Will and Viola play out the famous balcony and bedroom scenes; like Juliet, Viola has a witty nurse, and is separated from Will by a gulf of duty (although not the family enmity of the play: the "two households" of Romeo and Juliet are supposedly inspired by the two rival playhouses). [37] Terry Press, an executive at DreamWorks at the time, stated that Weinstein and Miramax "tried to get everybody to believe that Saving Private Ryan was all in the first 15 minutes".