In association with

Stage Beauty [2004]
from Momentum Pictures
starring Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Ben Chaplin, Zoe Tapper, Tom Wilkinson
directed by Richard Eyre

Features:

• PAL

Editorial 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

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

• An excellent movie of gender and the theater
  It's London in the 1660's when women were forbidden by law to appear on the stage. Female roles were played by male actors who were raised and trained for this specialty. The greatest of them is Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup) and we meet him on stage while he's playing Desdemona's death scene. Maria (Claire Danes), his dresser, wants two things...to be an actor and to have Ned. When Charles II issues a decree that henceforth women only may play women's roles, Ned's world crashes to the ground. As he says,... more info

• 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... more info

• I just loved it!
  I am not a movie critic; therefore all I will say is that I loved the film from beginning to end. I enjoyed the characters, (their stories and complexity), the costumes, the story line... all of it.
  It is a romantic, easy to watch film, which left me with a smile. I did play the last couple of minutes a few times... Billy Cruddup is very "eye pleasing", and so it is his female co-star, Claire Danes.
  I do not think my husband would have enjoyed as much as I did. One for the girls, I suppose... more info

• A gem
  I didn't see that film at the cinema because of some bad reviews I had read! I should have gone! Anyway, now I have the DVD and keep playing it...
  I had never heard of Billy Cruddup before and I thought him amazing. His acting is unbelievably good and subtle!
  I quite like Claire Danes as well, though she is not as good, Tom Wilkinson is, as always, great and Rupert Everett is an effortlessly brilliant King!
  Don't miss it!
  it is so much more than well worth the watch!

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