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Stage Beauty (2004)

R  |   |  Drama  |  29 October 2004 (USA)
7.2
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Ratings: 7.2/10 from 8,582 users   Metascore: 64/100
Reviews: 103 user | 98 critic | 38 from Metacritic.com

A female theatre dresser creates a stir and sparks a revolution in seventeenth century London theatre by playing Desedmona in Othello. But what will become of the male actor she once worked for and eventually replaced?

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
Stage Manager
Mark Letheren ...
Male Emilia / Dickie
...
...
...
Thomas Betterton
...
George Villiers II - Duke of Buckingham
...
Jack Kempton ...
Call Boy
...
Miss Frayne
...
Lady Meresvale
...
Harry
Nick Barber ...
Nick
...
Thomas Cockerell
...
...
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Storyline

Based in the 1660's of London's theaters, this film is about the rules of gender roles in theatre production, and means to change them for everyone's benefit. Ned Kynaston is the assumedly gay cross-dressing actor who has been playing female parts in plays for years, particularly Desdemona in Othello, he also has a close relationship with a member of the Royal Court, the Duke of Buckingham. One day however, the rules of only men playing women could change when aspiring actress Maria auditions as Kynaston's praised role, Desdemona, and soon enough, King Charles II decides to make the law that all female roles should be played only by women. Maria becomes a star, while Ned finds himself out of work. But after a while, Ned finds it in his nature to forgive Maria's aspiration, they may even fall in love, and Charles may proclaim women will be played by either gender. Written by Jackson Booth-Millard

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

She was the first of her kind. He was the last of his.

Genres:

Drama

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

| |

Language:

Release Date:

29 October 2004 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Belleza prohibida  »

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£128,035 (UK) (3 September 2004)

Gross:

$776,691 (USA) (26 November 2004)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

|

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the movie starts out portraying the traditional Elizabethan style of acting on the stage (ie, stylized non-realistic acting), by the end of the movie, sequences on the stage are being performed in the style of realism (ie, what most people think of as modern acting), which was a style of acting not introduced until the 20th century. See more »

Goofs

The word "fan" (short for "fanatic"), meaning an enthusiastic admirer, was not used in this sense until the late eighteenth century. See more »

Quotes

Sir Charles Sedley: So, Kynaston, will you see Mrs Hughes perform?
Maria: Yes, I'd love to know what you think of the death scene.
Ned Kynaston: Oh, I'm always interested in how my rivals die.
Sir Charles Sedley: [to the Duke of Buckingham] Your Grace?
George Villiars, Duke of Buckingham: Well, no. I've had my fill of Desdemonas.
George Villiars, Duke of Buckingham: [later] I'm off as well. Kynaston... shall I drop you?
Ned Kynaston: Yes, I need my sleep.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in The Daily Show with Trevor Noah: Billy Crudup (2004) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Screen Beauty
27 April 2005 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

Billy Crudup is an actor I follow with feverish anticipation. I saw him for the first time on Broadway, about 10 years ago, in a Stoppard play. It was love at first sight. A sensual, magnetic, beautiful man. "Jesus Son" "Waking the Dead" and "Almost Famous" confirmed my initial impression. Here we have an actor for the ages. A unique, monumental talent. "Stage Beauty" however, gives me pause. Billy is entrusted with a bigger than life role and he comes out of it with a half cooked, self conscious, affected performance. He underlines every other line with a semi smile, a slight pressure of the mouth as if he didn't trust the power of his own delivery. It could be treated as a character trait if you've never seen Billy Crudup before but that tic belongs to the actor not to the character. I'm, of course, being a bit anal retentive. At his weakest, Billy is stronger than most but my expectations are so high that something like that would throw me out of my involvement with his character. The film as a whole is lovely and fun. The one most effective element is Rupert Everett's performance as Charles II, his best - an that is saying a lot - in many, many moons. Comparasions with "Shakespeare in Love" are unavoidable but totally misguiding. See it for what it is and you'll enjoy it thoroughly.


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Recent Posts
'That new ending' hazeleyes422
So....do you think Ned loves Maria in the movie? instyleprincess
One liner that made me have a laughing fit rdswords
The breast is NOT the disturbing part! Mumiemonstret
Crudup is a knockout!!!!!Best Actor Nod for sure lrpulini
problem with the death scene rsh437
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