"The Taming of the Shrew" (1908) - hidden gem
Florence Lawrence and Petruchio
Directed by D.W. Griffith
Cinematography by Billy Bitzer, Arthur Marvin
Starring Florence Lawrence, Linda Arvidson, Harry Solter, George Gebhardt
Distributed by Biograph Company
Release date November 10, 1908
Country United States
Running time 11 m.
This film is part of our Silent Gems Collection and the DVD is available on Ebay. This film is on DVD "Short Comedies".
Update:
You don't have to leave our website in order to obtain the films from our Silent Gems Collection. These gems are now available to our users in exchange for donation. For details click here.
This film is part of our series 'Hidden Gems'. It can be watched by registered users who make a donation. For more details, please click here.
"The Taming of the Shrew" is a short comedy based on the play of Shakespeare. The film is included in our program to illustrate the work of our stars Florence Lawrence and Billy Bitzer.
The first thing we want to do is set the record straight about the name of the actor playing Petruchio. All major movie sites, including IMDB and Silent Era, as well as Wikipedia, cite the name of Arthur V. Johnson, but this is wrong. We cannot see Arthur V. Johnson in this film. We will appreciate your tips about the identity of this actor. In the meantime we will call him Petruchio.
Florence Lawrence delivers an inspired and truly stellar performance as the ill-tempered Katherina.
Click to enlarge:
The Taming of the Shrew
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-02.jpg
Florence Lawrence punishes a servant in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-02b.jpg
Florence Lawrence has George Gebhardt recoil in horror in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-03.jpg
Florence Lawrence takes aim at another guest as Linda Arvidson watches helplessly in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-04.jpg
Florence Lawrence is introduced to a musician, who seems horrified in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-05.jpg
Florence Lawrence is not impressed as Harry Solter seems to pray for a miracle in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-06.jpg
Florence Lawrence is fed up with the musician in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-07.jpg
Florence Lawrence is in a bad mood during her wedding in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-09.jpg
Florence Lawrence will soon show her temper in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-10.jpg
Florence Lawrence looks to discipline the servants in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-11.jpg
Florence Lawrence wants Petruchio to stop beating the servants in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-12.jpg
Florence Lawrence is horrified as Petruchio keeps beating the servants in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-14.jpg
Florence Lawrence is horrified as Petruchio stops to see the effect of his taming measures in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-15.jpg
Florence Lawrence is horrified as Petruchio keeps his taming measures in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-16.jpg
Florence Lawrence seems to show real fear of Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-18.jpg
Florence Lawrence does not yield when Petruchio verifies the effect of his taming measures in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-19.jpg
Florence Lawrence gets really desperate as Petruchio extends his taming measures in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-20.jpg
Florence Lawrence asks her father to take her home in desperation in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-21.jpg
Florence Lawrence is finally tamed as she is embraced by a victorious Petruchio in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-23.jpg
Florence Lawrence and Petruchio enjoy a day out in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence-Lawrence-in-The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-1908-director-DW-Griffith-24.jpg
Florence Lawrence is the tamest girl that ever lived in "The Taming of the Shrew" (1908), directed by D. W. Griffith.
Florence Lawrence and Petruchio
Attention please.
Registration and donation are required to watch the films part of the series 'Hidden Gems'. Please complete the steps in the article 'Gems for Donation' before proceeding.
Registered users who made the required donation please click here to watch this gem.
Below is a short preview of the film.