No problem, but will have to boil them down. 1) John Webster wrote 2 bloody classics: The White Devil and The Duchess of Malfi. Little is known of his life, but he may have been an actor as well. 2) Big explanation of Marlowe. He did die in a tavern fight. Long-standing literary debate about whether Marlowe secretly survived the tavern fight and wrote S's plays. 3) No Viola and no Wessex. Explanation of S's marriage to Anne Hathaway and how he was in London without her around 1592. But points out use of name Viola and gender changing relevance to Twelfth Night. 4) Is one of S's fictional characters in R&J, the one Romeo is mooning over at the beginning. "Her portrayal as a slut who two-times S is Stoppard's playful way of suggesting the playwright was getting Cupid's revenge in naming the Romeo and Juliet character." 5) Edward Alleyn was an actual actor celebrated for his bombastic style and known to have appeared in a number of Marlowe's plays. 6) No the theater came to her. 7) "As the movie states, an actual impresario named Richard Henslowe ran the Rose Theatre...and he left behind a diary that provides scholars with information about the operation of such theater organizations...In reality, Henslowe is known to have had poor relations with his actors and document...accuses him of embezzling their money and property." 8) There was a rival company which Richard Burbage inherited from his father James. Burbage was considered the first outstanding English actor and he became one of S's more important players, creating such roles as Hamlet, Othello, Lear and Richard III. In 1599 Burbage and his brother built the Globe Theatre. Think that's it!

Thanks Karen for condensing the background.Geoffrey Rush really does portray Richard Henslowe in an accurate form. I found this in the Yahoo Review of SIL by their own reviewer: "Colin Firth, the British heartthrob who played the male lead in the recent, superlative Pride and Prejudice TV mini-series, is Lord Wessex, the cold-hearted noble who stands between Will and Viola's love." I find it interesting that after three years they still mention P&P. He'll never live that part down....nevah!

(Evelyn), I find it interesting that after three years they still mention P&P. He'll never live that part down....nevah! He will never live it down in my heart. The surprising part is that they called him a British heartthrob. Why does he not get heartthrob scripts then?

Why is he not in Star Wars with Ewan? etc

(Moon)Why is he not in Star Wars with Ewan? etc Mobetta than Liam Neeson...did anyone see "Les Miserables"? Jean Valjean was perfect for Colin. LN was awful. But why aren't we lobbying Miramax...instead of just talking and whining ?

(Evelyn) Mobetta than Liam Neeson... Oh, I like Liam. He's so...large ;-p

(Evelyn) I am sorry Colin didn't get to play Will in 92...the right age.Although JF looks like Shakespeare.He is slighter in build than Colin. Absolutely, IMHO. Joe gets my "longest eyelashes of the year" award. The film was perfectly cast and acted. I know we're all pining for Colin to shine in a protagonist role before a large, world-wide audience (again!).

Am I the only one who kinda liked Wessex?

Am I the only one who kinda liked Wessex I've not seen SIL...just a brief clip! But one thing that puzzles me is why everyone sems to think Wessex is such a sleaze. Correct me if I'm wrong, but after the wedding, Viola runs off to Will. Why does Wessex go after her? Why does she go back to Wessex? And does he want her back? He could have quite legitimately divorced her/consigned her to a nunnery (accepted practice for errant wives), re-married and kept all the cash. Once they were legally wed, the marriage settlement was all his. And in some ways Wessex seems to be acting quite normally...arranged marriages were commonplace, and romance didn't enter the equation. And he might have been a very successful tobacco farmer!!

(Ann), Am I the only one who kinda liked Wessex? Wessex as a character is not very likeable. He is a chump and we want a hero. But, he is so handsome! I really like his looks goatee and earring, I am just waiting for a tiny picture of him to appear in a mag to slip it into my wallet. At least we get to see him fence again and have I mentioned how well he rides?

(Ann) Am I the only one who kinda liked Wessex There is something to be said for Wessex. He's been approached apparently by the father (not vice versa) to marry the daughter and give her a title, in effect pulling her out of the middle classes. ("Your father was a shopkeeper.") When he goes after her and is seen in the theater, he sits down rather than cause a scene. How did it look to you? Was he taken in by the performance and therefore we could give him a smidgen of amiability or was he just being a sniveling coward again? (Bethan) But one thing that puzzles me is why everyone sems to think Wessex is such a sleaze. Sniveling coward is a better term and Moon's use of a "chump" does describe how Viola inadvertently and QE deliberately make him look. Why does Wessex go after her? He's got a boat to catch and how would it look to have lost one's wife a few minutes after the ceremony. Why does she go back to Wessex? Queen Elizabeth essentially orders it, although she addresses those remarks to Thomas Kent (Viola's male alter ego). And does he want her back? Had to be ego and reputation because everything you've said about his being able to keep the money would appear to be true. And he might have been a very successful tobacco farmer!! That is becoming a very bothersome point. It was 1593 and as some have pointed out that was way before Jamestown and even the ill-fated Roanoke settlement in Virginia. I must unearth my American History books. Lent an early immigration history book I had and it was never returned. Will do some research. Seems so strange they blew the history.

Jamestown was founded in 1607 by the British settlers. It's in all the History books here in America. Pocahontas, James Smith, remember????

Ooops John Smith, sorry had a very late night!

I guess if Wessex had been amiable, it would have spoiled the plot. He sounds like an intellectually-challenged aristo....the product of too much in-breeding! Marrying into the middle classes seems like a good idea! And maybe the New World will be the making of him...!

(Karen), When he goes after her and is seen in the theater, he sits down rather than cause a scene. How did it look to you? Was he taken in by the performance and therefore we could give him a smidgen of amiability or was he just being a sniveling coward again? Good points and I would say true on both counts. He would not make a scene, it was bad enough his wife of 10 minutes was making a spectacle of herself on the stage (not v. noble). Afterwards, he was taken by the performance (yes, amiable!). What was absurd, was the Queen showing up there, they blew the histoty here too.

Have skimmed through a couple of books on Roanoke given up in 1590ish (Raleigh's place) and Jamestown (1607). Wessex I suppose could have gone to Virginia (yes that was what it was called) although it would appear more likely that he would have gone to the West Indies. The earliest tobacco crops in Virginia were in the Jamestown settlements of about 1612, although they were growing tobacco on Trinidad and other places. Seems like there was a great deal of talk and planning prior to the formation of the Virginia Colony Company, which underwrote Jamestown, but highly unlikely that an individual would set off. Since the loss of the Roanoke settlements, popular thought was "go in greater numbers." More later, with details. This is from memory.

I actually thought Wessex might redeem himself at the theatre because he did seem to be taken in by the play. Unfortunately he doesn't but at least he doesn't create a scene. He's a better man than some in this film. Very few men besides Colin could carry off that big pearl earring he wears. I believe the anachronisms in the movie were intentional. What's one of the first things we see in the film? The Stratford mug? As we all know, this is not a historical film.

From "They saw it happen" by CR Routh (I got it yonks ago as a school prize!) The Discovery of tobacco On April 9th, 1585, Sir Ralph Lane (d.1603) sailed in an expedition led by Sir Richard Grenville to establish a plantation in North America. The colony was established in what is now North Carolina, and was then named Virginia. After Grenville sailed for home, the colony was moved to Roanoke where much exploration of the country took place. But in the end the colony was a failure and Francis Drake brought the survivors home in 1586. Do these dates fit in with SIL? Perhaps Stoppard part based Wessex on Sir Richard Grenville. But it seems likely that Wessex and Viola, if they survived, would have returned home. AHA! A sequel is possible!

(Bethan)But it seems likely that Wessex and Viola, if they survived, would have returned home. AHA! A sequel is possible! True, True....Starring GP and CF. She falls madly in love with her husband in the New World and upon returning to England decides that Will Shakespeare was just a schoolgirl crush. Fan Fic writers....take off....

(Heide) Very few men besides Colin could carry off that big pearl earring he wears. Inside every grey cloud, there's a silver lining.... I believe the anachronisms in the movie were intentional. What's one of the first things we see in the film? The Stratford mug? As we all know, this is not a historical film. Loved the mug, "prefent from Stratford on Avon." There should've been a t-shirt next to it with "my parents went to Stratford and all I got was this lousy t-shirt." Granted it's not a historical film, but I don't think anything really contradicts history or prevalent literary views where no documentation exists. Of course, Shakespeare is seen writing Act I, Scene 2 of Twelfth Night at the end...not Scene 1 as we see he has written. I chalk that up to it being his "first draft." ;-) (Bethan) Do these dates fit in with SIL? The problem with the dates is the years between the abandonment of Roanoke and the establishment of Jamestown, much later. It's certainly not out of the question that there were other sailings. But it seems likely that Wessex and Viola, if they survived, would have returned home. AHA! A sequel is possible! Wessex probably gave Viola to the local Indian chief because she kept moping about having poetry in her life and married Pocahontas' sister. He then set off across country and reached the Pacific Ocean, where he founded a settlement called Los Angeles. The weather was better and he wouldn't have to wear all that heavy clothing that hid his legs. ;-)

Or perhaps the tobacco plantation flourishes and Wessex makes a fortune out of cigars.And his great-great-great-great-great-gradson becomes President of the United States! Strange experience.....my husband has just seen a clip about SIL on BBC News24, and wants to go and see it. "Have you heard about Shakespeare in Love..it looks very good. Judi Dench is in it." Praise be to the Lord..and he doesn't even like costume drama! Saw CF again in the clip...very handsome. I know I'm wholly biased , but I actually feel rather sorry for Wessex!

IMO, Wessex was drawn to Viola for her money, but it was a bonus that she was attractive as well (...your eyes...no, your lips). I also don't think the writers were sticklers for history facts; they could have had the Wessex's going to the West Indies just as easily as Virginia. (Karen)Loved the mug, "prefent from Stratford on Avon." There should've been a t-shirt next to it with "my parents went to Stratford and all I got was this lousy t-shirt." LOL! Does anyone think there were shrinks back then? Loved the bit when he turned over the hour glass at the start of the session.

(Eileen) Does anyone think there were shrinks back then? Loved the bit when he turned over the hour glass at the start of the session. How about JF reclining on the doctor's leather couch..... and ending with..."See you next week".

Here is something you might enjoy from USA Today. Many questions answered. Still, many of the best bits are takeoffs on lines from the Bard's plays � and there, as Hamlet would put it, is the rub. Most everyone will get the joke when the Puritan preacher Makepeace rails against "sinful" theaters in phrases lifted almost whole from Romeo and Juliet, but what about those sly references to less-familiar works? If you don't know your Cymbeline from your Coriolanus, here's a cheat sheet: Shakespeare's signature. Wrestling writer's block, Joseph Fiennes' Shakespeare scribbles his name over and over. Look closely: You'll see he uses different spellings � a nod to the fact that the six surviving copies of Shakespeare's signature show considerable variations in abbreviation and spelling. It's not that he couldn't remember his own name; in his era, few standardized spellings existed, even of names. 'One Gentleman.' Fiennes says theater owner Henslowe still owes him for "one gentleman of Verona." Apparently Henslowe has paid only half the fee for The Two Gentlemen of Verona � an early Shakespeare play, and the one that catches the attention of Gwyneth Paltrow's Lady Viola with the lines she quotes for her audition: "What light is light, if Silvia be not seen?" 'The Rose smells thusly rank by any name.' Makepeace is talking about the Rose Theatre; he concludes with, "I say a plague on both their houses." Both phrases are much like famous lines from Romeo. It's a funny moment, but an important one, too: In this early scene, Stoppard and Norman begin to show how their Shakespeare makes art of the stuff of life � the film's central idea. As the film goes on, Fiennes turns many more everyday events into high drama. Dr. Moth. The shrewd alchemist/shrink who ponders Shakespeare's outrageously Freudian complaints ("The proud tower of my genius has collapsed") bears the name of a smart-aleck page-boy who punctures the pretensions of his buffoonish master in Love's Labours Lost. (There's also a fairy named Moth in A Midsummer Night's Dream.) 'Master Crab is nervous. He's never played the palace.' Not a Shakespeare gag, but one some younger audiences may not get: In vaudeville days, the Palace was a top-rank New York house; to "play the Palace," literally or figuratively, means to make it to the big time. Today's Palace is home to Broadway's Beauty and the Beast. Rosaline's fall from grace. Smitten by a seamstress, Fiennes changes the title of his work-in-progress Romeo and Ethel to Romeo and Rosaline. But when he catches her in bed with another, the seamstress loses her chance at immortality. Rosaline never appears onstage in the Romeo and Juliet we know, but we're told early on that she's the object of Romeo's affection. In fact, Romeo and his cohorts crash the Capulet ball chiefly because Benvolio, Mercutio and the rest want to get a better look at Rosaline; Romeo, of course, forgets her nstantly when he sees Juliet. 'Give me to drink mandragora.' A dejected Fiennes orders this potion at the local tavern. Mandragora is a sedative, and the line is from Antony and Cleopatra; the Egyptian queen, distraught that her lover has returned to Rome, tells her servant Charmian to "Give me to drink mandragora. . . . That I may sleep out this great gap of time." Marlowe's advice. Christopher Marlowe helps Fiennes define Romeo's character and outline the play's plot. It's funny because Marlowe is among the writers said by some doubters to be the true author of Shakespeare's plays. That bloodthirsty kid. A sadistic street urchin with theatrical ambitions likes Shakespeare's horrific Titus Andronicus best: "Plenty of blood � that's the only writing," he says. His name, Fiennes asks? "John Webster" � who grows up to write the morbidly violent revenge tragedy The Duchess of Malfi. Possibly the most esoteric in-joke in the film. Marlowe's 'ghost.' The church scene in which Lord Wessex glimpses a man he believes to be dead will remind some of the ghostly visitations in Hamlet. But Claudius, that play's murderer, never sees his victim's shade. Better parallels are Macbeth, in which Banquo's ghost appears to the usurper responsible for his death, and Julius Caesar, in which Caesar's ghost stalks Brutus on the battlefield. 'Twelfth Night.' The play Fiennes begins at the movie's close does, indeed, feature a lead named Viola who disguises herself as a boy when shipwrecked in an unknown land. And it was commissioned � probably by Elizabeth I � for a court performance on Twelfth Night (Jan. 5, the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas). But it was written years after Romeo, and almost certainly wasn't inspired by a lost love � though it is the most tragic of Shakespeare's comedies. The apothecary's hat. Cast as the apothecary in the play-within-the-movie, producer Hugh Fennyman (Tom Wilkinson) fusses anxiously over wearing just the right hat. His concern comes not from pride but from a need to be part of a story that has moved him deeply, and it echoes the touching vanity of Malvolio, the major domo of Twelfth Night. 'It needs no wife come from Stratford to tell you that.' Fiennes says this to acknowledge that he can't hope to marry Paltrow (he's already married; she's engaged to a lord). The line echoes Horatio's reply to Hamlet's observation that Denmark is full of knaves and villains: "There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave to tell us this." Other Hamlet references pepper Shakespeare in Love � some funny, some serious, too many to list. Among highlights: In a brawl, Richard Burbage gets clobbered with a skull. (The real Burbage was the first actor to play Hamlet, who delivers his "Alas, poor Yorick" speech to a skull.) Indeed, says Folger Shakespeare Library scholar Georgiana Ziegler, "As the movie moves closer and closer to tragedy you get more and more echoes of Hamlet." By Trey Graham, USA TODAY

Just correcting the author:by on Twelfth Night (Jan. 5, the last of the Twelve Days of Christmas). The Twelfth Night is Jan. 6 ( when the Three Kings arrive)

Thanks heaps for the info, Moon! As I posted at 116, I just saw it again (second time) and got much more out of it. It's been more years than I care to admit since I had anything to do with Shakespeare, so this article was most helpful. I think the rest of the audience (and it was a big one, for a matinee) missed all the references. At least I knew about John Webster. Nobody else got it (they missed most of the Hollywood refereces, too). What makes this movie so good is, as the critics have said, you d n't need to know Shakespeare. There's plenty of laughs to go around. Colin's bit on the stairs with the nurse (when Viola is late for Greenwich) is hilarious. One of the funniest moments, which has made many clips, is at the end: "that woman is a woman!" when Jim Carter motions with his hands. If Colin wants to take his time and judiciously choose more projects like TEP and SiL, that's fine with me!

'Master Crab is nervous. He's never played the palace.' ...the Palace was a top-rank New York house; to "play the Palace," literally or figuratively, means to make it to the big time. Couldn't it be quite simply a reference to appearing in a play at the royal court? Same meaning, yet a more plausible connection...

Mary Murphy from "Murph's Corner" on colinfirth.com has written a sequel to SIL a real tear-jerker. She has given me permission to pass on the URL to all interested Droolies. http://www.colinfirth.com/html/tale.html

Oh, I feel a sequel coming on. How about Mel Gibson for Wessex? :-)

LOL, Bethan! How you twist the knife!

Hi, just my thoughts on the film before I go to bed, firstly I loved it and am going to go and see it again with my sister and this time I will concentrate more fully on the film and some of the Shakespeare jokes which my husband got but I didn't , I was so busy waiting for the next glimpse of CF. Secondly I wasn't at all disappointed with Colin's performance or his chartacter, I particularly liked it when he was being forceful not so much when he was being a whimp but he brought a smile to my face on one or two occasions when he was being wimpish. I thought Joseph Feinnes was excellent and he has the most wonderful eyes, those lashes but he is still not Colin. GP was very good also but, and I think I am on my own I did not think there was as much chemistry between them as the critics have said, however, I thought GP'S accent was wonderful especially after hearing her speak in her own voice. As the critics have said all the performances were perfect the only one I would argue with and I apologise to any BA fans �

Hi, just my thoughts on the film before I go to bed, firstly I loved it and am going to go and see it again with my sister and this time I will concentrate more fully on the film and some of the Shakespeare jokes which my husband got but I didn't , I was so busy waiting for the next glimpse of CF. Secondly I wasn't at all disappointed with Colin's performance or his chartacter, I particularly liked it when he was being forceful not so much when he was being a whimp but he brought a smile to my face on one or two occasions when he was being wimpish. I thought Joseph Feinnes was excellent and he has the most wonderful eyes, those lashes but he is still not Colin. GP was very good also but, and I think I am on my own I did not think there was as much chemistry between them as the critics have said, however, I thought GP'S accent was wonderful especially after hearing her speak in her own voice. As the critics have said all the performances were perfect the only one I would argue with and I apologise to any BA fans out there, was that whilst Ben Affleck was as good as everybody else I didn't think he deserved to be singled out as he has been. I hope it gets loads and loads of Oscar nominations, a must see film.

Oh yes, we much prefer a forceful Wessex over a wimpish one. Your review didn't give any secrets about the movie away, Ann. Post it at 116 if you like. I'm amazed you got as much of it as you did considering you know who was sitting somewhere behind you. Didn't you want to turn around?

Ann, I've seen it twice and like you, the first time I focused only on Colin. I understood it better the second time and it was even funnier. I think the only reason BA has been singled out in the US is because he is a familiar face and has developed a following since the blockbuster Armageddon (what an awful movie that was). What were your favorite scenes?

Ann, you went with your husband? What a good sport! I gather he accepts your firtholism. Again I say brava. Any news on where they held the premiere party? Hopefully we'll chat later.

Hi! Can I post? Just saw SIL (second time in two days) and absolutely loved it! Definitely gets my vote for the movie of the year. The script was brilliant (I am a big Shakespeare lover) and they put in Christopher Marlowe, whose plays I haven't read but whose poetry I adore. I was pleasantly surprised, since I don't like GP and did not like JF in Elizabeth (what I think of *that* movie is another matter entirely). They were both magnificent and the chemistry was incredible. JF even looks like Shakespeare, and more importantly, he looks like someone who could write those plays. He is almost as good as his brother (and since Rafe is my favorite film actor, that's saying a lot). Judy Dench: just how I imagined Elizabeth (totally opposite of Cate Blanchett's vulnerabilty in Eliza eth the movie), Geoffrey Rush was simply wonderful, but I liked Tom Wilkinson even better. And was Imelda Staunton playing the nurse? It was a shock to hear Ben Affleck spouting Shakespeare, but an even bigger shock to realize that he was very good! Rupert Everett was very handsome (my friend leaned over when he was on scree with an audible "wow" ) and what is even better, properly blase. I wanted to see more of him. Colin Firth as Wessex....well, he always seems to be losing the girl to the Fiennes broth rs. Talk about being type-cast :) He was funny! "it were you eyes...no, your lips" I liked CF in P&P, but he is not my #1 favorite actor, so I did not mind him playing the relatively uncomplex buffoon, as long as it was well-played and it was. R&J is my favorite Shakespeare play (along with Coriolanus), so it was thrilling to see another take on it (though certain lines were engraved in my mind exactly the way they were in the Zeferelli version, I must say JF made an excellent Romeo) And GP must be the only actress to ever do both Romeo and Juliet. Was it just me, or did anyone feel like learning Elizabethan dances? And last but not least. Did you notice that the entire film everyone was speaking in iambic pentameter. All the dialogue, for 2 hours, not just the shakespeare bits. What a great Stoppard joke.

I also saw SIL on Friday, the first day it opened in the UK. Well, it was interesting in that my husband and I had exactly the same reaction. Which was initially one of disappointment. I think the problem for us is that we are great Stoppard fans and this did not satisfy in the way that Arcadia, Travesties or Jumpers did. The language is clever (no, Marsha, I hadn't noticed the iambic pentameters, that is another reason for seeing it again) but the plot is very simple. It is basically a tudor romp. Once you accept that then it is very enjoyable. Didn't CF say it was "Carry on Shakespeare"? He was right. When we got home and started discussing the film, we realised that there is a lot to enjoy and we both want to see it again because there is just so much going on that you cannot take it all in. The acting is all superb. It seems a shame to single out single performances because they are all so good. The recreation of Elizabethan street scenes was wonderful. The crowds on their own would be worth a second look. I loved the players and their wonderful parody of modern Hollywood attitudes. I thought the lovers were very believable. JF made a wonderful Will, a Jack the Lad poet on the make. And once again GP's english accent is so amazing. It is not just that she makes the right sounds. Her intonation is absolutely right for the type of upper/upper middle class person she usually plays. It is really astounding. As for CF, well he was as good as ever. I have to go back and see him again. When I watch him for the first time in a new part, I have the same feelings as I have when watching one of my children perform in a school play - I am so apprehensive that I am just grateful that they have not forgotten their lines or tripped over. I was almost holding my breath every time he spoke! I fear he will always be cast by Hollywood as a baddie or cuckold but it does pay the rent and enables him to appear on the London stage occasionally at �400 per week!

Glad you saw it twice, Allison. Once is not enough. What was your favorite scene?

Thank you Allison and Marsha for your reviews. V. well put. And iambic pentameter....a reason for me to see it a 4th time!! (Allison)Didn't CF say it was "Carry on Shakespeare"? He was right. Yes, he did in the A&E Interview and I missed the parallel. Is it in relation to a UK television program perhaps? And don't you think that making SIL "Stoppard-lite" was deliberate....to appeal to a cross section of the public...which they have been v. successful in doing. I think perhaps we will see this genre copied again.

From The London Theatre Weekly Newsletter... It is reported that DAME JUDI DENCH has been given a souvenir from the set of the film "Shakespeare In Love", a full-sized replica of Shakespeare's first theatre! "I was so taken with the whole thing that they actually gave me the replica of the Rose Theatre which was built at Shepperton Studios," Dame Judi said. The set is now in storage while she finds a suitable site for a working theatre. Dame Judi is thinking of using it to stage performances and raise money for young people trying to get into acting. Nice gesture from Miramax. BTW 3DOR was announced but no mention of CF in the cast... only Elizabeth Mc Govern. Do you think they want to avoid a "Darcymania" onslaught?? If so....too late:-) ----------------------------------------

Oh no Evelyn, my worst nightmare, all Colin's fans turn up at the Donmar only to find he is not in 3DOR. I shall nver get to sleep now!

Allison, I loved your review! I did not find it "light" but that is because I went with no expectations. It was a comedy, very witty and exhuberant, with a tragic core, and as such, was beautiful (I must confess that I felt near tears in the mea culpa scene). I loved it more the second time, since knowing the plot allowed me to concentrate on the language and the screenplay, which is the pre-eminent beauty of this film. I must say, the fisrt time I saw it and learned that Kit Marlowe (one of my favorite poets) was dead, and as it seemd, by the hand of Wessex, any synpathy I felt for CF's character evaporated. I was very relieved later on. And that brings me as to why Colin has not been mentioned often: he is the straight man in a comedy. Everyone else, from Queen Liz to Henslowe is given witty lines and is funny. CF's role is not like that so it might get overlooked for that reason. And, yes about the iambic pentameter: when I caught on, I spent most of the movie counting the line size with a huge grin on my face :)

Is it in relation to a UK television program perhaps? The "Carry On" films were a series made in the UK in the 1960's. They all had the same cast and had titles like "Carry On Doctor" or "Carry On at Sea". They were full of naughty schoolboy humour and immensely popular. They are still often repeated on television and have become a part of UK cinema history.

I saw it on Friday too and feel it was such an uplifting film and can't wait to see it again. I wanted to ask those of you who saw it in "Packed" cinemas with audiences maybe clapping at the end, how was the atmosphere? The reason I am curious is that we were only 15 which gave the effect of being the only ones there , a little like a private showing, with space to delight in Wessex fully, without being observed (not that he is the only delight). I think next time I will go at a peak time, when it is busier. re Allison's comments on Stoppard, I agree with you, but the film has been calculated to fit a certain niche , more mainstream, therefore his style has been "toned down"? Also thanks for the Iambic tip, shades of English A level!!

I am so glad that our UK Firthettes agree with us on SIL. I was afraid that our exhuberance was a little "over the top" and would lead you to expect more.When did we ever think that it actually would be competition for Saving Private Ryan!!It actually took the steam out of "You've Got Mail during the holidays.

Well I have seen it for the 2nd time and hard as I tried to concentrate on the film and not just CF, I was mesmerised by that voice which sounds even more wonderful in Dolby sound or whatever. Also having seen it before I kept anticipating his entrance, my favourite CF sscene is when he is charging up the stairs after Nursie demanding that Viola appear, so masterful. The cinema was packed, not a free seat and everyone laughed when they should laugh and remained completely silent at the end of R&J. My s ster and friends who are not particularly Firthfans thought he was excellent and at times very funny and that the film lived up to all the hype. His voice is still ringing in my ears, I can't wait for it to come out on video.

When I watch him for the first time in a new part, I have the same feelings as I have when watching one of my children perform in a school play - I am so apprehensive that I am just grateful that they have not forgotten their lines or tripped over. I was almost holding my breath every time he spoke! (Allison) I do so agree with you Allison! I'm going to see SIL on Friday, and already I'm feeling nervous! I fear he will always be cast by Hollywood as a baddie or cuckold .. Again, I agree. Hollywood seems to have failed to spot his true potential, but fortunately there are alternatives to Hollywood! Ann, I'm looking forward to hearing him speak in Dolby sound....the man has a "Voice". Hollywood, are you listening?

If Colin keeps going as he has been, sooner or later Hollywood will catch on and proclaim him as their "find"--if Colin lets them. I don't think he will. He seems very happy with being on the fringe of superstardom. (Bethan) but fortunately there are alternatives to Hollywood! Agreed! And these alternatives are very hot right now. Maybe I'm just becoming more aware, but there seems to be much more of a mainstream US audience for British films since the Full Monty. Anyway, on to SiL. I was in a shopping mall yesterday having lunch, minding my own business when I hear "...is she ferTILE?" It seems they've installed a movie preview kiosk for patrons to watch as they eat, and there was Colin in his Wessex-ly glory for all to see! I had quite a good laugh. Oh, Ann, isn't that a funny scene? I liked that one and the singing one, when he encounters Viola on horseback on her way to church. She says something like "it's not my day for riding" and he replies "No? What about the horse?" or something like that. I'm contemplating making my third viewing sometime this week.

If Colin keeps going as he has been, sooner or later Hollywood will catch on and proclaim him as their "find"--if Colin lets them. I don't think he will. He seems very happy with being on the fringe of superstardom. (Bethan) but fortunately there are alternatives to Hollywood! Agreed! And these alternatives are very hot right now. Maybe I'm just becoming more aware, but there seems to be much more of a mainstream US audience for British films since the Full Monty. Anyway, on to SiL. I was in a shopping mall yesterday having lunch, minding my own business when I hear "...is she ferTILE?" It seems they've installed a movie preview kiosk for patrons to watch as they eat, and there was Colin in his Wessex-ly glory for all to see! I had quite a good laugh. Oh, Ann, isn't that a funny scene? I liked that one and the singing one, when he encounters Viola on horseback on her way to church. She says something like "it's not my day for riding" and he replies "No? What about the horse?" or something like that. Come back to 115 when you've seen it Allison, and let us know your favorite scene(s)!

If Colin keeps going as he has been, sooner or later Hollywood will catch on and proclaim him as their "find"--if Colin lets them. I don't think he will. He seems very happy with being on the fringe of superstardom. (Bethan) but fortunately there are alternatives to Hollywood! Agreed! And these alternatives are very hot right now. Maybe I'm just becoming more aware, but there seems to be much more of a mainstream US audience for British films since the Full Monty. Anyway, on to SiL. I was in a shopping mall yesterday having lunch, minding my own business when I hear "...is she ferTILE?" It seems they've installed a movie preview kiosk for patrons to watch as they eat, and there was Colin in his Wessex-ly glory for all to see! I had quite a good laugh. Oh, Ann, isn't that a funny scene? I liked that one and the singing one, when he encounters Viola on horseback on her way to church. She says something like "it's not my day for riding" and he replies "No? What about the horse?" or something like that. Come back to 115 when you've seen it Bethan, and let us know your favorite scene(s)!

Three postings? Count All-mushy is back. Sorry.

From VARIETY 2/8/99 The complete list of nominees for the 71st edition of the Academy Awards will be posted on Daily Variety�s Web site, variety.com, just minutes after the noms are announced Tuesday. In addition, the site will be updated during the day as more Oscar-related news is filed.

Next week's Time magazine has a two-page spread about Shakespeare and how play ideas were regularly lifted from other sources. Has to do with newest rumor about how SiL's plot was stolen from some old book. Pictures of JF as Shakespeare to lure you in.... ;-)

OSCAR NOMINATIONS Just been announced this am BEST PICTURE SIL, Elizabeth, Pvt. Ryan, Thin Red Line , Life is Beautiful BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR G. Rush & others BEST ACTRESS Gwyneth Paltrow, (yeah!), Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Emily Watson, ? Montenegro (for Central Station, Brazilian film) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Judi Dench & others BEST SCREENPLAY Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard for SIL SIL must have gotten noms in other categories; they announced that SIL had received 15 noms.Full list will be on VARIETY and YAHOO probably. AA Night...Sunday March 21. (If date coincides with FP premiere, maybe Harvey will make CF attend!!)

Was it 15 nominations or 13? Anyway, it's the second highest in Oscar history (after the Ben Hur/Titanic tie for most)!

OSCAR NOMINATIONS Whatever happened to the Trueman Show? I really liked that. Not as much as SIL, of course ;-)

SIL got 13 nominations!

Truman Show's director Peter Weir got nominated, but his film didn't get the nod. Was edged out by Elizabeth. It's rare that a director and not his/her film gets nominated, but it has happened. Elizabeth's director was a new kid on the block, unlikely to be nominated. Truman Show also got nominated for best original screenplay, but Jim Carrey was a surprise non-nominee after having won at the GG's. Thank goodness Laura called me, otherwise I would have missed the show.

13 nominations, wow! The complete nominations list: http://us.imdb.com/awards.html http://us.imdb.com/Title?Shakespeare+in+Love+(1998) The first 15 names you get when you click IMDB's SIL do not include Guess Who. Though, GP isn't mentioned either, only when you click on "show more".

Great thanks for the news. At least our DB's face was freeze framed on national news due to Oscars. They have the right idea!!! No Nom, no mention in the articles but his is the image chosen for the leading story. At 'em Colin.

Frankly, Elizabeth as best pix is a surprise. The interior shots looked as if they were always in a dark church. Truman Show eventhough it is not my fav. Weird film deserved the nomination. Did anyone see Kate Blanchet on Letterman? She came off as a really ditzy rather stupid person. Happy for GP and Montenegro. I think it will be Gwynnie's Oscar. Now, is she wants to be Bridget, who will stop her? What a break for Colin that would be.

That should be Weir.

One more thing, is anyone else disappointed that Joe F did not get nominated? The Academy has nominated Travolta in the past on much less.

Frankly, Elizabeth as best pix is a surprise My impression is that this made much more of a stir in the US than in the UK. The reviewers here praised Blanchet but not much else. It struck some sort of chord with people in the US which it missed with the British IMO. V. contrary.

I too was disappointed that Joe F did not even get a nomination because I thought he did a wonderful job in SIL. Wonder how he feels about being in two of the films nominated for best picture but not receiving an Oscar nomination himself?! I also saw Cate Blanchet on an interview (but I don't know the name of the show!) She talked about how hard she tried to "become" Elizabeth and she didn't seem ditzy at all! I am glad that Elizabeth was nominated for best picture because I thought it was a great movie, but I still want SIL to win!

15 nominations! Hoooooray! I for one am not surprised at those for best pic, GP, JD and JR and for the screenplay. I missed the show this a.m. but surmise the others are for costumes and the like. There was so much pre-nom hype about whom from the cast would get the nod and JF's name was never mentioned. His reviews were mixed. Glad to hear our DB's pic (surely the one with Judi) was on national news. Given the lack of CF recognition by the US when the film came out, I highly favor this new sublimin l approach. OK, now we have--what is it? 6 weeks? to discuss who and what should win and why. IMO the screenplay is a sure bet but the others are going to be close (politics and all...but then, Harvey must be on full blast).

OK, I checked the links up at 159 (thanks Renate) and now I'm better informed. SiL deserves every one of these noms. Considering her competition, GP has a great shot. So glad to see no noms for Stepmom (read they were pushing Sarandon for best actress and JR for best supporting). Hah! Now what's Harvey to do? Two of his pics are up for best picture (SiL and Life is Beautiful). Good year for Miramax, huh? (Bring on MLSF!)

It is 13 Nominations...sorry..not my error the guy on Today show said 15. But it was 5:30 in LA...whaddaya expect? All of them are deserving; and remember you heard it HERE from Moi about the soundtrack (Stephen Warbeck)and I hope he gets it. But he is opposed by Hans Zimmer who did Prince of Egypt (also did the B'way show Lion King...and forthcoming Sunshine:-) ) LOL, when I heard all the acclaim....last summer when spirits were down around here, we were wondering if anyone would go to see SIL!! ***** I liked Elizabeth, not the Truman Show (I bet Jim Carrey is furious, hee, hee) Agree that JF should have been nominated. ****** (Allison)Re: Elizabeth... My impression is that this made much more of a stir in the US than in the UK Last October when I was in UK they were lining up to see "There's Something About Mary"(gag, gag) and ignoring E. It already was receiving early accolades in the US. Shocking!!

Have looked over the complete list of nominations and am ticked that SiL's score is in the "Original Musical or Comedy" category, so it goes against all the animated stuff. No chance now, but if it had been the 'dramatic' group, that would have been one more little statuette! I too thought that Fiennes got slighted. Guess I will have to go see American History X now to see if Edward Norton was that good. 13 Oscar nominations usually bodes very well toward a big win. The exception being Apollo 13.

Oh, I forgot....SIL last week was #6 and so far has made $36.1M ***** My video store tells me that Miramax announced that SIL will be released in Video next July. Has anyone heard if the screenplay has been published yet?

Moon, I thought Elizabeth was an excellent film! I have seen many previews for Edward Norton's movie, but it is a tough subject (white supremacy), I'm interested in seeing it too. I think Norton is a great actor! Was slightly miffed about JF being slighted, he was the movie!!!!

Evelyn, 13 noms...15 noms...what's the difference? :-)!! Either way it's great! When SiL first opened in the US last Dec., many critics called JF's performance "unvarying" while giving Gwynnie consistent raves. The critics don't decide who gets nominated (I believe the actors do) but perhaps these early reviews had planted some seeds. He's getting mentioned on the entertainment shows as being passed over along with Carrey and Travolta, so I guess that's some consolation. I thought he was perfectly cast and did a more striking job than JD or GR, but they're in a different category. ABC News (national) had a story last night about the noms, pointing out the Elizabeth I trend. It featured 3 SiL clips, each with our DB!!!! This week's Newsweek has a story about the "new" focus on Shakespeare and begins like this: "'Shakespeare in Love' isn't going to come near big-bang champ 'Armageddon's'1998 box-office gross of more than $200 million. But the romantic comedy about the young Bard is the year's big surprise, winning three Golden Globe awards and sure to grab a garland of Oscar nominations this week. The Miramax movie has grossed $32.7 million in nine weeks of limited release, propelled by extraordinary word of mouth, and is poised to jump from 750 to 1,500 screens next weekend..." That Harvey sure is shrewd, isn't he?

Thanks Eileen...for taking the time to type the Newsweek comments. And Sue for giving us the Playbill link. Kudos to fans on the board who do this ..instead of just mentioning it in passing...."Oh, by the way, there's an article in....about DB....". Leaving us all hanging out there.

(Laura), Moon, I thought Elizabeth was an excellent film! I enjoyed everyone's performance but I had trouble with the interiors. It looked as if it was filmed in a dark church. For best pix the film should have it all, great acting, script, cinematography and art direction. Frankly, it missed out on the last two. Ed Norton's film does not interest me in the least bit. I saw the previews and have no tolerance for violent films all one has to do is read the papers. Give me a man and his horse anytime(and if he sings, it's even better).

I was peeved that the Truman Show didn't get nominated (and believe you me, I will not go to Jim Carrey films); thought it was really interesting, very well done and so very original. How those dummies can justify nominating a director without his/her film is beyond me! Should have dropped Elizabeth. I had problems with all those overhead shots, drove me crazy. Another film that got snubbed: Pleasantville. I really liked that movie and everyone really expected Joan Allen to be nominated for best supporting (she was great). They could have dropped Brenda Blythen. However, if they don't give best supporting to Lynn Redgrave, they are out of their minds. I have an awful feeling that Gwynnie is going to win, but I really think Cate Blanchette deserves it. That's just how she impressed me after seeing the movie for the first time. I said that was "Best Actress" of the year. Sorry folk, but for me the epitome of Juliet was Olivia Hussey. GP just didn't have it when she was performing as either Romeo or Juliet.

I didn't see Elizabeth so I can't compare GP with CB. GP's getting raves because she had to balance the accent with playing a female playing a male playing a female (...right?) in a heavy period piece. Between the two performances, the accents and period piece aspects cancel themselves out. From all the clips and commercials I can tell CB was good but I confess I hope GP wins. IMO she's talented (not to say CB isn't) and she's been the only one to acknowledge Colin. I'd love to hear her do it again in front of Oscar's huge worldwide audience! Haven't seen 'G and M' either but from the single clip of LR, she was great! And I agree 'Truman Show's omission was surprising. The concept belw me away(and now here comes copycat 'Ed TV'). And frankly, Ed Norton scares me. He's so creepily intense.

Re: Elizabeth.... enjoyed everyone's performance but I had trouble with the interiors. It looked as if it was filmed in a dark church. For best pix the film should have it all, great acting, script, cinematography and art direction. And that includes being able to see it.As I was leaving the theatre I overheard someone say:"I guess I've seen a darker movie..but I can't remember when!" I agree with John Madden....people have decided that they want to see movies that are fun to watch! **** (Karen)I have an awful feeling that Gwynnie is going to win, but I really think Cate Blanchette deserves it. GP is the favorite, I read. What's so awful? She played her role brilliantly. You heard Colin in the interview....she's a fantastic actress or something like that.I got my money on Gwynnie; IMO...deservedly so.

Saw Elizabeth last weekend. I didn't have a problem with the dark scenes, but thought from the point of view of History a few things were very debatable. Also, wondered why somebody at some point had said (here in Drool) that Joseph Fiennes was very different (for the better) from brother Ralph. I thought they had the same eyes... At last saw a trailer from SiL, was all excited... Now that it's been nominated it's bound to open here sometime!

VARIETY February 12th.... "�Shakespeare,� which expands to roughly 1,900 engagements (from 833) today, moved up to become the second most watched film in North America Wednesday after ranking sixth on the weekend. Its Tuesday box office climbed 15% from a week earlier and had a staggering 106% increase from Monday." Too bad this isn't a lottery- money film...they could pay it back!!!

I've only been skimming the posts in this topics, since I hadn't seen the movie until last week, but I seem to recall that some of you were looking for the screenplay? Amazon.co.uk have it listed and you can pre-order it from them. But, I haven't seen it at Amazon.com, itself, yet.

I've only been skimming the posts in this topic, since I hadn't seen the movie until last week, but I seem to recall that some of you were looking for the screenplay? Amazon.co.uk have it listed and you can pre-order it from them. But, I haven't seen it at Amazon.com, itself, yet.

Thank you Leanne for this bit of info...I shall pick it up when I'm in London on the 6th of March.

VARIETY : February 16 In an article about the Berling Film Festival.... Apparently the Festival organizers were disappointed when stars failed to show up to promote their films. "Where�s Will? �Shakespeare in Love� also made a strangely low-wattage showing, with Colin Firth the lone acting representative alongside director John Madden and a gaggle of producers, although the pic was predictably well appreciated by the Berlin audience." YEEEESSSSS!

The only cast member there but HOW he looked!! You will haveno problem picking your book up here Evelyn.

"Low-wattage"...Huh! Don't they realise that they were in the presence of a real "star"!

Also from VARIETY: HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Oscar nominations boosted weekend ticket sales for most, but not all, of the Academy Award finalists announced Feb. 9. The biggest winner was clearly Miramax's ``Shakespeare in Love,'' which staged an impressive expansion into wide release Friday after receiving Oscar nominations in 13 categories. Widening its run from 833 to 1,956 theaters, the Elizabethan farce starring Gwyneth Paltrow enjoyed a 127 percent jump in ticket sales to $9.5 million, according to studio projections. Saving Private Ryan'' and Miramax's ``Shakespeare in Love'' were the biggest beneficiaries at the box office post-Tuesday Oscar announcements. ``Ryan'' experienced a 26% bump from Monday to Tuesday, while ``Shakespeare'' had a staggering 106% increase from Monday. ******* In a fantasy world Heide,....these are the stats I would like to read for BJD with Colin as Mark!!!I don't want him to be "in the unnominated contingent" Want him a winnah!!

I don't want him to be "in the unnominated contingent" You mean that "minute but crucial" unnominated contingent? Not that I've listened to the press conference more than once ;-) I saw "Thin Red Line" last weekend. The husband's pick. It was soooooooooooo sssssllllllloooooooowwwwww. It went onandonandonandonandon. After the second hour, every time the scene changed I would shout (in my head, of course) MOVIE OVER! MOVIE OVER! ...But it wasn't over! It is beautifully photographed. If you are into that kind of thing, wait until it comes out on video and you can at least stop it to go to the bathroom. SiL was *much* better. Hear that, Academy?

Had a lovely lunch with KarenR this afternoon, who's visiting L.A... I always have a great time whenever I get a chance to sit down and talk with you folk IRL. KarenR also just phoned me and alerted open up my LA Weekly magazine. Apparently, Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard are going to be appearing at a local bookstore this Saturday to sign copies of the SiL screenplay!!! I'm there baby!

Dame Winter , we know you will be right in there!! Ask some of your probing questions,

Just back from the booksigning... Surprisingly, not very many people. I would think that a huge line would've formed outside, but as I pulled into front of the bookstore, I saw 10 people at most in line. There was no reading...I think because the two were pressed for time, as they were off to the Director's Guild of America (down the street) for some awards banquet or something. So I guess under the circumstances, it was nice that they showed up at all. I bought 3 copies: for me, KarenR and Evelyn. I brought the Sharpie pen, and wrote each name on a post-it, so as to make sure they would personalize it without bothering to ask me all 3 times. But when I stood in line to have them sign the screenplays, the bookstore guy took the post-it's off and told me they aren't personalizing anything! Big disappointment. Anyway, Norman signed them first and passed them over to Stoppard. As Stoppard was signing the copies, I asked him "So you got anything coming up soon?" Well, MN just jumped right in and said something to the effect of, "Maybe. As soon as I rest my right hand!" Who asked him?!?!? TS didn't reply, and I didn't feel like repeating myself and embarrasing MN because the original question was not for him in the first place. TS gave me back the screenplays and gave me a nice, friendly smile! I felt so honored. .but this time, tongue tied to even think of anything else to say.

More good news for Shakespeare in Love. Last night (Saturday)February 21) -- The authors of the romantic comedy "Shakespeare in Love" beat the writers of the harrowing war drama "Saving Private Ryan" to win the Writers Guild of America award for original screenplay. Winter didn't you have an encounter with TS and MN before they went to this awards presentation?

Opps wrong date! Should say February 20.

As always, Winter, your description of your evening was entertaining. MN does appear cocksure of himself but he does speak well or at least he did at the Berlinale. Was your encounter the same night as the Writers Guild award? I'd imagine SiL would win the Oscar in this category too.

You're both right. It was the Writers, not Director's Guild Awards they were going to last night.

Good work, Winter. At least you had the presence of mind to ask the question in the first place. MN hogged the acceptance speech at the GG's, did he not? Seems he's following a pattern. (Heide) I'd imagine SiL would win the Oscar in this category too. Absolutely. No contest.

Oh, Winter, maybe I should've given you a copy of the *Marc Norman only* script for him to sign. ;-D About the only thing it had in common with the movie was the title and about two little bits. Absolutely no dialogue carried over, and the plot is really different. There's no Romeo and Ethel, etc., even that was a cute reference to Norman's work by Stoppard. Someone has got to muzzle that man. Who's he kidding? No one.

Received my autographed copy of SiL today in the mail. Thank you Winter!!! Cover is the same as the movie poster and there is only one b&w picture of Colin as Wessex in the wedding carriage. Was v. disappointed that no one wrote any introductory words or afterwords to supplement the text as I've found in my other books...although that wouldn't have made any difference to me. Would want the SP anyway. Did check the directions whenever Wessex appears and he is always supposed to deliver his lines in an evil, venomous way. Will let you know more later.

I have just returned from SIL. It was in a small theater with about 20 people who were well educated about Shakespeare. and his time They and we laughed at all the clever and funny things and were silent and moved during the emotionally charged scenes. The casting was an act of genius. The only oaf was our DB, and he was excellent as such. GP was gorgeous. She stole every scene ion which she appeared. The ending was allegorical as WS put pen to paper to write Twelfth Night,IMO. Ray loved it. He really laughed at stuff I did not think he'd notice. The audience here also sat through the credits to the end. Then, in the ladies room, they rehashed their favorite allusions and insider jokes. So did we on the way home. What a joy that movie was to watch. And, Ray, as a final compliment to me, noted that John Hemmings (we in the family do not all agree how to spell it just as Shakespeare did not settle on one spelling of his name.) and James Hemmings were characters in the movie. I am a direct lineal descendant of John Hemming(s) who became Shakespeare's publisher as well as his fellow player. WS left him a gold ring in his will. More tomorrow. I am now going to read your postings and make notes.

Please could someone suggest a URL for the cast of SIL with their pix. Like they did for P&P2. I need it to refresh my memory. Thanks

There should be a link from firth.com and Murph's Corner.