Stage Beauty Movie Review 2004

Set in London during the 1660s, this entertaining but sometimes stiff drama centers on gender identity. Actor Ned Kynaston (Crudup) is renowned for his female roles (his Desdemona is legendary) at a time when women were banned from the stage. But that does not stop his devoted dresser Maria (Danes) from appearing in the same part in an illegal production that comes to the attention of flamboyant King Charles II (Everett), who is then persuaded that only women should now play female parts. This turn of events makes Ned's life a misery since he doesn't know how to play the man--either on or off the stage. Danes is somewhat mediocre playing a mediocre actress but Crudup is eye-catching as he plays vain, charming, desperate, and, finally, resilient. Adapted by Hatcher from his play "Compleat Female Stage Beauty."

Distribution

CinemaNow, 4553 Glencoe Ave., Ste. 200, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292, URL: http://www.cinemanow.com, Remarks: Formerly known as Lions Gate Home Entertainment

Running time 105 minutes.
Originally from German, British, United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Romantic Drama, Period Piece: 17th Century, London

Screenplay

Jeffrey Hatcher

Cast

Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Rupert Everett, Tom Wilkinson, Ben Chaplin, Edward Fox, Zoe Tapper

Cinematography

Andrew Dunn

Director

Richard Eyre

Music

George Fenton

Other

Jim Greenhorn, Tariq Anwar, Caroline Smith, Tim Hatley, Tim Hatley, Jim Clay

Producer

Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, Hardy Justice, Tribeca Productions, Lions Gate Films