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Stage Beauty Reviews

2004

60
from 7878 members

In the seventeenth century the roles of women in live theatre are played by men and one of the most famous is Ned Kynaston. When Charles II tires of the same old faces he decides to allow real women on the stage. Overnight Ned becomes a nobody and heads towards suicide until an actress named Maria decides to rescue him. Read more

Starring	Claire Danes, Billy Crudup, Rupert Everett, Ben Chaplin
Director	Richard Eyre
Genres	Drama, Romance

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Critic's review of Stage Beauty
View all critics' reviews (2)
- Weak and miscast drama of gender confusion that rewrites theatrical history to suggest the triumphant arrival of a modern and naturalistic style of acting to replace what had gone before.
- 34305
- - Halliwell's Film Guide
  - 02 Mar 2006 at 15:43
Write your own review »
Most helpful member's review of Stage Beauty
View all members' reviews (70)
- - 15
  - 2
  Identity, insecurity and indecision
  
  Comparisons to Shakespeare in Love are justified, but this film is darker, saucier, with more fluid identities and romantic attachments. Ned Kynaston is the man... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 62224
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Sam
  - Midlands, UK
  - 05 Jan 2005 at 20:03
Most recent members' reviews of Stage Beauty
View all members' reviews (70)
- - 0
  - 0
  Sumptuous entertainment.
  
  A great cast, marvelous acting, superbly detailed sets, gorgeous colour and lighting, and a great story. A fabulous film portraying life, stage and personal, on... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1067192
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Lesinlondon
  - 7 reviews
  - 26 Nov 2011 at 00:28
- - 1
  - 0
  A PURE STAGE BEAUTY
  
  i love this Richard Eyre film and its one of my favorite films. Wonderful cast and sets. Beautifully performed and obviously a lot of research had gone in to ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 1026301
- - Em1981
  - 87 reviews
  - London
  - 07 Aug 2011 at 12:30
- - 0
  - 0
  A complete surprise!!
  
  A well made well acted little movie- not great but certainly worth a try on a wet boring Sunday afternoon- you wont be sorry!
  
  Report this review
- 985391
- - a customer
  - 23 Apr 2011 at 12:23
- - 0
  - 0
  Mixed review
  
  There were moments of brilliance from the likes of claire danes, as well as horrific parts. The concept was decent but the story was just too disjointed to be a... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 888508
- - Randomfilmbuff
  - 327 reviews
  - London
  - 02 May 2010 at 18:48
- - 0
  - 0
  Loveeees in drag
  
  Great shakes costumes, with great charactors and the actors are fabulous
  
  Report this review
- 779043
- - a customer
  - Bexley
  - 03 Jul 2009 at 13:45
- - 0
  - 0
  Better than Shakespeare In Love
  
  If you like SIL, you may prefer this. It's fresher, funnier, and doesn't feature Mrs Coldplay. Its all about the theatre dahling, great acting, men ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 740715
- - a customer
  - Cambridge
  - 09 Apr 2009 at 15:40
- - 0
  - 0
  Stage Beauty Review
  
  This was a very disappointing film, I don't recommend it. Little plot, poor story, not pulled off at all.
  
  Report this review
- 669860
- - a customer
  - Stroud
  - 07 Dec 2008 at 16:24
- - 0
  - 0
  superb
  
  I loved this film - but then again - I love period dramas and Shakespeare!
  
  Acting is sensational, believable and the storyline was superb too.
  <... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 591965
- - a customer
  - Bristol
  - 03 Jul 2008 at 08:24
- - 0
  - 0
  Stagey Beauty
  
  THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS | Show review anywayHide
  
  I had great hopes of this film as i am an avid viewer of all things historical, or at least films set in days gone by with costume. I really didn't know ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 567252
- - a customer
  - Belfast
  - 21 May 2008 at 19:50
- - 0
  - 0
  stage beauty
  
  i enjoyed this film well acted interesting costumes
  
  Report this review
- 562582
- - shmoozy
  - 6 reviews
  - Ilford
  - 06 May 2008 at 12:02
View all members' reviews (70)

- - 15
  - 2
  Identity, insecurity and indecision
  
  Comparisons to Shakespeare in Love are justified, but this film is darker, saucier, with more fluid identities and romantic attachments. Ned Kynaston is the man... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 62224
- [Highly rated reviewer]
  - Sam
  - Midlands, UK
  - 05 Jan 2005 at 20:03
- - 12
  - 7
  ~The Bad & the Beautiful
  
  Stage Beauty is another adaptation of a play. Yawn? Well don't, because it also happens to make a highly successful transition from stage to screen thanks ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 429743
- - morebees
  - 15 reviews
  - Derby
  - 13 Apr 2007 at 15:54
- - 5
  - 0
  Sexual Identity
  
  Moving, funny, relevant film.
  
  For as far back as you can remember you train hard, perfect your skill, become the best celebrated practitioner of your... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 124525
- - philip reardon
  - St Albans
  - 17 Jul 2005 at 22:47
- - 4
  - 1
  Stage Beauty
  
  Thinking crumpet's 'Shakespeare In Love'. That is the best way I think I could describe it. Okay, may be I have gone too far but ‘Stage Beauty... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 319061
- - Sherawaye
  - UK
  - 16 Jan 2005 at 19:24
- - 7
  - 6
  Vacuous
  
  Its always alarming that people view this stuff as historically accurate. This is 21st century people and attitudes poncing about in 17th century costume. On ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 157173
- - skeadugenga
  - 148 reviews
  - Reading
  - 05 Oct 2005 at 12:25
- - 4
  - 2
  We loved it!!!
  
  I saw this film over Christmas and similarly I did think it was going to be a re-hash of 'Shakespeare in Love'. Similar story, but darker and ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 91089
- - Sharon Greenall
  - Wigan, England
  - 11 Apr 2005 at 13:16
- - 3
  - 0
  A nice film
  
  You can't help but feel sorry for Kynaston in this tale about actors in the reign of Charles II.
  
  Charles, back from exile decrees that women'... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 318075
- - brabazonk
  - Warwickshire
  - 07 Jan 2005 at 08:50
- - 3
  - 1
  Beautiful, bawdy but boring.
  
  This period drama is set in the time of Charles II (played by a flamboyant Rupert Everet, surrounded by spaniels and Nell Gwynn). The costumes are sumptuous, ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 59781
- - a customer
  - Manchester
  - 19 Dec 2004 at 00:23
- - 3
  - 2
  Well written and well acted by all.
  
  As a guide.Films I love;
  
  Se7en,Pulp Fiction,The Pianist,Aliens,The Matix,The Producers,Girl With A.P.E.
  
  Films I hate;
  
  Matrix 2&... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 85495
- - a customer
  - Cambridge
  - 26 Mar 2005 at 21:09
- - 1
  - 0
  Beautiful but no real substance
  
  Anyone expecting some high seventeenth century drama will be disappointed with Stage Beauty, given it falls into the typcial film depictment of the aqe with ... read more »
  
  Report this review
- 81120
- - Welshwaspy
  - 126 reviews
  - London
  - 14 Mar 2005 at 09:41

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Buy from Amazon.co.uk

- - Buy
- Stage Beauty
  
  In the seventeenth century the roles of women in live theatre are played by men and one of the most famous is Ned Kynaston. When Charles II tires of the same old faces he decides to allow real women on the stage. Overnight Ned becomes a nobody and heads towards suicide until an actress named Maria ...