On 14 Sep 1964, DV announced that husband-and-wife team Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor were planning a feature film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s 1593 play The Taming of the Shrew. The production marked the major motion picture debut of stage and opera director Franco Zeffirelli following his 1958 Italian film, Camping, and the first effort of Burton and Taylor serving as producers. According to the 9 Feb 1966 DV, production duties were to be split between the New York City-based Royal Films International and Films Artistici Internazionali (F.A.I.) of Rome, Italy. The 5 Jul 1966 NYT cited The Taming of the Shrew as an example of a multinational (“British-Italian”) production that was developed by an American company to shoot abroad; however, evidence of British involvement could not be corroborated by additional contemporary sources.
       Principal photography began 21 Mar 1966, as confirmed in a DV production chart four days later. A 23 Feb 1966 Var article noted that the unit would occupy the entirety of the Dino De Laurentiis Studios outside Rome, with four soundstages made up to resemble the setting of Padua. The 28 May 1966 NYT explained that Italy provided the “congenial, traditional ambience” needed for Shakespeare’s story, as well as easy access to the necessary style of costumes. The location was also favored by Burton and Taylor, who previously filmed Cleopatra (1963, see entry) in Rome. Unlike the famously excessive spending on Cleopatra, however, several sources noted the pair’s commitment to cutting costs, as the 1 Mar 1967 LAT alleged that they had contributed $1.4 million of their own money toward the budget. Items in the 18 Jul 1966 DV and 3 Aug 1966 LAT indicated that filming was completed in late Jul 1966, approximately fifteen days over schedule. DV and the 27 Jul 1966 Var attributed some of the delay to a brief technicians’ strike in Rome.
       The 1 Jun 1966 DV stated that post-production would take place in London, England, and on 18 Aug 1966, the publication announced that a three-hour rough cut had been viewed by Columbia Pictures executives, who felt the format should be blown up for 70mm engagements.
       The Taming of the Shrew was selected as the 1967 Royal Film Performance, with a 27 Feb 1967 gala benefit premiere at London’s Odeon Theatre, Leicester Square. A NYT report the next day stated that the event was attended by Princess Margaret. According to a 10 Mar 1967 DV brief, the New York City charity premiere took place 8 Mar 1967 at the Coronet Theatre, followed by a successful opening night on 9 Mar 1967 with returns of $2,200. The West Coast debut was held 21 Mar 1967 at the Stanley Warner Beverly Hills Theater, and regular reserved-seat screenings began 22 Mar 1967. The 3 Jan 1968 Var list of the “Big Rental Films of 1967” stated that Columbia had accrued $3,540,000 in domestic rentals to date.
       The film was generally well liked by critics, earning Academy Award nominations for Art Direction and Costume Design, and Golden Globe nominations for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Richard Burton).