Dangerous Beauty

Dangerous Beauty - 1998 | 115 mins | Drama | Colour

The Production Team

Director: Marshall Herskovitz.
Asst Director: Kuki López Rodero.
Producer: Sarah Caplan, Marshall Herskovitz, Arnon Milchan and Edward Zwick.
Associate Producer: Debra Petro.
Executive Producer: Stephen Randall.
Co Producer: Paolo Lucidi.
Script: Jeannine Dominy. (from the book The Honest Courtesan by Jeannine Dominy)
Cinematography: Bojan Bazelli.
Production Designer: Norman Garwood.
Art Direction: Stefania Cella and Gianni Giovagnoni.
Costume Designer: Gabriella Pescucci.
Make-Up: Federico Laurenti and Fabrizio Sforza.
Editing: Arthur Coburn and Steven Rosenblum.
Sound: David Stephenson.
Music: George Fenton.

The Cast

Catherine McCormack - Veronica Franco
Rufus Sewell - Marco Venier
Jacqueline Bisset - Paola Franco
Oliver Platt - Maffio Venier
Moira Kelly - Beatrice Venier
Fred Ward - Domenico Venier
Naomi Watts - Guila De Lezze

Plot Synopsis

Based on a true story and adapted from a novel The Honest Courtesan by Margaret Rosenthal, this superb period romp/drama is set in 16th century Venice and stars the very beautiful Catherine McCormack as a penniless noblewoman who becomes a courtesan in order to be with the man she loves played by the superb Rufus Sewell. Dangerous Beauty (aka The Honest Courtesan) is a truly wonderful film better, in my view, in every way than the 'other' period film Shakespeare in Love. Much more convincingly played, atmospheric, witty, eloquent, passionate and deeply moving with a memorable soundtrack from George Fenton. Brilliantly filmed this is truly riveting entertainment. I cannot remember a film I have enjoyed so much - it has renewed my faith in the cinema.
©Review by Hugh Peacock.