Stage Beauty

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Stage Beauty

R,

2004,

1h 50m,

History/

Drama

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Watchlist

Watchlist

65%

120 Reviews

Tomatometer

78%

10,000+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

65%

Tomatometer

120 Reviews

78%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

Humble Maria (Claire Danes), who outfits top London theater star Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup), takes none of the credit for the male actor's success at playing women. And because this is the 17th century, Maria, like other females, is prohibited from pursuing her dream of acting. But when powerful people support her, King Charles II (Rupert Everett) lifts the ban on female stage performers. And just as Maria aided Ned, she needs his help to learn her new profession.

Critics Consensus

Uneven but enjoyable, Stage Beauty uses historical events as the springboard for a well-acted romance with a charming Shakespearean spin.

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Sheila Johnston

London Evening Standard

Jan 10, 2018

Stage Beauty... has a lot going for it. Richard Eyre's spritely direction helps hide the holes in the plot, creating a vivid, raucous, underworld London of transvestites, whores and pickpockets, some played by a terrific supporting cast.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Nov 1, 2007

It's a marvelous premise, and Crudup's serpentine performance has a venomous grace. But Jeffrey Hatcher's screenplay too often sacrifices psychological insight for bogus theatricality.

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Nick Schager

Lessons of Darkness

May 4, 2005

C+

Danes, as usual, overplays her character's every emotion.

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Eddie Harrison

film-authority.com

Aug 6, 2021

4/5

...an unusually literate drama which has a cool take on the war between the sexes...'

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Apr 17, 2005

4/4

"Stage Beauty" has the grace and charm of a great play. It has its acts, its drama and its comedy.

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Kylo R

Nov 5, 2018

An awe-inspiring performance from Billy Crudup..This movie shows the sheer talent of this actor playing a man (Kynston) who is adored by the public for playing women's parts. Billy shines most when his character is desperately injured and abandoned by his former friends. His Othello is raging and breath-stopping as he kills his wife. Claire Danes puts in a magnificent performance as a mousey dresser turned actress, and her Desdemona is deservedly a show-stopper. But, side by side with Billy, his light outshines hers, and his mastery of the smallest details throughout this piece make his character richer and more complex than hers. Still, If I could give this movie six stars, I would.

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Rey W

Feb 5, 2017

Not a flawless film, but with good acting and an engrossing story, it keeps you wanting to watch.

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Richard Eyre

Director

Billy Crudup

Ned Kynaston

Claire Danes

Maria

Rupert Everett

King Charles II

Tom Wilkinson

Betterton

Ben Chaplin

George Villiars, Duke of Buckingham

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Synopsis

Humble Maria (Claire Danes), who outfits top London theater star Ned Kynaston (Billy Crudup), takes none of the credit for the male actor's success at playing women. And because this is the 17th century, Maria, like other females, is prohibited from pursuing her dream of acting. But when powerful people support her, King Charles II (Rupert Everett) lifts the ban on female stage performers. And just as Maria aided Ned, she needs his help to learn her new profession.

Director: Richard Eyre
Producer: Robert De Niro, Richard Eyre
Screenwriter: Jeffrey Hatcher
Distributor: Lionsgate/Artisan
Production Co: Returning Productions
Rating: R (Sexual Content|Language)
Genre: History, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 8, 2004, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 14, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $776.7K
Runtime: 1h 50m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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