Much ado about nothing

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Writers: William Shakespeare (play), Kenneth Branagh (screenplay)

Release Date: 1993

Genre: Comedy | Romance

Plot: Young lovers Hero and Claudio, soon to wed, conspire to get verbal sparring partners and confirmed singles Benedick and Beatrice to wed as well.

Synopsis: The Prince of Medina Don Pedro (Denzel Washington), his resentful brother Don John (Keanu Reeves), and his noblemen Claudio (Sean Patrick Leonard) and Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) return from war, ready for merriment and love. Claudio loves Hero (Kate Beckinsale), the young daughter of the nobleman Leonato (Richard Briers), but Benedick hates Beatrice (Emma Thompson), Leonato's beautiful but sharp-tongued niece who hates him back. As Claudio and Hero prepare for their wedding, they decide, with the help of Don Pedro, to trick Benedick and Beatrice into confessing their true love for each other. The plan works without a hitch but trouble comes in the form of Don John who is jealous of his brother's power and of his affection for Claudio. Don John devises a scheme where one of his leutenants will make love to Hero's maid Margaret (Imelda Staunton) at Hero's window the night before the wedding. Don John takes Don Pedro and Claudio to Leonato's house where they see the encounter and are convinced the woman is Hero. The next day Claudio disgraces Hero publicly at the wedding and throws her away. She faints and Leonato is persuaded to pretend that she is dead until the situation is sorted out. The foolish warden Dogberry (Michael Keaton) manages to arrest Don John's leutenants and they confess to the plot. Claudio is crushed when he learns that he killed Hero with his untruthful accusations. He begs Leonato to punish him and Leonato tells him his punishment is to marry his (other) niece, who is almost a copy of his dead child. Claudio agrees but first spends a night mourning for Hero and proclaiming her innocence. Don John escapes Medina. The next morning Claudio marries the secret woman who removes her veil to reveal that she is Hero. They are very happy but Benedick and Beatrice almost break up when they discover they were tricked to confess their love. In the end, all is resolved, Don John is arrested and brought back to face punishment, Benedick and Beatrice marry and all dance around Leonato's garden and sing "Noddy noddy".

Plot Keywords: Revenge | Typical Outcome | Distress | Mistreat | Bachelor

Awards: Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations