The Merchant of Venice
Le marchand de Venise
Synopsis
A rich merchant, Antonio is depressed for no good reason, until his good friend Bassanio comes to tell him how he's in love with Portia. Portia's father has died and left a very strange will: only the man that picks the correct casket out of three (silver, gold, and lead) can marry her. Bassanio, unfortunately, is strapped for cash with which to go wooing, and Antonio wants to help, so Antonio borrows the money from Shylock, the money-lender. But Shylock has been nursing a grudge against Antonio's insults, and makes unusual terms to the loan. And when Antonio's business fails, those terms threaten his life, and it's up to Bassanio and Portia to save him.
Top Cast
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Michel Simon
Shylock
Andrée Debar
Portia
Massimo Serato
Antonio
Armando Francioli
Bassanio
Giorgio Albertazzi
Lorenzo
Liliana Tellini
Jessica
Olga Solbelli
Bianca
Clara Auteri Pepe
Nerissa
Franco Balducci
Ami d'Antonio
Nerio Bernardi
Le doge
Alberto Collo
Renato De Carmine
Tony Di Mitri
Franco Giacobini
André Hildebrand
Paola Mori
Pamela Palma
Marika Spada
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Pierre Billon
- Screenplay & Story
- William Shakespeare, Pierre Billon, Cesare Lodovici, Louis Ducreux, Giuseppe Mangione, Corrado Sofia
- Original Title
- Le marchand de Venise
- Country of Origin
- France, Italy
- Spoken Languages
- French
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Studios
- Élysée Films, Venturini Film
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Pierre Billon
William Shakespeare, Pierre Billon, Cesare Lodovici, Louis Ducreux, Giuseppe Mangione, Corrado Sofia
Department Leadership Roster
Pierre Billon
Writer
Louis Ducreux
Writer
Giuseppe Mangione
Writer
Corrado Sofia
Writer
Pierre Billon
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Merchant of Venice.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Merchant of Venice
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Merchant of Venice about?
A rich merchant, Antonio is depressed for no good reason, until his good friend Bassanio comes to tell him how he's in love with Portia. Portia's father has died and left a very strange will: only the man that picks the correct casket out of three (silver, gold, and lead) can marry her. Bassanio, unfortunately, is strapped for cash with which to go wooing, and Antonio wants to help, so Antonio borrows the money from Shylock, the money-lender. But Shylock has been nursing a grudge against Antonio's insults, and makes unusual terms to the loan. And when Antonio's business fails, those terms threaten his life, and it's up to Bassanio and Portia to save him.
Who directed The Merchant of Venice?
The Merchant of Venice was directed by Pierre Billon.
Who stars in The Merchant of Venice?
The principal cast of The Merchant of Venice includes Michel Simon, Andrée Debar, Massimo Serato, Armando Francioli, Giorgio Albertazzi.
When was The Merchant of Venice released and how long is it?
The Merchant of Venice was released in 1953 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.