Shakespeare's Merchant - Production & Contact Info

Shakespeare's Merchant (2003)
Not Rated
86 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Primary photo for Shakespeare's Merchant

Shakespeare's Merchant (2003)

Not Rated

86 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

In this dark adaptation of "The Merchant of Venice," Shakespeare's most controversial play, Jews are regularly hunted on the streets of a postmodern Venice (California) as if it were 13th century Europe. In the film's opening sequences a ...See moreIn this dark adaptation of "The Merchant of Venice," Shakespeare's most controversial play, Jews are regularly hunted on the streets of a postmodern Venice (California) as if it were 13th century Europe. In the film's opening sequences a Jewish girl is raped in broad daylight while a woman watches, gleeful, from her living room window; toughs chases a young man in a yarmulke to the beach and beat him senseless. And Shylock, the money lender, is spat upon and threatened. In this atmosphere of lawless anti-Semitism Bassanio is forced to borrow money from his lover, Antonio. But Antonio's cash is bound up in his fleet of ships and so they proceed to Shylock's, where it becomes clear that Antonio is one of the anti-Semites who has plagued Shylock on the Rialto. Shylock agrees to the loan but exacts a forfeiture: a pound of Antonio's flesh if the loan is defaulted on by even a day. Meanwhile Portia, with the help of her father's executrix, is seeking the husband who can unravel her father's riddle to win her hand in marriage. After several suitors are rejected, Bassanio wins-but not without some help. Test after test ensues of each set of lovers and of the society itself. In the karmic ending Shylock, his daughter Jessica, Bassanio, Antonio and Portia are each bereft in their own way, making this version with its queer twist, more tragic even than Shakespeare intended. Written by Victoria Brownworth, PIGLFF. See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
20 cast members

Name	Known for
John D. Haggerty Bassanio Bassanio See fewer	Three Trembling Cities (2016)
Lorna MacNab Portia Portia See fewer	Shakespeare's Merchant (2003)
Bruce Cornwell Shylock Shylock See fewer	Reptile 2001 (1999)
Don Stewart Antonio (as Donald Robert Stewart) Antonio (as Donald Robert Stewart) See fewer	Bocce (2010)
John Emmet Tracy Gratiano Gratiano See fewer	Yellowstone (2018)
Vanessa Claire Stewart Jessica (as Vanessa Claire Smith) Jessica (as Vanessa Claire Smith) See fewer	Alex & The List (2017)
Michelle Haner Nerissa Nerissa See fewer	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)
Richard Tatum Prince Of Aragon Prince Of Aragon See fewer	Fallout 4 (2015)
Chad Jason Lorenzo Lorenzo See fewer	Shakespeare's Merchant (2003)
D. Elliot Woods Prince Of Morocco Prince Of Morocco See fewer	S.W.A.T. (2017)
Brad Mays Tubal Tubal See fewer	The Watermelon (2008)
Lance Arthur Smith Solanio Solanio See fewer	The Great War of Magellan (2005)
Steve Shields Salerio Salerio See fewer	Fourplay (2001)
Ben Wells Launcelot Launcelot See fewer	Meanwhile... (2012)
Max Amini Benicio Benicio See fewer	In the Lion's Shadow
Tracy Eliott Aragon's Assistant Aragon's Assistant See fewer	To Die For (2022)
Rick Irwin French Suitor French Suitor See fewer	White House Plumbers (2023)
JoAnna Jocelyn Beatrice Beatrice See fewer	Alien Force (1996)
Allelon Ruggiero Balthazar Balthazar See fewer	Dead Poets Society (1989)
Danika Sudik Sarah Sarah See fewer	The Hiding (2009)