The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

Shylock

Antonio

Bassanio

Jessica

Gratiano

Lorenzo

Nerissa

Launcelot Gobbo

Solanio

Old Gobbo

Tubal

The Duke

Prince of Morocco

Aragon

Stephano

Doctor Bellario

Cush

German Count

English Baron

Soldier

French Nobleman

Franciscan Friar

Leonardo

Clerk

Venetian Nobleman (uncredited)

Venetian Nobleman (uncredited)

The bare-breasted prostitutes were not put in the film to make it more risqué, but rather to add a note of historical authenticity. Venetian law at the time required all prostitutes to bare their breasts because the Christian authorities were concerned about rampant homosexuality in their city.

Dustin Hoffman was interested in playing Shylock; however, when he contacted director Michael Radford about it, Al Pacino had already been cast.

Cate Blanchett was set to play Portia, but had to drop out at the last minute after discovering she was pregnant.

Approximately 0:02:50 into the film, camera equipment and a man with a black baseball cap w/white logo are seen on the left hand side of the frame. It's a very quick cutaway scene after a couple shots of the white balcony.

When Gratiano announces his love of Nerissa, his wine is red, then white.

When Basanio and his entourage are walking with Portia to inspect the chests they pass a pond with a black swan. Black swans are from Australia and weren't known to Europe until after their discovery in western Australia by Dutch explorers in 1697. The Merchant of Venice takes place more than 100 years earlier.

Bassanio: Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence; And here choose I; joy be the consequence!

Bassanio: So may the outward shows be least themselves: The world is still deceived with ornament.

Portia: The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed - it blesseth him that gives and him that takes. 'Tis mightiest in the mighty. It becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. But mercy is above this sceptred sway. It is enthroned in the heart of kings. It is an attribute to God himself and earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, though justice be your plea, consider this. That in the course of justice, none of us should see salvation. We do pray for mercy and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much to mitigate the justice of your plea,