This film club minisode tackles the most sampled movie on Bard Flies: “Shakespeare in Love,” starring (deep breath) Joseph Fiennes, Gwyneth Paltrow, Judi Dench, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, Geoffrey Rush, Rupert Everett, Tom Wilkinson, and a coterie of other great actors. John Madden’s portrait of the starving artist as a young man tackles the big questions, including how to avoid your creditors, workshop a script, placate prima donna actors, fend off obnoxious producers, and conduct an illicit affair with a noblewoman with a penchant for the stage. Listen in to Will and James debate whether this is a faithful portrait of what makes Shakespeare great and whether it should have won Best Picture at the Academy Awards. // Credits // Intro Music: Jon Sayles, "The Witches' Dance" (composed by anonymous); Outro Music: Jon Sayles, “Saltarello” (composed by anonymous); Illustrative Excerpts: “Shakespeare in Love,” dir. John Madden (1998)