The Merchant of Venice which Shakespeare was likely familiar. (Auden sees the theme of usury in the play as a comment on human relations in a mercantile society.) Other interpreters of the play regard Auden's conception of Antonio's sexual desire for Bassanio as questionable. Michael Radford, director of the 2004 film version starring Al Pacino, explained that, although the film contains a scene where Antonio and Bassanio actually kiss, the friendship between the two is platonic, in line with the prevailing view of male friendship at the time. Jeremy Irons, in an interview, concurs with the director's view and states that he did not
The Thief of Venice George Sanders were to play support roles, with filming to start in Italy on 1 November 1949. Sanders eventually pulled out. The movie was shot on location in Italy with studio work done at Scalera Studios. The "Christian Science Monitor" said that "a series of coups, captures and escapes take place with a great deal of running about but very little inventiveness." The "Washington Post" called it "a rip snorting Western" style film. The Thief of Venice The Thief of Venice or Il Ladro di Venezia is a 1950 Italian film directed by John Brahm. The US title was "The