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Dangerous Beauty

Play trailer Poster for Dangerous Beauty R 1998 1h 51m History Drama Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
69% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Veronica (Catherine McCormack) is brilliant, gifted and beautiful, but the handsome aristocrat she loves, Marco Venier (Rufus Sewell), cannot marry her because she is penniless and of questionable family. So Veronica's mother, Paola (Jacqueline Bisset), teaches her to become a courtesan, one of the exotic companions favored by the richest and most powerful Venetian men. Veronica courageously uses her charms to change destiny -- and to give herself a chance at true love.
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Dangerous Beauty

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3.5/4
Most movies are made by males and show women enthralled by men. This movie knows better. Go to Full Review
Emma Clark-Dow The Post NZ 05/04/2023
If you love a historical film with unrequited love, war, plague and even witchcraft, Dangerous Beauty is for you. Go to Full Review
Wesley Lovell Cinema Sight 01/18/2023
3/4
This film can be seen on the small screen, since it’s not big, but make sure you have some good resolution on your TV or you’ll miss some of the more elegant work of the year. Go to Full Review
Malcolm L. Johnson Hartford Courant 04/25/2018
Only McCormack manages to breathe any urgency into a tale that takes far too long to escape the fate of too many films set in Venice, in which San Marco and the Grand Canal's gondola fleet overwhelm story and characters. Go to Full Review
David Noh Film Journal International 01/09/2007
There's an essential insipidity here, matched by its predictable music score. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 07/19/2005
3/5
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Audience Reviews

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Dr. Sina W @RT65098475 1d This movie works better as a statement about women and men than anything you can read or see on the internet today. Of course, a film like this wouldn’t be possible anymore. Luckily, it’s still available—a kind of "love story" that truly deserves the name. It’s highly romantic, and even the harshest realities are transformed into surprisingly inspiring perspectives. Most of all, it’s erotic in a sweet and innocent way. This is cinema in its purest form—an invitation to escape for a few delicious moments. Enjoy the escape. See more Angie S @MonTexan Feb 7 Even my cop brother, loved this movie. It's really great, tear at your heart kind of movie. One of the best movies I've ever seen, really! See more nick s @Nick_S Aug 12 Somewhat contrived and a bit too flowery for my liking. But I liked the concept. Costumes were great. The film had a lot of movement and vibrancy. Overall a quality production. See more Cem Okan Y @cmyldz23 06/12/2025 It was a bit too much romantic (not just in terms of love but also in portraying that era) but it is charming at the same time. I wonder why this actress is forgotten later on See more Alain E @AlainE 03/03/2025 Has high approval ratings from critics and viewers, but I think it’s trite and uninspired. Your mileage may vary. Free on Prime. See more John A @ExcessMale 05/24/2024 An ornate costume drama replete with gorgeous depictions of Venice and an allegedly true tale of female romantic ideals being achieved via seemingly callous and unromantic ways See more Read all reviews
Dangerous Beauty

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Movie Info

Synopsis Veronica (Catherine McCormack) is brilliant, gifted and beautiful, but the handsome aristocrat she loves, Marco Venier (Rufus Sewell), cannot marry her because she is penniless and of questionable family. So Veronica's mother, Paola (Jacqueline Bisset), teaches her to become a courtesan, one of the exotic companions favored by the richest and most powerful Venetian men. Veronica courageously uses her charms to change destiny -- and to give herself a chance at true love.
Director
Marshall Herskovitz
Producer
Sarah Caplan, Marshall Herskovitz, Arnon Milchan, Edward Zwick
Screenwriter
Margaret Rosenthal, Jeannine Dominy
Distributor
Warner Bros. Pictures
Production Co
New Regency Pictures, The Bedford Falls Company
Rating
R (Scenes of Strong Sexuality|Nudity|Language)
Genre
History, Drama, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 20, 1998, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.6M
Runtime
1h 51m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, DTS, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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