Dangerous Beauty

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Dangerous Beauty

R

1998

1h 51m

History

Drama

Romance

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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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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

Jan 1, 2000

3.5/4

Most movies are made by males and show women enthralled by men. This movie knows better.

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Emma Clark-Dow

The Post NZ

May 4, 2023

If you love a historical film with unrequited love, war, plague and even witchcraft, Dangerous Beauty is for you.

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Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

Jan 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.

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Malcolm L. Johnson

Hartford Courant

Apr 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.

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David Noh

Film Journal International

Jan 9, 2007

There's an essential insipidity here, matched by its predictable music score.

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Jul 19, 2005

3/5

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Dana A

@DanaQ Aug 7, 2026

I love Venice and I loved this movie. I wish Catherine McCormick was in more films. She was great.

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Dr. Sina W

@RT65098475 Aug 4, 2026

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.

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Angie S

@MonTexan Feb 7, 2026

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!

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nick s

@Nick_S Aug 12, 2025

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.

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Cem Okan Y

@cmyldz23 Jun 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

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Alain E

@AlainE Mar 3, 2025

Has high approval ratings from critics and viewers, but I think it’s trite and uninspired. Your mileage may vary. Free on Prime.

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Marshall Herskovitz

Director

Catherine McCormack

Veronica Franco

Rufus Sewell

Marco Venier

Jacqueline Bisset

Paola Franco

Oliver Platt

Maffio Venier

Moira Kelly

Beatrice Venier

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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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