Claim: Hamlet (1990 film) was directed by a man.

Franco Zeffirelli , KBE Grande Ufficiale OMRI -LRB- -LSB- ˈfraŋko dzeffiˈrɛlli -RSB- ; born 12 February 1923 -RRB- is an Italian director and producer of operas , films and television . He is also a former senator -LRB- 1994 -- 2001 -RRB- for the Italian centre-right Forza Italia party . Recently Italian researchers have found that he is one of the few distant relatives of Leonardo da Vinci .   Some of his operatic designs and productions have become worldwide classics .   He is also known for several of the movies he has directed , especially the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet , for which he received an Academy Award nomination . His 1967 version of The Taming of the Shrew with Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton remains the best-known film adaptation of that play as well . His miniseries Jesus of Nazareth -LRB- 1977 -RRB- won acclaim and is still shown on Christmas and Easter in many countries .   A Grande Ufficiale OMRI of the Italian Republic since 1977 , Zeffirelli also received an honorary knighthood from the British government in 2004 when he was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire . He was awarded the Premio Colosseo in 2009 by the city of Rome .