!!The original play:
* BeamMeUpScotty: A popular quote from the play is "So shines a good deed in a weary world," although this is actually a misquote of "So shines a good deed in a ''naughty'' world," popularized by Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory. ("Naughty" was a stronger word in Shakespeare's day than it is now, meaning, roughly, "wicked.")
* RealitySubtext: The play was first written and produced in the wake of Roderigo Lopez, a Portuguese doctor of Jewish descent, being accused of trying to poison Queen Elizabeth I. Anti-Semitic sentiment was running rampant, and a number of playwrights, including Shakespeare, sought to capitalize on it by writing plays about villainous Jews. However, the other plays made the Jews monsters without a real motive, and ended with their deaths.

!!The 2004 adaptation:
* ActorAllusion: Joseph Fiennes plays Bassanio having [[Film/ShakespeareInLove also played Shakespeare himself]].
* EditedForSyndication: The TV version had to have the brief kiss between Antonio and Bassanio edited out.
* ShownTheirWork: The bare breasted prostitutes are historically accurate; Venetian law at the time required all prostitutes to bare their breasts [[CureYourGays because Christian authorities were worried about the rampant homosexuality in the city]].
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Creator/CateBlanchett had been set to play Portia but had to back out because she was pregnant.
** Creator/DustinHoffman was interested in playing Shylock but Al Pacino had already been cast by the time he contacted the director.
** Creator/IanMcKellen was also meant to play Antonio but had to drop out at the last minute.
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