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Italian director Franco Zeffirelli stunned the screen world when he cast two young unknowns to portray the star-crossed lovers in Romeo & Juliet, but it was a gamble that resulted in one of the most popular motion pictures of all time, winning international acclaim and four Academy Award nominations. Shakespeare's classic romance comes to stunning visual life in a refreshingly modern interpretation, bringing new vitality and insight to the most enduring love story ever written.
Editor's Note
For his adaptation of this classic Shakespeare tragedy, director Franco Zeffirelli (TAMING OF THE SHREW) made the inspired choice of casting teenaged actors in the leads (Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting), and their youthful innocence adds an extra dimension of beauty and tragedy to the story. Shot on location in Italy, the film benefits from an earthy sense of realism, a cast of excellent supporting actors, and a memorable soundtrack by Nino Rota. This saga of star-crossed lovers caught in their feuding family's crossfire had strong political resonance at the time of its release, and has lost little of its poignancy.
Plot Summary
Director Franco Zeffirelli's penchant for period love stories find its perfect outlet in this classic Shakespeare tragedy, and many consider it the best filmed version of the story. As the title characters, fifteen year old Olivia Hussey and seventeen year old Leonard Whiting bring a touching amount of spontaneity and innocence to their roles, which works in the favor of the film, if not always the text. The exquisite cinematography by Pasqualino De Santis and haunting score by Nino Rota are also key elements in the films effectiveness. A supporting cast of largely unknown actors lend the film terrific urgency, especially Michael York as Tybalt, whose duel with Romeo is nothing short of gut-wrenching. This film was a huge hit with young audiences when originally released, and was considered a symbol for the anti-war, pro-peace youth movement. It remains something of a cultural touchstone, a romantic idealization of youth that still strikes a deep, reverberating chord.
| Technical Info
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Release Information
|  | Studio: Paramount |
| Release Date: 12/20/1991 |
| Running Time: 138 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1968 | | Catalog ID: 068093 | | UPC: 00097360680935 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Academy Awards (1968) |  | Winner, Best Costume Design | | Pasqualino De Santis, Winner, Best Cinematography |
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| | Professional Reviews | USA Today
"...Opulent..." 06/02/2000 p.10EChicago Sun-Times
"...The costumes and everything else in the film -- the photography, the music, above all Shakespeare's language -- is so voluptuous, so sensuous..." 09/17/2000 p.5 |
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| Customer Reviews | ![]() | | Cinematography |  5 | | Plot | 5 | | Acting | 5 | | Overall Satisfaction | 5 |
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5 of 5 Better than than the one Decaprio's version Monday, December 06, 1999
Rickey from Blanco, TX
This version, the origional, is by far better than the new one. if you ask any english teacher or professor, they will agree with me that the new one is a bastardization of the grat Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet Was this review helpful?  
5 of 5 The best Romeo and Juliet ever!!!! Thursday, June 24, 1999
mccallaa from Colorado Springs
I really love this movie! It is exceptionally beautiful and visually stunning. Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey were excellent and the scenes in which they performed together were very touching. The casting was perfect, each actor fit his/her role perfectly. Franco Zeffirelli, is a genius at creating beautiful scenery and the ability to put his vision on the screen. I highly recommend this film, you will want to watch it again and again. Was this review helpful?
5 of 5 SHAKESPEARE DONE THE RIGHT WAY!!!!!! Thursday, May 13, 1999
Amber from Colorado Springs, CO
I love this film!!! I have seen it several times and it never fails to move me. Franco Zeffirelli took a chance by casting two teenagers (Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey) for the lead roles and it paid off beautifully. I thought that the dance scene where Romeo and Juliet meet was particuliarly lovely and romantic. This classic film is the best Romeo and Juliet ever made on film. Was this review helpful?
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