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Romeo And Juliet [1968]


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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was unique in its day for casting kids in the play's pivotal roles of, well, kids. Seventeen-year-old Leonard Whiting and 15-year-old Olivia Hussey play the titular pair, the Bard's star-crossed lovers who defy a running feud between their families in order to be together in love. Typically played on stage and in previous film productions by adult actors, the innocent look and rawness of Whiting and Hussey resonated at the time with a burgeoning youth movement from San Francisco to Prague. The tragic romance at the centre of the story also clicked with anti-authority sentiments, but even without that, Zeffirelli scores points by validating the ideals and passions of strong-willed adolescents. Less successful are scenes requiring the actors to have a fuller grasp of the text, though the best thing going remains the unambiguous duel between Romeo and Tybalt (Michael York). Lavishly photographed by Pasquale de Santis on location in Italy, this Romeo and Juliet brought a different tone and dimension to a story that had become tiresome in reverential presentations. --Tom Keogh


Lovely... and a great teaching resource
Review date: 2008-01-03 Rating: 10 out of 10

I teach GCSE drama in a rough Saff London Comp and get the students hooked with Baz Lurhrmann's modern version of it and then to teach them more of what Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote the play, I show them this one by Zeffirelli - it works a treat. It is beautifully done, universal in its themes and appeal and the acting is rivitingly good - especially the very young and beautiful Olivia Hussy, though Michael York as a petulant Tybalt is equally good.

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Reviews


Beautiful Film with Splendid Theme
Review date: 2007-03-25 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is a beautiful film. When first I saw this film on television I thought Olivia Hussey wondrously vulnerable and quite the part as a 16-year old playing the 13-year old Juliet. Olivia Hussey is such a beauty that one can seriously imagine a Montague hazarding death to woo such a girl.

This is such a film of real depth and richness that I find it one of my very favourite. I have purchased it on VHS, now DVD, because I feel it is the essential Romeo & Juliet

Saw the film when it was first released
Review date: 2007-03-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

As a young man I was converted to Shakespeare by seeing this film directed by Franco Zeferelli. The magic for me was that instead of actors declaiming lines I felt I was involved with real people, places and circumstances.

Yesterday the film was shown on ITV3 and had 28 minutes of advertisements added to the 2hr 11 minutes running time.

Editing the film at fast speed made me appreciate the balletic movements of the cast location filming

Alas after editing I found the original recording from satellite had no sound on it.

Even although it was now a silent movie I was delighted to see again the beauty of the costumes, use of colour and the exquisite and careful composition. So pleased to find I could purchase a commercial DVD version at the low price of £5.97

Zeferelli's version of La Traviata could be a moving experience for those who say they don't like or understand opera

Zeffirelli- The Bard's Ambassador
Review date: 2006-12-07 Rating: 10 out of 10

Bravo Zeffirelli! A dramatic and visual spectacular which brings both Shakespeare's great tragedy and renaissance Italy to vibrant life. The Shakespeare buff should delight in this superbly crafted re-telling which, by it's intelligent presentation, fabulous costume, memorable music and inspired locations, should also ensnare and enchant the tyro audience.

There is much to praise here. The dramatic sense and interpretation is excellent. The casting is bold and imaginative, particularly in the probably quite daring selection of little-known and youthful leading players (Hussey and Whiting) who rise above their years and experience to give a rare and authentic sense of the impulsively destructive core theme of this tragedy; they are convincingly headlong lovers, blooming with youth and energy, superbly athletic, sexy, rash and naive. There is excellent support from a very competent cast, especially Michael York's proud and disdainfully quarrelsome Tybalt, and his counterpoise in John McEnery's passionate and dashing Mercutio. The settings are the finest that Italy can offer, the costume magnificent, the music can stand alone as entertainment in itself... in sum this is not just about Shakespeare's dialogue, it is also an audio-visual feast in its own right, a riot of colour and action. The duel between Mercutio and Tybalt is a masterpiece... manhood on display, cockscombs up, bella figura strutting a very public stage; gentlemanly sparring descending to an almost accidental fatal stroke. This is very credible public behaviour for proud young bucks trained to arms and lacking employment. Compare this, then, with the true, unbridled rage of the Tybalt/Romeo fight... Romeo transformed from arbitrator to enraged aggressor, Tybalt pushed to the brink by not only by his quarrel with the Montagu clan but also the knowledge of what he has done. Excellent interpretation, real fire.

If there are faults in this production, it would be churlish to give them much weight in view of the overall effect. The text and plot is somewhat contracted and simplified, but the integrity of the play remains intact and only the truly ascetic mind will object.

For me the lasting impression is of a timeless presentation of Shakespeare's great tragedy coupled with a persuasive portrayal of what life may have been like in the great Italian city-states; enlightened Renaissance art and culture veneered over lingering Medieval superstition and male egotism. Art and order with barely contained lust, violence and sudden death just below the surface, civilisation merely skin-deep. I hope to see it equalled; I do not expect to see it surpassed.



A masterpiece!
Review date: 2006-04-22 Rating: 10 out of 10

Romeo and Juliet- a gripping, romantic film, I wanted it to continue forever, truly worthy of all the oscars ever awarded! All the characters show their passion, love, hate, gaiety, betrayal, war, lust, content and distress in such a way that enchants me! The best characterization must definitely be juliet. The young Olivia Hussey was marvellous as was Natasha Parry and Leonard Whiting.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
John McEnery
Leonard Whiting
Milo O'Shea
Pat Heywood
Olivia Hussey

Creators:
Leonard Whiting (Primary Contributor)
Olivia Hussey (Primary Contributor)
Franco Zeffirelli (Writer)
Anthony Havelock-Allan (Producer)
John Brabourne (Producer)
Richard B. Goodwin (Producer)
Franco Brusati (Writer)
Masolino D'Amico (Writer)
William Shakespeare (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Paramount Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment
EAN: 5014437827739
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2003-02-03
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 132 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1968-10-08
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Danish (Subtitled)
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: Finnish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: German (Subtitled)
Language: Italian (Subtitled)
Language: Norwegian (Subtitled)
Language: Portuguese (Subtitled)
Language: Spanish (Subtitled)
Language: Swedish (Subtitled)
Language: Turkish (Subtitled)
Language: French (Dubbed)
Language: German (Dubbed)
Language: Italian (Dubbed)
Language: Spanish (Dubbed)

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