Romeo and Juliet (1968/I)

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Franco Brusati (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

8 October 1968 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The 1968 Royal Film Performance [UK Theatrical]

Plot:

When the now famous "star crossed lovers" of two enemy families meet, forbidden love ensues.

Plot Keywords:

Tragedy | Forbidden Love | Sexual | Loss Of Virginity | Banishment

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Leonard Whiting	...	Romeo
Olivia Hussey	...	Juliet
John McEnery	...	Mercutio
Milo O'Shea	...	Friar Laurence
Pat Heywood	...	The Nurse
Robert Stephens	...	The Prince of Verona
Michael York	...	Tybalt
Bruce Robinson	...	Benvolio
Paul Hardwick	...	Lord Capulet
Natasha Parry	...	Lady Capulet
Antonio Pierfederici	...	Lord Montague
Esmeralda Ruspoli	...	Lady Montague
Roberto Bisacco	...	Paris
Roy Holder	...	Peter
Keith Skinner	...	Balthazar

Also Known As:

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)
Romeo e Giulietta (Italy)
Romeo y Julieta (Argentina) (Mexico) (Spain) [es]
Rómeó és Júlia (Hungary) [hu]
Roméo & Juliette (France) [fr]
Roméo et Juliette (Belgium: French title) [fr]
Romaios kai Ioulietta (Greece) [el]
Romeo & Julia (West Germany) [de]
Romeo ja Julia (Finland) [fi]
Romeo och Julia (Sweden) [sv]
Romeo og Julie (Denmark) [da]
Romeo und Julia (West Germany) [de]
Romeu & Julieta (Brazil) [pt]

Runtime:

138 min

Country:

UK | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987) | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | South Korea:12 | USA:G (original rating) (Approved No. 21756) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | West Germany:12 | USA:PG (edited for re-rating) (1973) | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Artena, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

BHE Films

Trivia:

A rumor surrounding this film was that Olivia Hussey was really Franco Zeffirelli's daughter. Not true, of course. Franco Zeffirelli initially turned Olivia Hussey down for the role of Juliet, thinking her overweight. The actress he did choose cut her hair just before filming, ruining the effect she had on Zeffirelli. Hussey came in for another reading but by this time had developed into a beautiful teenager. She got the part.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the bedroom, Juliet's arm is lying across her chest. In the next shot it's by her side.

Quotes:

Lady Capulet: I beg for justice, which thou prince must give! Romeo slew Tybalt... Romeo must not live!
The Prince: Romeo slew him... He slew Mercutio. Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
Lord Montague: Not Romeo, Prince! He was Mercutio's friend. His fault concludes but what the law should end-the life of Tybalt!
The Prince: And for that offense, immediately we do exile him hence! Let Romeo hence in haste... Else, when he is found... that hour is his last.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Chacun son cinéma ou Ce petit coup au coeur quand la lumière s'éteint et que le film commence (2007)

Soundtrack:

What Is a Youth

The best I have ever seen

I have seen multiple versions of R&J, from the 30's version, with Leslie Howard (in his 40's I think) & Norma Shearer, to the most recent thing with DeCaprio & Danes. None of them touched me in the way that Zefferelli's did, & continues to do. It was one of the first DVD's I bought, because I can watch it again & again, & still be heartbroken by the ending.

The thing that shook me most the first time I saw it was that, in spite of the Shakespearian language, I got the meaning of the characters' statements immediately. The Shakespearian language was not a barrier at all. I had previously had to spend anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes before I could begin to follow the dialogue....there was no lag time with this version. To me, it will always be the definitive film version of this classic.