Romeo and Juliet (1954)

In Shakespeare's classic play, the Montagues and Capulets, two families of Renaissance Italy, have hated each other for years, but the son of one family and the daughter of the other fall desperately in love and secretly marry.

Director:

Renato Castellani

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play), Renato Castellani (adaptation)

Stars:

Laurence Harvey, Susan Shentall, Flora Robson

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 8 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Laurence Harvey	...	Romeo
Susan Shentall	...	Juliet
Flora Robson	...	Nurse
Norman Wooland	...	Paris
Mervyn Johns	...	Friar Laurence
John Gielgud	...	Chorus
Bill Travers	...	Benvolio
Sebastian Cabot	...	Capulet
Lydia Sherwood	...	Lady Capulet
Ubaldo Zollo	...	Mercutio
Enzo Fiermonte	...	Tybalt
Giovanni Rota	...	Prince of Verona
Giulio Garbinetto	...	Montague
Nietta Zocchi	...	Lady Montague
Carla Diaz

Storyline

In Shakespeare's classic play, the Montagues and Capulets, two families of Renaissance Italy, have hated each other for years, but the son of one family and the daughter of the other fall desperately in love and secretly marry.

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Plot Keywords:

love | friendship | forbidden love | family disapproval | passion | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

Italy UK

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

25 November 1954 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Romeo und Julia

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The, Universalcine, Verona Produzione

Technical Specs

Runtime:

142 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Thomas Nicholls is dubbed.

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Connections

Version of Romeo and Juliet (1908)

User Reviews

Not as bad as some make out

Admittedly, the performances are not perfect, but I actually like Susan Shentall in the role of Juliet. Her acting is subtle and refined, which is more than I can say for many other actresses who have taken on the role. Why is it that so many actresses playing Juliet feel the necessity to shout their lines? Olivia Hussey does this. So does Megan Follows.

I will agree that Laurence Harvey is awful as Romeo. I find his delivery a bit too mannered for my taste even if his true age is more appropriate than Leslie Howard's. (Although, truth be told, Howard's Romeo seems ageless to me.) His costumes aren't much better than his acting. In the scene where he marries Juliet and the subsequent duel, he is wearing a blue and yellow ensemble that makes him look like a demented superhero.

I'm still waiting for a film version of Shakespeare's wonderful play with an actor who truly seems to understand the character of Romeo. Sumptuous, sumptuous cinematography and music though, and well worth a look if only for that.