Romeo & Juliet (1978)

Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins... See full summary »

Director:

Alvin Rakoff

Writer:

William Shakespeare (play)

Stars:

Patrick Ryecart, Rebecca Saire, Celia Johnson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Ryecart	...	Romeo
Rebecca Saire	...	Juliet
Celia Johnson	...	Nurse
Michael Hordern	...	Capulet
John Gielgud	...	Chorus
Joseph O'Conor	...	Friar Laurence
Laurence Naismith	...	Prince Escalus
Anthony Andrews	...	Mercutio
Alan Rickman	...	Tybalt
Jacqueline Hill	...	Lady Capulet
Christopher Strauli	...	Benvolio
Christopher Northey	...	Paris
Paul Henry	...	Peter
Roger Davidson	...	Balthasar
John Paul	...	Montague

Storyline

Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows doth with their death bury their parents' strife.

---

Plot Keywords:

father daughter relationship | pressure from father | mother daughter relationship | biting one's thumb | secret from mother | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 December 1978 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Complete Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Time-Life Television Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

168 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Unlike most versions of the play, the actress cast to play Juliet was similar to Juliet's actual age; in the play, Juliet is only 13, but in most stagings and adaptations a girl in her late teens/early twenties plays the role. Rebecca Saire was only 14 when she made this film.

---

Connections

Version of Victims of Love (1942)

User Reviews

Romeo, Romeo, who cast you as Romeo?

At times I wasn't sure if this was Romeo and Juliet or Dudley Do-Right and Juliet. Sometimes Romeo seemed wooden, sometimes awkward, sometimes trying woodenly to be awkward. He seemed much older than Juliet, too, which would be interesting if it were part of the play but it isn't.

Much more affecting were Juliet herself, the Nurse, and old Capulet. Some of the staging was notably well handled, including the whole Capulet ballroom scene. I couldn't help comparing Mercutio and Friar Laurence unfavorably with their Zeffirelli counterparts.

It was nice to get more of the dialogue than some other film versions preserve, but on the other hand some of the cuts took away familiar lines and such cuts are always jarring.