Romeo and Juliet (1968)

When two young members of feuding families meet, forbidden love ensues.

Director:

Franco Zeffirelli

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play), Franco Brusati (screenplay)

Stars:

Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, John McEnery

Won 2 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

Shakespeare's classic tale of romance and tragedy. Two families of Verona, the Montagues and the Capulets, have been feuding with each other for years. Young Romeo Montague goes out with his friends to make trouble at a party the Capulets are hosting, but while there he spies the Capulet's daughter Juliet, and falls hopelessly in love with her. She returns his affections, but they both know that their families will never allow them to follow their hearts.

---

Plot Keywords:

love | forbidden love | tragedy | ends with funeral | brawl | 

---

Taglines:

The 1968 Royal Film Performance [UK Theatrical]

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 October 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Filming Locations:

Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Gross USA:

$38,901,218

Company Credits

Production Co:

BHE Films, Verona Produzione, Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

138 min 149 min (initial release)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Along with the fight between Romeo and Paris, the scene where Romeo reads the party's guest list, discovering that Rosaline would be in attendance, was also cut from the final version.

---

Goofs

In the crypt, at the end of the movie, Juliet's hands are in several different positions during Romeo's speech.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Narrator: 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 Come forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives Who with misadventured piteous overthrows do with their deaths bury their parents' strife.

---

Alternate Versions

In the film's original release, and on DVD, the "End Titles" music continues playing on a black screen after the closing credits have ended, much as "Exit Music" used to do in roadshow releases of films. As currently (2009) shown on cable TV, however, there is an edit on the soundtrack (not on the picture) during the closing credits, so that the music ends exactly at the same time that the visual portion of the film does.

---

Connections

Version of Romeo and Juliet (1908)

---

Soundtracks

What Is Youth?
Music by Nino Rota
Lyric by Eugene Walter
Vocal by Glen Weston

User Reviews

The greatest film I've ever seen.

To my way of thinking, this film should be considered when people discuss the greatest movies of all time. Every scene, practically every frame of this movie is brilliant. Director Zeffirelli went against the ancient practice of using older actors in the title roles, and the performances he elicits from teenagers Whiting and Hussey is amazing. Although he trims the dialog heavily in places (Romeo says, "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?"- and leaves it at that) his version captures all the passion of Shakespeare's play magnificently.

The scenes at the Capulet's ball at which the two young lovers meet are about the greatest I've ever seen on screen. The famous balcony scene avoids cliches altogether and makes others pale by comparison. The Queen Mab speech, the fight, and the scene in the tomb are all exquisite highlights of this film. Even the dubbing for the Italian actor's voices and of the crowd noise is superior. It is amazing to me that an Italian could be so sensitively in tune with one of the English language's most sublime works.

Zeffirelli wanted to make a movie that spoke to youth and he succeeded, to put it very mildly. If school systems were smart, they'd pack up their freshmen and sophomores on buses every year, drive them to a local theatre and show them this movie. I can't think of a better investment in young people's education that could be made. It worked for me.