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

Against the backdrop of a venomous feud between the powerful clans of the Montagues and the Capulets in the medieval city of Verona, William Shakespeare's eternal story of teenage love unfolds. As youth's insolence arms the charming young Montague, Romeo, with dauntless courage to come uninvited to the Capulets' scintillating masked ball, a brief but thrilling encounter with the delicate dark-haired Capulet, Juliet, will pave the way for an ardent passion and a cruel romantic tragedy. Before God, the star-crossed lovers have sworn never-ending devotion despite their perilous plight; however, before the grim machinations of fate, man stands powerless. Are Romeo and Juliet destined to be together?

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

No ordinary love story...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Laurence Olivier had to record his narration (and dubbing as Lord Capulet) barefoot - as the shoes he wore to the studio that day were too noisy.

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Goofs

When Romeo and Benvolio arrive at the Capulet's ball, Benvolios's love interest is seen standing in one place. In the next shot she's seen walking around and in the next shot she is seen standing in the same place she was before she began walking around.

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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 From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life Whose misadventured piteous overthrows do with their deaths bury their parents' strife.

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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.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Getting Away with Murder/James and the Giant Peach/Jane Eyre/Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy/Ghost in the Shell (1996)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

UK Italy

Language:

English French

Release Date:

8 October 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Filming Locations:

Viterbo, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,292

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:

1.85 : 1