Directed by Franco Zefferelli
Written by Franco Brusati, Masalino D’Amico, and Franoco Zefferelli from Shakespeare’s play
1968/UK/Italy
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063518/reference
Repeat viewing/Amazon Instant
[box] Romeo: Thus with a kiss I die.[/box]
This dreamy, romantic, lush film has held up beautifully over the years.
Surely nobody needs me to explain the plot of this movie. With Leonard Whiting as Romeo, Olivia Hussey as Juliet, John McEnery as Mercutio and Michael York as Tybalt.
When this first came out its big selling point is that the star-crossed lovers were played by actual age-appropriate teenagers and for being somewhat racy. All the performances are good. I like John McEnery’s Mercution best. But the high points go to the fabulous Renaissance production and costume design. The Nino Rota score is also a gem. Beats the Norma Shearer-Leslie Howard version by a mile. Recommended to Shakespeare lovers.
Romeo and Juliet won the Academy Awards for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design. It was nominated in the categories of Best Picture and Best Director.
Clip – Love at first sight
Dire Straits in Sydney – just because I love this song so much.
I recently revisited “Romeo and Juliet” and vividly remember seeing it in the theater in 1968. It does hold up beautifully!
We may have watched it on the same day! Who knows? I enjoyed it just as much the second time.
The story is not a favourite of mine so I tend to avoid the (many) movie renditions of it. Sounds like an okay movie though.
It is quite OK. If you could take a “Sayat Nova” attitude to just absorbing the visuals and audio, you might love it.
” Recommended to Shakespeare lovers.”…and anyone else too (give it a spin Thomas) – yea, verily, eightsooth.
“just because I love this song so much” you too (but not U2) eh? The last great band IMHO. Had to play it, well chosen, thanks.
Ah, Nino wrote ‘er eh, and a fine job ‘e done. Liked the Theme from the very first listen way way back. Was trying to find a decent (to me) version on YouTube, damned if I could till I hit this simple one
Really beautiful rendition. Thank you.