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Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: Parental Guidance Binding: DVD EAN: 5014437827739 Format: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen Label: Paramount Home Entertainment Manufacturer: Paramount Home Entertainment Number Of Discs: 1 Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Paramount Home Entertainment Region Code: 2 Release Date: February 03, 2003 Running Time: 132 minutes Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment Theatrical Release Date: October 08, 1968 Sales Rank: 1504
Amazon.co.uk Review: Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was unique in its day for casting kids in the play's pivotal roles of, well, kids. Seventeen-year-old Leonard Whiting and 15-year-old Olivia Hussey play the titular pair, the Bard's star-crossed lovers who defy a running feud between their families in order to be together in love. Typically played on stage and in previous film productions by adult actors, the innocent look and rawness of Whiting and Hussey resonated at the time with a burgeoning youth movement from San Francisco to Prague. The tragic romance at the centre of the story also clicked with anti-authority sentiments, but even without that, Zeffirelli scores points by validating the ideals and passions of strong-willed adolescents. Less successful are scenes requiring the actors to have a fuller grasp of the text, though the best thing going remains the unambiguous duel between Romeo and Tybalt (Michael York). Lavishly photographed by Pasquale de Santis on location in Italy, this Romeo and Juliet brought a different tone and dimension to a story that had become tiresome in reverential presentations. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Lovely... and a great teaching resource
I teach GCSE drama in a rough Saff London Comp and get the students hooked with Baz Lurhrmann's modern version of it and then to teach them more of what Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote the play, I show them this one by Zeffirelli - it works a treat. It is beautifully done, universal in its themes and appeal and the acting is rivitingly good - especially the very young and beautiful Olivia Hussy, though Michael York as a petulant Tybalt is equally good.
Rating: - Beautiful Film with Splendid Theme
This is a beautiful film. When first I saw this film on television I thought Olivia Hussey wondrously vulnerable and quite the part as a 16-year old playing the 13-year old Juliet. Olivia Hussey is such a beauty that one can seriously imagine a Montague hazarding death to woo such a girl.
This is such a film of real depth and richness that I find it one of my very favourite. I have purchased it on VHS, now DVD, because I feel it is the essential Romeo & Juliet
Rating: - Saw the film when it was first released
As a young man I was converted to Shakespeare by seeing this film directed by Franco Zeferelli. The magic for me was that instead of actors declaiming lines I felt I was involved with real people, places and circumstances.
Yesterday the film was shown on ITV3 and had 28 minutes of advertisements added to the 2hr 11 minutes running time.
Editing the film at fast speed made me appreciate the balletic movements of the cast location filming
Alas after editing I found the original recording from satellite had no sound on it.
Even although it was now a silent movie I was delighted to see again the beauty of the costumes, use of colour and the exquisite and careful composition. So pleased to find ... Read More:
Rating: - Zeffirelli- The Bard's Ambassador
Bravo Zeffirelli! A dramatic and visual spectacular which brings both Shakespeare's great tragedy and renaissance Italy to vibrant life. The Shakespeare buff should delight in this superbly crafted re-telling which, by it's intelligent presentation, fabulous costume, memorable music and inspired locations, should also ensnare and enchant the tyro audience.
There is much to praise here. The dramatic sense and interpretation is excellent. The casting is bold and imaginative, particularly in the probably quite daring selection of little-known and youthful leading players (Hussey and Whiting) who rise above their years and experience to give a rare and authentic sense of the impulsively destructive core theme of this tragedy; they are ... Read More:
Rating: - A masterpiece!
Romeo and Juliet- a gripping, romantic film, I wanted it to continue forever, truly worthy of all the oscars ever awarded! All the characters show their passion, love, hate, gaiety, betrayal, war, lust, content and distress in such a way that enchants me! The best characterization must definitely be juliet. The young Olivia Hussey was marvellous as was Natasha Parry and Leonard Whiting.