Product: Romeo and Juliet [Region 2] (1968)
Rating: 5.0
I had the entire script memorized by age 12!
I fell in love w/the Bard, probably, directly from this movie! I was 11 (just the age to dream of being Juliet and "dying for love")! I was a fair-skinned, blue-eyed, blonde then (as Juliet was USUALLY cast--she WAS Italian, of course--but, then Verona is "mid-Italy"--alot of "blondes" there--but I didn't know that until 1976.) I thought they were both perfect! I learned to play the soundtrack on the piano, and bought the soundtrack (vinyl) and memorized all the parts. I thought someday, I might act in a Shakespeare play--I wanted to be an actress at the time. Alas, it was not to be...and, then, Zeferelli was accused of "statutory rape"--was it true? Who knows. "Alas, my only love sprung from my only hate. Hell, I forget the lines! Blah, blah...and known too late!" I'm 48 now, give me a break. I like that he kept MOST of the original language {the newer one w/DiCaprio and Danes, while I liked it, played loose with the original. Romeo is still alive when Juliet wakes up. They skip alot of lines. They ADD some lines. And,when asked, Claire Danes--"What was it like to play Juliet? And what do you think the message Shakespeare was trying to send?" answered "Juliet was just a chick who had alot happen to her in a short period of time" WHAT?? (lol)} The updated concepts of "gangs", Juliet as "extremely sheltered", the take on Mercutio, all were "right on target". The "tomb" scene is "pretty", but just plain "wierd"...who is "laid out" like that? And, did Romeo really scream, "Juliet!" from exile, when he thought she was dead? I love the 1967 version. It's fun, beautiful to look at, and more realistic to the time period. I like updated versions, so younger people can at least relate to it. But, us "baby boomers" related to all the "period costume" and language just fine. It also emphasizes the "point" more--the pain that ultimately arises from irrational hate. See it!