Product: Romeo and Juliet [Region 2] (1968)
Rating: 5.0
THE BEST depiction of Shakespeare's tragic romance yet!
Romeo And Juliet - No Ordinary Love Story...Franco Zeffirelli's Oscar winning 1968 masterpiece was filmed in Italy (Verona, I believe though I'm not 100% sure of that). The film is rich in costume and scenery and the performers are simply extraordinary. Olivia Hussey (Death On The Nile; It; Psycho IV: The Beginning; etc.,) shines as sweet Juliet, Leonard Whiting's (Frankenstein: The True Story; The Legend Of Young Dick Turpin; Rachel's Man; etc.,) portrayal of young Romeo is unparralled and of course Michael York (Logan's Run; The Island Of Dr. Moreau; Austin Powers; etc.,) is outstanding as fiesty Tybalt. But the true shining star in this film is the delightful, Ms. Pat Heywood (Who Slew Auntie Roo?; Root Into Europe; etc.,) The Secret Garden; who steals the screen with each moment she graces it. She plays Juliet's Nurse and does so with such power, whimsy and conviction that you simply must love her. Pat Heywood gave the commonly droll Nurse character life and vibrance I have yet to see in a performance of this play live or filmed. The scene where she goes to the church to meet Romeo is absolutely side-splitting!My sole complaint with this film was that there was a bit of trimming done to the original script. Some of the dialogue was cut down, but only true, hard-core Shakespeare fans would likely notice. You've tried the rest? Then watch the BEST!Concerning the ages of the stars: I include this mainly as a side note, for it's been my experience that there is always some confusion, question and disagreement concerning the age of the young stars. Here is their birth information in hopes of settling any debates. Hussey was born April 17th 1951 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Leonard Whiting was born June 30th 1950 in London, England, UK and Michael York was nearly ten years their senior (May 27th, 1942 - in Fulmer, Buckinghamshire, England, UK).Not that it's ever been a debate -- as far as I know it hasn't -- but I do not know Ms. Heywood's birthday...Just for the record :)