Product: Romeo and Juliet [Region 2] (1968)
Rating: 4.0
Franco Zeffirelli Does It Again!
While I respect the tragedy of "Romeo and Juliet," I always thought it was a little overrated. (Especially when compared to Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," "Hamlet," "Macbeth," "King Lear," and even "Coriolanus.") But whatever my feelings toward the play itself are, there is no question that Director Franco Zeffirelli made the absolute most of this play. (As he did with his "Taming of the Shrew," "Jesus of Nazareth," and "Hamlet" as well!) In the event you have not read the play, this story revolves around 2 lovers. (Romeo and Juliet) They are of different factions, Romeo being a Montague and Juliet a Capulet. These different factions have been feuding for sometime, and while the feud has its final stronghold (Juliet's cousin Tybalt), it is clear that the feud is dying. (An obvious example is when Romeo crashes the Capulet party and Juliet's father tolerates his presence and even speaks quite well of him!) Isaac Asimov points out that while Tybalt seems to be trying to keep the feud alive, Romeo may have asked his father to negotiate with Capulet and possibly even arrage the marriage between Romeo and Juliet to the benefit of all. BUT, Romeo is a romantic and not a rationalist! This is underlined when Romeo talks of dreams, and his eccentric (but highly intelligent) friend Mercutio points out that dreams are just unconscious thoughts. Well, as most of you know, Friar Laurence comes to the aid of Romeo and Juliet, and all is happy. (For a moment) A duel that starts almost as a joke with Tybalt and Mercutio ends in disaster, and Romeo gets banished. From here, things get worse and even the benevolent Friar Laurence chooses a possible solution that has uncertain results. And being that this play is a tragedy, the end is far from happy. As usual, Franco Zeffirelli's scenery is beautiful. He also adds wonderful music and dancing. The scenes of violence are done with taste, and emphasize that violence IS a disturbing thing. Hussey brings beauty and dignity to Juliet. Leonard Whiting is a convincing Romeo. John McEnery handles the difficult role of Mercutio well. Michael York brings a fierce energy to the feud's final stronghold Tybalt. If you like this, be sure to see Michael York as Lucentio in Franco Zeffirelli's "Taming of the Shrew." Michael York worked with Franco Zeffirelli yet another time in "Jesus of Nazareth." (He was John the Baptist.) Olivia Hussey would also rejoin Michael York and Franco Zeffirelli in "Jesus of Nazareth." She would be none other than Mother Mary. I'll finish by saying that even if this play by Shakespeare is overrated, Franco Zeffirelli did a great job with it. If you like this, do check out Franco Zeffirelli's "Taming of the Shrew," "Jesus of Nazareth," and "Hamlet."