1968
The Romeo and Juliet movie was released on October 8th, just a few days before the launch of the Apollo 7. And was directed by Franco Zeffirelli who also directed Hamlet (1990) and Brother Sun, Sister Moon (1972) and had various Academy Award nominations including Best Director. Franco is still kicking at the youthful age of 90. Romeo and Juliet won 2 Academy Awards The cast consisted of British and Italian actors including Leonard Whiting (Romeo) and Olivia Hussey (Juliet). The movie raked in over $38.9 million with a budget of $850k.
SOME DIFFERENCES:This version of Romeo and Juliet stuck pretty close to the actual work of Shakespeare. The version released in 1996 was rated PG-13 while this version was once rated G in the United States, but later was re-reated to PG mainly because of the nude scene before Romeo leaves to Mantua. Apart from a couple of million dollars worth of casting and effects there are not a lot of differences between the two. The first one is more graceful, romantic and traditional (more quiet) whilst the later one is glamorized and dramatic. One major difference that I spotted that in BOTH they do not show Paris during the tomb scene when Romeo sees his love for a final time. There aren't that much of major differences between the two other than the time period it is portrayed.
FUN FACTS:
SOME DIFFERENCES:This version of Romeo and Juliet stuck pretty close to the actual work of Shakespeare. The version released in 1996 was rated PG-13 while this version was once rated G in the United States, but later was re-reated to PG mainly because of the nude scene before Romeo leaves to Mantua. Apart from a couple of million dollars worth of casting and effects there are not a lot of differences between the two. The first one is more graceful, romantic and traditional (more quiet) whilst the later one is glamorized and dramatic. One major difference that I spotted that in BOTH they do not show Paris during the tomb scene when Romeo sees his love for a final time. There aren't that much of major differences between the two other than the time period it is portrayed.
FUN FACTS:
- A rumor surrounding this film was that Olivia Hussey (Juliet) was really Franco's daughter. Not true, of course.
- The first major film production of this play to actually cast leading actors who were close to the ages of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
- Franco needed to get special permission to show teenage Hussey (Juliet) topless in one scene. Leonard Whiting, who was from England, was 17 at the time (the legal age of consent in Britain is 16) and did not need permission.
- Franco became concerned by Hussey's full figure during filming, and ordered that no more pasta would be served on the set.
- During the sword fight scene when Mercutio throws a sword at Tybalt's feet, Mercutio's shadow is actually Franco's shadow standing in for him because John McEnery (Mercutio) was sick that day
- According to Franco's autobiography, Paul McCartney was originally asked to play the part of Romeo.
- Romeo and Juliet was initially suppose to be a television broadcast until Paramount got involved and put it on the silver screen.
Olivia and Leonard got very close during the filming, as you can see in the photo above, Leonard jokes around with her long locks and has a "mustache."