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Romeo and Juliet |
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1968
Color
2 hours and 18 minutes
Academy Awards
- Cinematography
- Pasqualino De Santis
- Costume Design
- Danilo Donati
Academy Award Nominations
- Best Picture
- John Brabourne
Anthony Havelock-Allan- Director
- Franco Zeffirelli
It has always struck me as ironic that an Italian director should achieve such extraordinary results in bringing to the screen the works of the greatest playwright in the English language. Perhaps this is because the key to Zeffirelli's success lies not in words, but in the passions and emotions that the Bard imbued into his plays.
Zeffirelli used young actors in young roles that have frequently been filled by more experienced performers. With his subtle guidance, both Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey were up to the task. The result is a tender, moving, and realistic interpretation of the classic story.
The only drawback is the notable trimming of Shakespeare's dialogue. While it is impossible to bring every word of the original work to the screen without running tediously long (in fact most screen versions edit down the Bard's plays as necessary), it would have been nice to hear more of Romeo's speech outside Juliet's window.
In addition to Academy Awards, Romeo and Juliet won a British Academy Award, Golden Globes, and a National Board of Review award. For a complete list of nominations and awards, visit the awards page at the Internet Movie Database.
For more about the Bard, including online works, visit our page for Shakespeare in Who's Who in Medieval History.
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