Romeo & Juliet ( 1968 ) ( Romeo e Giulietta (Romeo and Juliet) ) [ Blu-Ray, Reg.A/B/C Import - Sweden ]

The difference between a Ferrari and a Miata is that, when the tail-light lens falls off of your Miata, you swear. When the tail-light lens falls off of your Ferrari, you carefully pick it up, wash it off in lukewarm water with a little dish soap, and go down to the Ferrari dealership to pay $47 for an original hand-made pair of Italian screws to replace the ones that vibrated out, and you screw it back on with the words "Thank goodness it wasn't broken." Why? Because a Miata is a mass-produced appliance, while a Ferrari is a hand-made work of art that has a soul. This film is a Ferrari, and it inspires nothing but awe and fierce, passionate love even as its tail-light lenses are falling off and its door handles are loose and its chrome trim obviously isn't perfectly straight. As an English teacher, I've seen this film approximately 35 times now, and I am still entertained by finding new technical inconsistencies in it. A list of them would be almost impossible to compile, but for example, Benvolio is stabbed in the eye by Tybalt's sword at the very start of the film, and something like five minutes later he is talking to Lady Capulet, completely unwounded. Tybalt repeatedly tells Romeo to "turn and draw," despite the fact that he isn't wearing a sword, and later Romeo approaches the tomb with his sword on, then enters it with the sword having mysteriously disappeared. Juliet is put into the grave with her shroud covered in roses thrown by grieving local maidens, but later when Romeo appears to pull the shroud away, the roses have disappeared. And it goes on and on and on through the film. Technically, from the standpoint of mere careful film-making, this film is an undeniable mess. And to my students and to me and to apparently hundreds of thousands of other people across the world, it does not matter one bit that it is. Like that 1960's Ferrari, this film is a flawed work of art - a work of art of such beauty, of such soul, of such passion, of such magnificence, that the flaws shrink into utter insignificance for all but the most anal and prejudiced of viewers. I'm not going to describe it here - that would steal from it and I couldn't do it justice. Just watch it, and if you have even a drop of hot-blooded youth left in you at all, if you aren't completely mummified, the film will explain itself. Watch it in the dark, on a big screen, with a good sound system. The music, the costuming, the casting, the setting, the lighting... all of it has that special stamp of beauty and art and aesthetic that Italy has long been known for throughout the world. The only reason I was tempted to withhold the 5th star was for how many speeches, scenes and lines have been omitted. All the basics are there, of course. The big scenes are almost complete. But Franco Zefferelli was obviously doing his best to avoid overwhelming a non-Shakespeare-reading audience with the Bard's admittedly challenging words, words which have the ring of heaven's own stamp and which I wish were there in their entirety. Juliet's speech while she is waiting for Romeo in her bedroom and her speech before she takes the sleeping potion, for example, have both been omitted - much to the detriment of the story in my mind. Otherwise, the excellent Leonardo DeCaprio-Claire Danes film notwithstanding, this masterpiece from 1967 is still the gold standard and Olivia Hussey is still the unchallenged soul of Juliet in the hearts of most of the world.

Good movie and wanted to watch again. I am glad it could be rented.

To add to the rave reviews on the perfect casting of the teenage Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, the authentic, colorful costumes, the top-notch supporting cast, the deft camera work, I would like to observe something I haven't seen anyone else say: the cuts that Zefirelli's writers made to the original Shakespeare text exemplify expert screenwriting. After being enthralled by this movie, I fetched a copy of the play to check the scenes: I found that Zefirelli expertly cut any dialogue that was largely exposition. Where on the stage dialogue is needed to describe what happened, on screen one can show it visually ("show don't tell"). Zefirelli retained the essential words that the characters would need to say to communicate and just cut the exposition. He also cut lines that somewhat repeat other lines (which made me read Shakespeare's words a lot more closely and realize the bard was sometimes a bit verbose), following another screenwriting adage to cut anything that doesn't necessarily move the story forward. Yes, some famous soliloquies get cut, but in filmmaking, sometimes you have to "kill your baby" no matter how precious. In terms of moving the story forward, nothing was missed, nothing was excessive. If anyone wants to take a good lesson in screen adaptation of literary works, learn from this. And I would like to give my response to those who thought the crying was a bit over the top. Well, Zefirelli not only cast age-appropriate actors, but he also set the film in Italy, where it's supposed to be! Romeo and Juliet and their families are Italian (and so is Zefirelli), so I think it perfectly makes sense for them to emote with great noise and abandon. :) Flawless film that is more than perfection, but a visionary work of art.

I love this movie!!!!

Franco Zeffirelli's "Romeo And Juliet" is the version that towers over all other movie versions of Shakespeare's tragedy. With good reason. This is "respectful and faithful Shakespeare" without being "stuffy Shakespeare." The actors don't act like, "Oh, here's my big speech. Watch me. Listen to me." Zeffirelli makes "Romeo And Juliet" accessible by keeping the story and the action moving. His masterstroke, of course, was casting 17 year old Leonard Whiting and 15 year old Olivia Hussey as a Romeo And Juliet we can actually BELIEVE in and with. Whiting looks exactly the right age for Romeo. Juliet is said to be about two weeks away from her 14th Birthday, so 15 year old Hussey is perfect! Hussey is lovely, and Whiting is absolutely some gorgeous dream. Whiting and Hussey play Romeo And Juliet as teenagers who can barely keep their hands off each other. They kiss, they touch, they feel. In short, Zeffirelli makes them real. He also, obviously, directed towards the strengths of his young stars with great understanding and sensitivity. It seems so simple: but teenage passions, as well as rash acts of behavior, play out more believably when actually played by teenagers. Hussey does give one odd line reading. When Juliet wonders, "Where fore art thou, Romeo?", Hussey puts emphasis on "fore", which seems strange to me. But this is an extremely minor quibble. Shakespeare never really makes clear WHY the Montagues and Capulets are involved in such a long feud, but Zeffirelli directs in such a way you understand immediately that the family feud is a danger to the entire city of Verona. The fighting scenes are all gripping and well staged. The scene where the entire city seems to meet in the public square around the dead bodies of Mercutio (John McEnery) and Tybalt (Michael York) is exceptionally powerful. Of course, comic relief is necessary. This is chiefly supplied by John McEnery as a clownish Mercutio. Par Heywood and Milo O'Shea are both excellent as the Nurse and Friar Laurence, who act as staunch allies to the young lovers. And boy, do they ever need allies. I'd forgotten how cruel Juliet's parents are towards her. When Juliet refuses to marry Count Paris, her mother says, "I would she were married to her grave." And her dad basically says he will disown her, deny her, and she can go die. No wonder the poor girl is driven to such extreme acts as sleeping potions and suicide. The Capulet crypt, by the way, seems like an extremely foreboding and frightening place. And I loved the "Romeo And Juliet Love Theme" sung at the Capulet masked ball. With lyrics like, "Death will come soon to hush us along" and "Cupid, he rules us all", it foreshadows the entire tragedy in a perfect nutshell. Of interest: There is some poetically beautiful nudity. We get a full view of Leonard Whiting's bare behind and a quick flash of Hussey's bare breasts, but it's nothing beyond a mild 1968 PG rating. The PG Rating, I think, was actually, for the fights and deaths. An unbilled Laurence Olivier is heard giving the opening and closing Chorus speeches. Olivier, reportedly, also dubbed in the dialogue for some of the Italian actors. This DVD is a beautiful Widescreen presentation. I was thrilled when I saw Christopher's Plummer's 1964 "Hamlet" from the BBC. I knew I had finally found the definitive "Hamlet." Now I need look no more for the definitive "Romeo And Juliet". Zeffirelli-- forever! BRAVO!

I must have seen this in 1968, when a college student at the height of the 60s. I vaguely recall thinking it a "good" movie, but not particularly memorable. What I recall most is a review I read afterword by John Simon, the theater/film critic. It tore the movie to shreads. Simon hated it. Don't recall exactly why but Simon's review led me to think that my mildly positive response gave the film too much credit and if I saw it again, would probably conclude that it was poor/mediocre. Almost four decades later, after listening to my wife's rave reviews, I did see it again. After a series of events,I had occasion to revisit Romeo and Juliet, watching the stage production and reading it a few times. What the hell, I thought, and took the Hussey Whiting DVD out of the library. Boy did I misjudge what I thought, 38 years ago, would be my reaction to a second, third or fourth viewing because this movie simply blew me away. Olivia Hussey is riveting. John McEnery is riveting. So is Michael York and Milo O'Shea. Leanard Whiting is good enough, probably because Hussey could render anyone's expression of enthusiasm for her utterly convincing. The whole show pivets around her. Her lines in the balconey scene cut right through me. Look at her eyes and expression when she recites the lines containing the words "cunning" and "strange." And watch the way she scrutinizes Romeo to see if it was a mistake not to play hard to get or "strange." Wonderful. This is the movie's center and its Hussey's way of getting across the point - the point that I got anyway -that from here on there's no turning back and whatever hand fortune deals, we're gonna have to play it for better or worse. The scene seems to directly connect with Whiting's most effective - also riveting, anguished line - "Oh I am fortune's fool," after he kills Tybalt. For me this is the film's essence and feels very Shakepearean. That is that passion drives even logical decisions, sending the characters on a journey which is at the mercy of utterly uncontrollable forces. Shakepeare works this idea wonderfully in this play, King Lear and likely many more (I hope to read them). Here this somewhat abstract idea comes alive with great emotional force. Also, another deduction of mine, four decades in the making: John Simon, the critic who tore the film to shreads, simply doesn't like movies and has no business reviewing them. In fact his specialty was to go out of his way to trash those films which were broadly admired. I believe Shakespeare would have loved this film and laughed Simon off as a "fool." I went out and bought three copies of this to give to my 3 daughters. If they don't like it, they can bequeath it to my grandchildren. What a window into Shakespeare. Yes, much of the text was cut, a bit more could have been included. I could have done without the singer at the ball. Too corny and didn't add anything. But didn't subtract anything either. This film was, is and will always be terrific. Sensational.

I remember vividly when this movie showed in my local theater. The only night I could go, it was foggy and we didn't get to go. I thought I might die, lol. It was years before I got to see it. If you ever thought Shakespeare was boring, watch this movie. Leonard Whiting was the hottie or hunk or whatever the current term is Romeo that all the teen girls dreamed about and beautiful Olivia Hussey was his Juliet. He was so good-looking and she was so beautiful, and they were both so young that the movie brought the story to life like never before. Even though they spoke in that same "Shakespeare talk" that the book had; watching it made it come alive and be more meaningful than it ever had before. The set and costumes were fabulous, too, and the story sad enough to be SO romantic. Every English teacher should have shown it to their class who was suffering through trying to read the book. It might not be something you'd want to watch over and over (unless you just happen to love Shakespeare) but it's a wonderful movie to watch at least once. However, in general, kids are not likely to be impressed, so be warned.

As far as I know, Zefferelli has maybe one badly reviewed film to his name: "Tea With Mussolini". Everything else the man has done has been praised to the skies and been worthy of it. If you don't believe me, rent this movie or "La Traviata" and you'll see why! His version of this famous story is the film that gave birth to that reputation. Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" is the 'quotemeister' for me amongst his plays. "Hamlet", of course, has quite a few memorable ones, and most often is the one quoted. however, R&J is BRIMMING with bon mots! Voila: "Drawn...?! And talk of peace?! I hate the word." "I tell you, he who lays hold of her, shall have the chinks!" "Sweetmeats tainted are!" "Who is Tybalt? Better then King of Cats, I'll wager!" "I move for no man's pleasure, I!" "T'is not so wide as a church door, nor as deep as a well, but t'is enough, t'will suffice!" "Come back tomorrow, and you will find me a grave man....!" "I AM FORTUNE'S FOOL!!" "This day is black feint!" "PUNK RAMPANT!!" "I know better men than him, and twenty such jacks..." "Now...hie thee home....FRAGMENT!" "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet...." "Give me a case to put my visage in!" "True...I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain..." "She doth teach the torches to burn bright! She hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an ethiop's ear!" I could go on for paragraphs listing all the great turns of phrase in this play/film, something Shakespeare was known for, but I'll spare you. Suffice it to say that the acting of all members of the cast is excellent, particularly John McEnry's Mercutio...he really couldn't have been a better choice for the role, as the jester among the Montagues. Olivia Hussey's Juliet is an elfin, delicate beauty that most fellas would give their left arm for, especially Italian fellas at the edge of the Middle Ages! Pat Heywood's Nurse is excellent...somehow, her exuberant and natural reading of the role allows you to ignore the fact that her rather strong cockney accent should be out of place in 17th century Verona. Michael York's Tybalt is great! The way he is made up, he resembles a mischievous young bull minus the horns, just the right look for the contentious, troublemaking character. The one SLIGHTLY weak spot seems to be Leonard Whiting as Romeo...he seems too plastic, too pretty...too perfect looking for a roughhousing teenage boy fascinated with the sweet young Juliet. He is, however, light years better in the role than the weak presence cast in the OTHER prominent version of the story, the Norma Shearer/Leslie Howard version done in the 30s. Except for Shearer, who is a revelation in WHATEVER she's in, this version was a casting director's NIGHTMARE! Howard was a TRULY wimpy Romeo, totally unbelievable; John Barrymore was a 50 yr. old Mercutio and looked it, and, (and I have no idea who the casting director was who made THIS mistake,) Andy Devine was cast as a prominent supernumerary! That's Andy Devine, as in "Pluck your magic twanger, Froggy!" If it hadn't been for the presence of Ms. Shearer in this cast as Juliet and for the excellent B&W cinematography, the movie would be completely unwatchable. As it stands now, it's camp joke that should fuel Saturday night giggle parties for every university drama class you can name from here until Gabriel blows his horn! Zefferelli's film was immensely popular for its time, making something like $40,000,000, if I'm not mistaken, in its initial release. It is beautifully staged, cast, acted and researched and can still hold an audience 36 years after the fact! The script seems to be written in a style very faithful to that of Shakespeare's own and the actors' turns of these phrases are expert in just about every case. Nowhere in the world of filmed period plays will you see a better production than this geniune 60s phenomonon, (except for maybe "Amadeus", "The Lion in Winter" or "Excalibur"). Buy it or rent it...you will enjoy it.

This is for the Romeo & Juliet Blu-ray released by Umbrella Entertainment. This is a a region free disc and plays perfectly on my Region A locked Sony Blu-ray player. Unfortunately the Blu-ray transfer is underwhelming and just slightly better than the DVD. It has an overall soft appearance with many murky or muddy scenes such as during the opening credits. There are many speckles, white spots and dirt on the transfer. This movie is arguably the best film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet and I'm pleased to finally have it on Blu-ray. The acting, direction, cinematography, costumes and set design are all excellent. Perhaps someday it will be given the full 4K restoration it deserves.

Kam schnell und zuverlässig. Ich liebe diese Blu Ray. Toll

I BLAME THE PARENTS - Seriously though..., Shakespeare's brilliance and genius in all its glory! I first saw this film when I was at school studying for my CSE exams, (oldies will remember those, you did them before the GCE;s, which were taken a couple of years later) it was part of the English curriculum along with the just as popular film "Love Story" at the time. The English teacher took about 8 of us girls to see both films at Leicester Square Odeon (it was 8 bob I think just to get in, so no sweets at that price) and she had sat next to me on this one and squeezed my hand when I started quietly blubbering towards the end. Thankfully Mum had insisted I take a cloth hanky with me, I thought she was bonkers at the time and then I realised she knew me well indeed. I remember, I was as engrossed and mesmerised then as I was again today. This film will keep you glued to the screen even though the style of language might leave you frustrated and wishing they'd just speak modern English and be done with it. Whilst I understood what was being said and meant right the way through, I had to use the subtitles to keep in step so to speak with what was going on on the screen. But don't let that put you off, the whole production, sound, picture, story etc is excellent, with superb acting throughout, there are really no other words for it. In my world this is a MUST BUY and I highly recommend.

Two households both alike in dignity. Absolute classic. What's not to like?

Franco Zeffirelli has excelled in this film production of probably the most famous and well known Love Story and Tragedy ever written. Olivia Hussey & Leonard Whiting, as well as the entire cast give an excellent commanding performance. The sets, costumes and music make it a visual delight to watch. This tale of the " Two Star-Crossed Lovers " is full of emotion, wit and intrigue. I studied Romeo and Juliet in High School English Lit, and this was the first ever performance I ever saw, when this film was first released. To see the story and that so well known dialogue from the printed page come to life, was an absolute thrill too say the least. This is a film you can watch over and over again and still be very moved. It is a masterpiece ! - Highly recommended.