Franco Zeffirelli directed this excellent version of Shakespeare's classic tale of romance and tragedy, a synopsis for which is hardly necessary. It starred two relatively unknowns, Leonard Whiting (as Romeo) and Olivia Hussey (as Juliet), a very young Michael York (as Tybalt), and no less than Lawrence Olivier doing the voice over. The film is successful thanks to Zeffirelli’s direction which is bold and immediate and full of mobs and passion and young nudity and even handheld camera work (shocking for 1968). We believe these youngsters truly love each other and despite Hussey’s irritating inability to cry with any degree of belief (a failure mimicked by Claire Danes in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo & Juliet effort), the film brings Shakespeare to life like few films ever have. Shakespeare would approve me thinks.
My rating 7 out of 10.
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