The Visual Arts: Film

Romeo and Juliet on the Big Screen

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has been performed and adapted in different ways, on different media, by different people. The timeless nature of the Bard's 16th century play is evidenced by the reappearance of several film versions throughout the 20th century, the most significant of which are included below. Not included are the many videos of operas and ballets based on Shakespeare's tragic play and recorded stage versions of the play.

The re-telling of Romeo and Juliet began in the early 1900's with the release of several silent films in France, Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom. In 1937, George Cukor released his black and white version of Romeo and Juliet (NR; 126 min.). Nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actress, Cukor's film was the most comprehensive version of the Bard's play to date. The film, starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard was arranged by Talbot Jennings.

Over the next few years, several versions were released, including Leonid Lavrovsky and Lev Arnshtam's Romeo and Juliet (NR; 135 min.) in 1954, which starred Laurence Harvey and Susan Shentall; and Czech director Jirí Weiss's Romeo, Juliet and Darkness (NR; 96 min.; English subtitles), set during the Nazi occupation.

In 1961, after the musical West Side Story (NR; 151 min.) was made famous on Broadway, a movie version was released, which also received critical acclaim. The film, written by Arthur Lehman and directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, starred Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer. The film received ten Academy Awards.

Italian director Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet (Rated PG; 138 min.) was filmed in Italy and received Oscars for Costume Design and Photography. Written by Franco Brusati, Masolino D'Amico, and Zeffirelli, and starring Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, this film was often considered the closest in plot and setting to Shakespeare's original play.

Between 1993 and 1994, several more versions were released. A short animated version, Romeo and Juliet Animated (NR; 30 min.), was produced by HBO and BBC in 1993. A year later, Alan Horrox directed his version of Romeo and Juliet (81 min.), produced by British Television and starring Geraldine Somerville and Jonathan Firth.

In 1996, director Baz Lurhmann decided to take Shakespeare's tale and adapt it in his William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (Rated PG-13; 120 min.). This movie showcased a soundtrack of modern music, characters in contemporary dress, and a modern-day setting in Verona Beach, Florida. Shakespeare's Elizabethan dialogue, however, remained the same. Written by Craig Pearce and Luhrmann, this Twentieth Century Fox version starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.

Film versions of Romeo and Juliet continue to be released and adapted to this day. There have been versions that tell the story from different characters' points of view. There have been versions housed in various settings—both antiquated and contemporary. The genius of Shakespeare is apparent—the tragedy of the famed young lovers is never tiring and continually touching.

For a complete listing of films based on Romeo and Juliet, see this directory.

Additional Resources:

West Side Story (1961) http://www.filmsite.org/wests.html

This site provides a detailed description of the film, including song lyrics, background information, and quotations from the movie.

Study Guide for Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~brians/love-in-the-arts/romeo.html

On this site, you will find a study guide on Romeo and Juliet that can be used in conjunction with West Side Story and Franco Zeffirelli's film.

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
http://www.romeoandjuliet.com/

Learn more about Baz Luhrmann's version of Romeo and Juliet—its production, actors, and setting. Also included is information about Shakespeare, presented in a fun manner using colloquial language.