Review of Romeo and Juliet (1968) by Jonny P — 05 Jun 2011

"Romeo and Juliet", perhaps the most famous (and most tragic) story of love at first sight ever written, has never enjoyed as fine of a performance as in Franko Zeffirelli's 1968 production.

Shakespeare's plays are meant to be seen, not read, and this film beautifully brings the play to life. The balcony scene is cinematic perfection. Olivia Hussey is the ideal Juliet, possessing a seductive quality while remaining a beacon of innocence.

Using young actors to play the title roles creates a unique, passionate atmosphere. In fact, my only complaint was Mercutio, who proved to be incredibly annoying. Aside from the famous moments which are all handled just right, my favorite moment in the movie is the regretful expression on Tybalt's face after he kills Mercutio.

That one expression changed my entire perspective of the story, showing that the younger generation hated because of their ancestors but had no true motivation to bring harm to the other. Nino Rota's musical score really ties the entire film together, properly expressing the emotions contained in each scene and its beautiful themes could awaken the romantic inside of the most heartless person alive.

Romeo and Juliet is often overdone and creates a lot of tired performances but the Zeffirelli version is always fresh and emotional.