Romeo and Juliet (1936)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Talbot Jennings (adaptation)

Release Date:

3 September 1936 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Scenes of combat that will stir your pulse...tender haunting romance that will stay ever fresh in your memory...spectacular beauty that will set a feast for your eyes...in the greatest melodramatic romance of all time...presented as it has never been before...the final glorious flower of motion picture achievement.

Plot:

The Montagues and the Capulets, two powerful families of Verona, hate each other. Romeo, son of Montague...

Plot Keywords:

Verona | Tragedy | Passion | Star Crossed Lovers | William Shakespeare

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars.

Cast

Norma Shearer	...	Juliet - Daughter to Capulet
Leslie Howard	...	Romeo - Son to Montague
John Barrymore	...	Mercutio - Kinsman to the Prince and Friend to Romeo
Edna May Oliver	...	Nurse to Juliet
Basil Rathbone	...	Tybalt - Nephew to Lady Capulet
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Lord Capulet
Andy Devine	...	Peter - Servant to Juliet's Nurse
Conway Tearle	...	Escalus - Prince of Verona
Ralph Forbes	...	Paris - Young Nobleman Kinsman to the Prince
Henry Kolker	...	Friar Laurence
Robert Warwick	...	Lord Montague
Virginia Hammond	...	Lady Montague - Wife to Montague
Reginald Denny	...	Benvolio - Nephew to Montgue and Friend to Romeo
Violet Kemble Cooper	...	Lady Capulet - Wife to Capulet

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #2216) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | Finland:K-16

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The role of Romeo was turned down by Laurence Olivier.

Quotes:

Juliet: Romeo. Romeo. Wherefore art thou Romeo?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pavane

A rare screen gem that far surpasses any other film of Norma Shearer's

This movie, unfortunately, is not one of Norma Shearer's most famous. Even more unfortunately, it is not often given due credit: it is one of her very best. While some tout the film as slow-paced and unfittingly rigid for a film interpretation of one of Shakespeare's most famous plays, in truth it is a lush and hauntingly beautiful production that, in an instant, makes one forget that Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer ever acted in anything else. The impact they make upon the viewer is unshakable.

Leslie Howard, of gentle voice and fair form, plays Romeo, son of the house of Montague, who is branded simply by his name a sworn enemy of the Capulets, whose daughter Juliet he loves. Norma Shearer adapts her beauty to the role of Juliet and makes her character radiate a delicate, ethereal grace which is, nonetheless, suitably innocent. Both speak the elegant, refined words of Shakespeare with a strongly believable conviction and are perfectly paired, despite their ages.

The ever-brilliant John Barrymore gives a flawless performance as witty, merry Mercutio, and Basil Rathbone redefines the meaning of a tyrant as the violent Tybalt, cousin of Juliet, who desires nothing more than to shame all members of the house of Montague.

The settings are as decadent as one would expect those produced by MGM to be, and the costumes, designed by Adrian and Oliver Messel, transform an entire cast of normal everyday actors into players in a beautiful drama. Although two hours and six minutes long, Romeo and Juliet has a relatively fast pace, and although one is left awestruck by the breathtaking last death scene, the viewer is not emotionally exhausted over the course of the movie. Romeo and Juliet is a true screen classic, and one like it is seldom encountered. If you see nothing else, you must see Romeo and Juliet.