Romeo and Juliet (1954)

Director:

Renato Castellani

Writers:

Renato Castellani (adaptation)
William Shakespeare (play)

Release Date:

12 November 1954 (Finland)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

In Shakespeare's classic play, the Montagues and Capulets, two families of Renaissance Italy, have hated each other for years, but the son of one family and the daughter of the other fall desperately in love and secretly marry. |

Plot Keywords:

Shakespeare | Star Crossed Lovers | Tragic Ending | Passion | Friendship

Awards:

Nominated for 3 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 4 wins

Cast

Laurence Harvey	...	Romeo
Susan Shentall	...	Juliet
Flora Robson	...	Nurse
Norman Wooland	...	Paris
Mervyn Johns	...	Friar Laurence
John Gielgud	...	Chorus
Bill Travers	...	Benvolio
Sebastian Cabot	...	Capulet
Lydia Sherwood	...	Lady Capulet
Ubaldo Zollo	...	Mercutio
Enzo Fiermonte	...	Tybalt
Giovanni Rota	...	Prince of Verona
Giulio Garbinetto	...	Montague
Nietta Zocchi	...	Lady Montague
Carla Diaz

Also Known As:

Giulietta e Romeo (Italy)

Runtime:

USA:138 min

Country:

Italy | UK

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

Thomas Nicholls is dubbed.

Movie Connections:

Version of Romeo and Juliet (1916/II)

Worthwhile for fans of Shakespeare

Yes, this film has been overpraised by Pauline Kael and others. For its time it was revolutionary, because no previous Shakespeare film had used so many outdoor, realistic locations. Unlike the previous MGM version (which all in all is superior), this version did not use middle-aged actors and made splendid use of technicolor. Black and white cinematography may suit MACBETH, HAMLET, KING LEAR, and other Shakespeare trajedies--but not this one. Since 1954, however, it has been remade in more cinematic and dynamic versions.

Nonetheless, it's a very worthwhile movie, especially for Shakespeare fans. I personally think Laurence Harvey is a terrific Romeo. Yes, he's a bit of a simp, but that's the character. In fact, Harvey is the screen's best Romeo; he's a lot more passionate than Leslie Howard in the MGM version, and he speaks the verse better than either DiCaprio or Leonard Whitting in the two subsequent versions. The locations, better than any version, remind us of just how thin the streets were in Verona during the time of the play, and the high, thick, stone walls serve as a symbol of the intransigence of the families.

Yes, it does have shortcomings, but don't dismiss its virtues, which are many, especially to those of us who want more than the MTV-type Shakespeare that the DiCaprio version offers.