The theme of ill-fated love has always fascinated film-makers.They have exploited1 Shakespeare’s play often underlining2 different aspects of the story (e.g. the young age of the protagonists, the social level of their families, etc.) and so have made the tragedy world-famous.
In the thirties, with the advent of sound, George Cukor (1899-1983) made the tragedy into a film starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard (Juliet and Romeo, 1936).
In 1954 Renato Castellani (1913-1985) was awarded3 the Leone d’Oro at the Venice Mostra del Cinema for his sumptuous Giulietta e Romeo. It was the first “Romeo” in techni-colour, with Laurence Harvey and Susan Shentall acting the main roles. A very famous classical edition, released4 in 1968, was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, who chose two unknown young actors for the roles of Romeo (Leonard Whiting) and Juliet (Olivia Hussey).
In this Anglo-Italian production Laurence Olivier (the superb Shakespearian performer) was the narrator of the Prologue, and Michael York was Tybalt.
The latest successful film, Shakespeare in Love, shows a fictional Shakespeare and narrates the genesis of Romeo and Juliet. All of a sudden5, the young artist finds himself unable to develop his new play Romeo and Ethel, The Pirate’s Daughter. Just then, he is involved in a passionate love affair with an intriguing lady, who, disguised6 as an actor, rekindles7 Will’s inspiration and supplies first hand material for a new work, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare in Love, directed by John Madden and starring Gwyneth Palthrow and Joseph Fiennes as protagonists, was assigned three Golden Globes and seven Oscars in 1998.
