Romeo and juliet remains the magical high point of his career. A wide variety of literature, despite how renowned, is susceptible to great alterations that may change the entire meaning of the work, such as romeo and juliet. Compare and contrast the opening scenes of zeffirelli and lurhmans film versions of shakespeares romeo and juliet essay sample. With this in mind, i believe franco zeffirellis romeo and juliet is the most exciting film of shakespeare ever made. Romeo and juliet which romeo and juliet movie is the most. Romeo and juliet luhrmann and zeffirelli film comparison. Franco zeffirellis romeo and juliet 1968 and baz luhrmanns william. Zeffirellis 1968 film, which introduced for the first time two teenagers in the. Compare and contrast the methods used by zeffirelli and. The actors, who were unknown, were the age of the star crossed lovers. Sep 17, 2000 romeo and juliet remains the magical high point of his career. Franco zeffirelli and baz luhrmanns romeo and juliet essay. With this in mind, i believe franco zeffirelli s romeo and juliet is the most exciting film of shakespeare ever made.
In the play, the tragedy of romeo and juliet, all these aspects of teenage life absorb the reader or watcher. One of the most exhilarating, thrilling, and suspenseful scenes in william shakespeares romeo and juliet is the fighting scene mainly between the characters of mercutio, tybalt, and romeo. The other part of the reason i chose to analyze it was because i have seen and. The solid leads and arresting visuals make a case for zeffirelli s romeo and juliet as the definitive cinematic adaptation of the play. Franco zeffirelli versus baz luhrmann essay place an order famous works of the world literature such as plays by shakespeare and chekhov, novels by dickens, flaubert, austen and others have always attracted movie directors. Compare and contrast the two film versions of romeo and juliet by franco zeffirelli and baz luhrmann essay sample. David ansen, film critic, describes it as alternately enrapturing and exhausting, brilliant and gliba romeo and juliet more for the. Cast romeo and juliet 1968 leonard whiting filmography. Questions included ask students to analyze the directors interpretations, cuts, and creative liberties as. Luhrmann was trying to produce a marketable, popular version of romeo and juliet. He is well known for recent box office success with the great gatsby, and before that, moulin rouge. We just finished that movie today, and our whole class couldnt help laughing slightly when juliet tried to kill herself.
In this essay i am going to compare the start of two variations on the classic shakespeare play romeo and juliet. The film sold millions at the box office and was well received by critics such as paul matthews who said that romeo and juliet was a, radical invention of a classic text. Romeo and juliet director showdown franco zeffirelli vs baz luhrmann vs a new film version of shakespeares most famous tragedy hits the silver screen today. Comparing the opening shots in baz luhrmann and franco zeffirelli s versions of romeo and juliet 1551 words 7 pages in order for me to comment on both versions of romeo and juliet i will compare the opening shots, the way the main characters are introduced and the types of music and costumes used in each version. One is the 1968 version which starred leonard whiting as romeo and olivia hussey as juliet and directed by franco zeffirelli which i have talked about in a previous blog and the 1996 version which starred leonardo dicaprio and claire danes and was directed by. Analysis of setting in the opening scenes of luhrmanns. Apr 21, 2015 one is the 1968 version which starred leonard whiting as romeo and olivia hussey as juliet and directed by franco zeffirelli which i have talked about in a previous blog and the 1996 version which starred leonardo dicaprio and claire danes and was directed by baz luhrmann. It is intriguing that zeffirelli in 1968 focused on love, while baz luhrmanns popular version of 1996 focused on violence. F ranco zeffirellis 1968 movie version of romeo and juliet is back on rerelease. A new film version of shakespeares most famous tragedy hits the silver screen today.
Franco zeffirellis 1968 film was the first to cast ageappropriate actors in the roles, but. Compare and contrast the two film versions of romeo and. Directed by franco zeffirelli, it is often lauded as the best take on the oftfilmed classic. Romeo and juliet zeffirelli vs luhrmann, sample of essays. The other part of the reason i chose to analyze it was because i have seen and read the play. Shakespeares famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of verona still retaining its original dialogue. Franco zeffirelli and baz luhrmanns romeo and juliet sex, drugs, and violence are usually a potent combination, and only william shakespeare could develop them into a masterful, poetic, and elegant story. Im not speaking of william shakespeares romeo and juliet at. Romeo and juliet and contemporary film audiences mais. Twenty years after the discopunk shakespeare update grabbed the no.
With leonard whiting, olivia hussey, john mcenery, milo oshea. Shakespeare gets a hollywood make over in baz luhrmann s highoctane remake of romeo and juliet. This bundle of worksheets asks students to critically evaluate film adaptations of shakespeares romeo and juliet both the 1968 franco zeffirelli version and the 1996 baz luhrmann version. When i was asked to compare baz luhrmanns and franco zefirellis versions of romeo and juliet one out of many things drastically separates the two videos for me. Questions included ask students to analyze the directors interpretations, cuts. Franco zeffirellis 1968 adaptation is a traditional take on the play, set in the 15th century renaissance period and filmed entirely in italy. Shakespeare gets a hollywood make over in baz luhrmanns highoctane remake of romeo and juliet. Both zeffirellis and baz luhrmanns films are faithful to the action of the play. This version was set in america and is very modern. May 19, 2016 f ranco zeffirellis 1968 movie version of romeo and juliet is back on rerelease. Hailee steinfeld and douglas booth in romeo and juliet movie image reylo. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. In 1968, franco zeffirelli created what many consider to be the definitive.
Olivia hussey in romeo and juliet directed by franco zeffirelli, william shakespeare, olivia. Romeo and juliet film by zeffirelli 1968 britannica. Franco zeffirelli and baz luhrmann go headtohead as francesca militello compares their adaptations of shakespeares romeo and juliet. Baz luhrmann romeo and juliet analysis artscolumbia. How do i compare baz luhrmanns and franco zeffirellis. Comparing the opening shots in baz luhrmann and franco zeffirelli s versions of romeo and juliet this essay will compare two versions of romeo and juliet directed by baz luhrmann and franco zeffirelli. This movie has been premiered in australian hd theatres in 1968 movies 1968. Baz luhrmanns interpretation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet two households, both alike in dignity, in fair verona where we lay our scene from ancient grudge break new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean from forth the fatal loins of these two foes a pair. Romeo and juliet, american film drama, released in 1968, that was an adaptation of william shakespeares famous tragedy of the same name. Baz luhrmann and franco zeffirelli portrayed the film romeo and juliet in very different ways. Franco zeffirelli and baz luhrmanns romeo and juliet.
Interpretation of the balcony scene by baz luhrmann and franco zeffirelli of william shakespreares romeo and juliet romeo and juliet is a famous love story written by william shakespeare. The solid leads and arresting visuals make a case for zeffirellis romeo and juliet as the definitive cinematic adaptation of the play. I was in 8th grade the year this movie came out, and once i had it on vhs, it was all over. Jun 19, 2014 luhrmann modernizes romeo and juliet, through constant alterations of the props, which entice the audience into genuinely feeling the spirit of shakespeare. You can watch romeo and juliet online on videoondemand services netflix, paytv or movie theatres with original audio in english. I first saw romeo and juliet when i was a college junior majoring in english. Baz luhrmanns kaleidoscopic film adaptation of romeo and juliet, while often leaving much to be desired from the two main actors in the way of delivery, presents a fascinating modern interpretation of the 16th century drama. Susan boyle i dreamed a dream les miserables official britains got talent 2009. In 1968, franco zeffirelli created what many consider to be the definitive film version of romeo and juliet.
The cast is almost uniformly excellent im especially fond of pat heywoods nurse and the direction. In william shakespeares romeo and juliet, a long feud between the montague and capulet families disrupts the city of verona and causes tragic results for romeo. Analysis the tragedy of romeo and juliet by william shakespeare is considered by many the greatest love stories ever written. I knew that in live productions that they were typically played by much older actorsactors this young were unheard of. Romeo and juliet zeffirelli and luhrmann the two main film interpretations of shakespeares romeo and juliet are zeffirelli s, made in 1968, and luhrmann s, made in 1997. The australian director manages to combine an exciting mix of original shakespearean dialect and hollywood action, which together delivers a brilliant new concept to film making. It is an adaptation and modernization of william shakespeares tragedy romeo and juliet. Comparing the opening shots in baz luhrmann and franco zeffirellis versions of romeo and juliet 1551 words 7 pages in order for me to comment on both versions of romeo and juliet i will compare the opening shots, the way the main characters are introduced and the types of music and costumes used in each version. First, the movie starts with an prologue masked as a news broadcast on television. The movie did not tamper with shakespeares beautiful poetry. But it is greater shakespeare than either because it has the passion, the sweat, the violence, the poetry, the love and the tragedy in the. Zeffirelli looks great, having been filmed in italian renaissance locations and in authentically colourful costumes. In the beginning of luhrmann s film a tv newsreader says the romeo and juliet prologue. Comparison paragraph between franco zeffirelli and baz.
Having watched two different film adaptations of romeo and juliet, it can be clear to see that the two administrators have applied a number of. Compare and contrast the opening scenes of zeffirelli and. In this episode, we discuss two modern film adaptations of romeo and juliet. When two young members of feuding families meet, forbidden love ensues. Baz luhrmanns interpretation of william shakespeares romeo and juliet 1925 words 8 pages. One was made in 1968 by a man called franco zeffirelli and was set in verona, in the middle ages. Franco zeffirellis 1968, starring olivia hussey, and baz.
With leonardo dicaprio, claire danes, john leguizamo, harold perrineau. Get free homework help on william shakespeares romeo and juliet. Romeo and juliet 1968 uk italy leonard whiting, olivia. Oct 11, 2011 ive only seen two versions not counting gnomeo and juliet, i think the romeo and juliet death scene at the end was better in the leonardo caprio rather than the one with franco zefferelli. Love, youth, and sexuality in baz luhrmanns and franco zeffirellis film adaptations of romeo and juliet public deposited. William shakespeares starcrossed lovers in hollywood. Comparing the opening shots in baz luhrmann and franco zeffirelli s versions of romeo and juliet 1551 words 7 pages. A man named baz luhrmann made the other movie in 1996. Furthermore, two wellknown directors that have directed their own interpretations of this tragedy in different periods of time. Franco zeffirelli and baz luhrmann s romeo and juliet sex, drugs, and violence are usually a potent combination, and only william shakespeare could develop them into a masterful, poetic, and elegant story. Here is what i learned from baz luhrmanns romeo and juliet. Comparison between shakespeares romeo and juliet and the film by baz luhrmann.
Until this version of shakespeares tragic romance, the actors who. Baz luhrmann created his movie in 1997 with leonardo di caprio and claire danes taking the lead roles, he used young and popular, successful actors, to ensure the films marketability. Which film production of romeo and juliet do you prefer. Growing up on a pig farm in new south wales, luhrmann went. Although they use the same original script written by shakespeare, these two films are very different. One is written by franco zeffirelli, a 1968 production and the other is written by baz luhrmann, a 1996 production. Moulin rouge william shakespeares romeo and juliet music edition 4.
Juliet doing the moresca dance romeo and juliet leonard whiting, olivia hussey franco zeffirelli film. With only one other wellknown film version of the play, luhrmanns film has become an important alternative to the conventional style of renaissance drama. Two interpretations were made of this text into a film by the two directors, baz luhrmann 1996 and franco zeffirelli 1968. The two directors who have succeeded most at doing this are franco zeffirelli and baz luhrmann, the two films i will be concentrating on. Romeo and juliet is truly a classic play written by shakespeare. Shakespeares romeo and juliet and baz luhrmanns romeo. The success of baz luhrmann s romeo and juliet baz luhrmann s romeo and juliet was highly successful. Franco zeffirellis film romeo and juliet 1726 words 123. For those who are not aware, romeo and juliet tells the tale of two starcrossed lovers, juliet years old and romeo 17 years old who secretly fall in love and marry. Zeffirelli vs luhrmann romeo and juliet essay 2747 words 10 pages. The 1996 baz lurhmann, claire danes, leonardo dicaprio romeo and juliet version is the quintessential representation of my youth well, until titanic.
However, some movies, for instance, romeo and juliet directed by franco zeffirelli remain eternal classics which attract a lot of new spectators every year. The unrepentant romanticism of franco zefferellis romeo and juliet works beautifully in translating william shakespeares tragic drama to the silver screen. There are some very obvious differences including the intended audience, the setting, the place and the timing of the play. But it is greater shakespeare than either because it has the passion, the sweat, the violence, the. Postmodern cinema productions, such as romeo and juliet directed by baz luhrmann, create a lot of tension as soon as they appear, even though their artistic values remain questionable. In baz lurhmanns version of romeo and juliet he starts with a dark room with a television producing static noise.
These two directors approach this poignant scene in starkly contrasting ways, specifically how they interpret juliets character. How does baz luhrmann use film techniques to make shakespeares romeo and juliet discuss baz luhrmann s depiction of the characters in the opening scene of the 1996 film version of romeo and juliet. Oct 16, 2016 romeo and juliet is truly a classic play written by shakespeare. Not only did it make a true star of dicaprio, becoming his dreamiest, highestgrossing release to date soon to be unseated by. Zeffirelli vs luhrmann romeo and juliet essay example for. Opening scene of romeo and juliet, by franco zeffirelli.
Romeo and juliet balcony scene comparison the jiblog. The key difference between the manner in which the film and the play deal with location is that the film is primarily. These two directors approach this poignant scene in starkly contrasting ways. Cuckors 1936 production featuring leslie howard and norma shearer, franco. Romeo and juliet by gary murray starring hailee steinfeld, douglas booth and paul giamatti written by jullian fellowes based on the play by william shakespeare directed by carlo carlei. In this coursework i will be analyzing then opening scenes of two films of rome and juliet. Luhrmann modernizes romeo and juliet, through constant alterations of the props, which entice the audience into genuinely feeling the spirit of shakespeare. It is intriguing that zeffirelli in 1968 focused on love, while baz luhrmann s popular version of 1996 focused on violence.
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