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 enlarge | Director: Franco Zeffirelli
Actors: Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, John Mcenery, Milo O'shea, Pat Heywood
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $4.09
You Save: $5.89 (59%)
New (63) Used (27) from $4.00
Rating:  247 reviews
Sales Rank: 1136
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Subtitled)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 138
Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.5
MPN: PARD068094D
ISBN: 0792165055
UPC: 097360680942
EAN: 9780792165057
ASIN: 0792165055
Theatrical Release Date: October 8, 1968
Release Date: May 23, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New and Factory Sealed Item Fast Shipping
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| Customer Reviews:
 i love this movie! July 13, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
i own the 1996 version of Romeo and Juliet, but i felt like watching this 1968 version. so i got it and let me just say i love this one! it is the best version i think ever made of the famous play. (and i love Leo Dicaprio) so for me to say this is amazing! i loved it so much i watched it about five times since i got it! five stars!
"Cupid, He Rules Us All" June 23, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In 1968 Franco Zeffirelli wowed critics and audiences alike with his filmed version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. He cast two unknown actors in the title roles. Romeo was played by Leonard Whiting, who captured the angst and anti-war sentiment of his generation while juxtaposing it with his all-consuming passion for Juliet. And Olivia Hussey plays Juliet to perfection by endowing her with innocence, naivety, intelligence and loving conviction. The rest of the cast is also superb especially John McEnery who lends a manic energy to Mercutio, Milo O'Shea who plays the difficult role of Friar Laurence, Pat Heywood who is spectacular as the Nurse, Michael York as the violent Tybalt and Bruce Robinson plays the loyal Benvolio. The film features a phenomenal score composed by Nino Rota. The production design is fantastic and the costumes are all lavishly created and provide the film with a sense of authenticity (even if not historically accurate). The fight choreography, though simple when compared to today's standards, is exciting and well rehearsed.
"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes...
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whose misadventur'd piteous overthrows...
Do with their death bury their parents' strife."
For those few who aren't familiar with the story (Go read it!), it tells the tale of Romeo, son of Montague and Juliet, daughter of Capulet. The two youths fall in love only to discover that they are sworn enemies. They hide their love from their feuding parents and are hastily wed in secret. But Juliet is to marry another, at the command of her father and Romeo is banished from Verona for killing Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Just as it seems that there's no hope that the two lovers will be united, a Franciscan Friar offers Juliet a draught, which when taken gives off the appearance of death and once her family believed her to be dead she would be free to rejoin Romeo. But Romeo hears rumor of his beloved's demise and sets off for the mausoleum where her body rests. There, too distraught to live, he drinks a vial of poison and dies but not before giving Juliet one last kiss. When the draught wears off Juliet finds her true love's body. She is so determined to be with him that she plunges his dagger into her own heart, thus either ending her anguish or reuniting them in the afterlife. When the Capulets and the Montagues discover the tragedy that has befallen them, they put aside their ancient feud and are united in grief.
"A glooming peace this morning with it brings.
The Sun, for sorrow, will not show his head,
For never was a story of more woe...
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."
Though Zeffirelli takes some liberties with William Shakespeare's text (numerous lines of dialogue are omitted or altered, the confrontation between Romeo and Paris is removed, and the scene where Romeo goes to the apothecary to buy the poison is for some reason left out), he preserves the spirit of the tragic romance. The film is truly a classic and an example of acting at its finest.
Unfortunately the only DVD available is rather lacking. The film has not been restored or remastered in any way and the audio track is only in 2.0. There aren't really any special features except for English subtitles, scene selection and a theatrical trailer. With this year marking the 40th anniversary of the film hopefully we can expect a more worthy DVD release, but if not this one is available at most retailers for a very reasonable price.
Also recommended:
Romeo & Juliet (original soundtrack with dialogue from the film)
Romeo & Juliet (Nino Rota's original score without dialogue)
Warner Bros. Shakespeare Collection
 Beautifully Casted, Adept Cinematography, Soundtrack Moving and the words wonderfully rendered June 18, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
It is written somewhere, possibly Homer or Plato, (possibly Oscar Wilde) that Poets are in-love with love, that is to say, the "Ideal of LOVE"... because the truly moving love poems, plays and stories that have been penned over the last 500 years, have something in common: most begin with so much passion; as in all good tales, there is a major conflict, but the Love is Real, ending in tragedy and tears. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is one such tale.
"Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved."
- William Shakespeare
Sonnet CXVI
This is true romance and love from the depths of the soul - true love is unmoved...through out time.
The Sonnets are most likely the most heart-felt lines about Love and Devotion ever written.
My point is Romeo and Juliet expresses this Love without any political agenda - though finally ending the violent feud between the Montegues and the Capulets.
Olivia Hussey as Juliet gives us a unique and star performance. Not only because of her great beauty, but her understanding of the role.
The famous line: "Romeo, Romeo, where for art thou, Romeo", was delivered not like any other rendition of this play. See the balconey scene in this film and you will catch the nuances, and the actor's skill.
Leonardo Whiting is also a striking fellow and played Romeo in the midst of that "Love Spell" (adolescent) with the innocence and honesty the role deserves.
Michael York as Tybalt, revealed the passion, aggression and focus the role requires, and once Romeo kills him, acts out a wonderful "death scene", a great performance!
The soundtrack by Nino Rota, "What is Youth", added the necessary feeling to this classic Love Story.
A memorable piece.
This is the best film interpretation of the play and a classic love story that spawned Shakespeare's beautiful Sonnets.
A film to own and enjoy about the wonder of 'adolescent love'; that it still exists, is quite real and will continue its innocence and purity to the end of time.
Romeo & Juliet DVD June 1, 2008
After having shown the VHS version to my students for years, I finally bought the DVD to show via projector. What a difference it makes to have the subtitles! Very happy with my purchase.
Artistry that will touch your heart May 28, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I do not use the term "Masterpiece" lightly. So when I attach that title to Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet please believe that it is heartfelt. I first saw this film upon it's release in 1968. I was 15. Shakespearian productions held little interest for me. The language was strange and from what I'd seen the acting seemed stiff. But after seeing the trailer I was intrigued. Perhaps it was the youthful players or the exciting action. For whatever reason I anticipated Rome & Juliet's release. I even found a paperback edition of the complete works of the Shakespeare and read the play, struggling to understand Elizabethan English but I finally succeeded. When the day of the film premiered in my town I eagerly attended. During the following two and a third hours I felt such emotion radiating from the audience and myself that I sat captivated. The costumes, beautiful soundtrack and sets made me feel as if I was haunting Verona's streets and allies. As the film ended sniffles and sobs accompanied the credits. Most left before the 2nd feature began. I sat, not wanting to exit into the real world until my cheeks dried. When I finally walked into the Sun I returned much richer for the experience. Romeo & Juliet led me to timeless classics and gave me an escape from the realities of 1968. So impressed was I that English and Elizabethan Literature became my major two years later when I entered College. Even today, four decades from that tumultuous time I watch this Masterpiece with moist eyes, my breath falters and if I try to speak my voice catches. "Because never has there been a tale of such woe as that of Juliet and her Romeo." Thank you Master Shakespeare and Sr Zeffirelli. Your artistry touched my heart.
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