Hollywood's Romeo and Juliet: Then and Now

By Josh Borow

 

 

When I was little, I was frequently told the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. I found it an enchanting and moving tale then, and I still do today. When I learned that a modern film version was released in 1996, I knew that I had to see it. In addition to the fact that I had grown up hearing the story, my appreciation of Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes also stimulated my desire to see the current edition. After watching the 1996 film I obtained a liking for Romeo and Juliet and wondered what the earlier 1968 version had to offer to the story. After watching both movies I realized that although they told the same story they interpreted the story and its characters somewhat differently.

In the 1968 film the character of Romeo is performed by Leonard Whiting, and in the 1996 rendering, Leonardo DiCaprio plays Romeo. Although it seems unlikely, in each case the characters are very different. They have essentially the same lines, but the feelings and emotions portrayed by the two actors are quite different. Astute editing plays a significant part in the final result as well. Leonardo DiCaprio played my favorite Romeo. When DiCaprio was saying his lines, I found that I didn't need to concentrate on what he was saying because his body language and vivid portrayal of emotions superseded any verbal considerations. For me, his words completely suited his actions. Leonard Whiting achieved the same result but to a lesser degree. He was enthusiastic when I thought he should have been, sad and depressed when that was needed, and fully in love with Juliet throughout. Although both people played the same character in the same play, they both portrayed different character traits and displayed different talents as actors.

In the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, Olivia Hussey plays Juliet, and in the 1996 version Juliet is played by Claire Danes. As with Romeo, in each movie most of Juliet's lines are basically the same, but the feelings are quite individualized. The editing as well plays a crucial part in the final portrait of Juliet. Claire Danes played my favorite Juliet. I felt that Ms. Danes expressed emotion with a significant amount of body language and verbal technique. Her words were completely suited to her actions. The same was true for Olivia Hussey, but not to the same extent as Claire Danes. Hussey displayed a full range of emotion from abject misery to joyous gaiety, but I felt that Claire Danes portrayed these emotions more skillfully. Both Juliet’s played the role extremely well for their generation.

In each movie the nurse was an important person in Juliet's life as well as in her relationship with Romeo. The 1968 version had the nurse doing many things. She spoke often with many lines and lots of enthusiasm. She dressed Juliet, consoled her, and performed many of her chores. One specific difference in the two versions was apparent when in the 1968 performance the nurse had to find out who was Romeo. The nurse had been sent by Juliet to ask Romeo what was going to happen with Romeo and Juliet’s marriage plans. So the nurse asked a group of men, "Can any of you tell me where I may find young Romeo?" However, in the newer film, she plainly states that she would like to speak to the young gentleman Romeo. This is because she already knows who he is. The nurse in both films acts as the intermediary between the two lovebirds.

Juliet's father in the two renditions of the movie played practically the same role. In each film he was portrayed as a highly emotional, cruel, or mean person. He was the rule maker in each version. The 1996 Romeo and Juliet depicts a slightly crueler portrayal of the father. The Capulet father is very physical, and abusive, especially toward the nurse, his wife, and his daughter. Although this abuse is not displayed often, it makes the viewer believe that he is a bitter and harsh person. His attitude in the 1968 film is slightly different. The father is not abusive at all. However, he still portrays cruel emotions and some verbal abuse when his daughter does not obey him. Although the father has a rather minimal part in the plays, his actions cause him to never be forgotten.

In each film of Romeo and Juliet, the mother played a different role in Juliet's life. In the 1968 version the mother talked with Juliet very often. She seemed concerned with Juliet's life and love relationships. Mother Capulet also showed a lot of emotion toward Juliet in this rendering. For instance, when Juliet died in her bed, the mother came rushing in and wept uncontrollably. In the 1996 movie the mother didn't even seem touched. There wasn’t even a scene that showed Juliet’s mother or father coming in and finding the body. There was, however, a scene in the church, and it appeared to me that the mother remained barely affected by her daughter's death. Furthermore, in the 1996 film the mother rarely talked to Juliet. The mother's attitude towards Juliet was duplicitous. When she was alone with Juliet, she would treat her badly, even cruelly. But when in the presence of others, Mother Capulet regarded her daughter as an angel. Juliet’s Mother has a very trivial part in the plays however due to her acting abilities she stands out in both movie versions.

As the times changed, each new movie of Romeo and Juliet adapted to the changing world around it. Viewing the 1968 version was very weird for me. The video technology has been greatly advanced and creates a completely different look to the movie. Also actors now don’t wear tights like they did back then. It is a much easier for me to relate to the 1996 movie of Romeo and Juliet because it is done in a modern way, which is the only way that I know.

Although the two movies have their individual interpretations, each one basically told the story that William Shakespeare wrote. The underlying theme of love and its commitment stayed the same in each movie even though some of the scenes were different. In each version of Romeo and Juliet many scenes were done differently. The different interpretations might have made either a positive or a negative contribution. The opening scene is the one that has the most diversity. In the 1968 rendering the movie starts off in an Elizabethan village where in the background you hear the voice of a narrator reciting the chorus of the prologue. Then hostilities begin when a conflict erupts between the nephews of the respective Montague and Capulet families when they see each other. The entire village joins in on this brawl even the Montague and Capulet father’s. This differs considerably from the 1996 rendition of Romeo and Juliet. The '96 film has a contemporary setting with a small, fuzzy T.V. screen that gets bigger with each second. A newscaster appears and starts to tell you the story of Romeo and Juliet. The newscaster narrates the chorus of the prologue as well. Then you see many different shots of the town with loud music, and the Montague boys arrive at a gas station in their car, which has the license plate MON-005. Next the Capulets pull up, and their license plate number is CAP-005. The ensuing conflict involves only Romeo's cousin Benevelio, two other loyal Montague’s, Juliet's cousin Tybalt, and two other loyal Capulet’s.

One great difference between the movies and the actual play is at the end of movie. In the play when Romeo goes to Juliet’s tomb he encounters Paris where they have a fight and Paris ends up dead. This scene does not occur in either of the 1996 or 1968 versions. Overall the 1996 and 1968 movies portray what happens in the Romeo and Juliet play. However, there are some variations in the movies compared to each other as well as the movies compared to the play.

The use of Shakespeare's original Elizabethan English creates an immense impact in each of the films of Romeo and Juliet. Even though at times it is hard to understand, it gives the viewer a strong sense of authenticity. The two movies were different due to a variety of factors, yet they were essentially the same because they were linked by a common language. Even better, it is this very language form, used in conjunction with contemporary settings that made the 1996 Romeo and Juliet such a powerful film and my favorite of the two.