ROMEO AND JULIET

UK, 2013, 115 minutes, Colour.
Douglas Booth, Hallee Steinfeld, Paul Giammati, Damian Lewis, Natasha Mc Elhone, Stellan Skarsgaard, Kodi Smit Mc Phee.
Directed by Carlo Carlei.

Romeo and Juliet has been told many times in film. It was a star vehicle for Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer, at an age much older than that of Shakespeare’s protagonists, in the 1930s. The version in the 1950s with Laurence Harvey and Susan Shentall is not so well remembered. This is in contrast with Franco Zeffirelli’s celebrated version, with Nino Rota’s, in 1968, with Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey. Quite a different tone in Baz Lurhman’s Romeo+ Juliet in 1996, a modernised version.

This interpretation takes us back to the Renaissance era, the time of the writing of the play. Visually it is most impressive, capitalising on the art and architecture of the period.

The play has been edited by Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park, Downton Abbey). He has shorn the text to fit it into a running time of under two hours, he has also added some ‘Shakespearean’ lines of his own.

The main difficulty with this version is in the performances, especially that of Hailee Steifeld (strong in her Oscar-nominated role in True Grit). She does not look quite the part and her delivery is not very good indeed. Douglas Booth is Romeo, who has a striking screen appearance and is certainly better in his lines than Juliet.

Damian Lewis is interesting as Capulet and Natasha Mc Elhone very good as Lady Capulet. Also effective is Stellan Skaarsgard as the Prince of Verona. And Paul Giamatti is Friar Laurence.

The film was directed by Carlo Carlei whose other credits are very varied, including the dog comedy, Fluke, and the biography of Padre Pio.

1. The popularity of Shakespeare’s play, audiences knowing the characters and plot, the adults?

2. The variety of interpretations on-screen: the 1930s with older Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard, the elegant 1950s film with Laurence Harvey, Zeffirelli’s 1960s film with Nina Rota score, Baz Luhrman’s 1990s contemporary interpretation? This film’s 21st-century interpretation? And the derivatives from Shakespeare, from West Side Story to Gnomeo and Juliet?

3. For the 21st century, the text and its being pruned and added to? The effect?

4. The brisk pace, editing?

5. Locations, Italy, Medieval and Renaissance, art and architecture? The musical score and its tones?

6. The performances? Douglas Booth, his age, handsome, strong, sculpting and art? His being a fighter, the Montagu’s ethos? Hailee Steinifeld as Juliet? American, her presence, age, attractive, the delivery of her lines?

7. The Montagus and Capulets? The two sets of parents and their clashes? Street fighting? family at home, supportive of their children? The plans for Juliet’s wedding, to Paris, the parties, the pressures on Juliet? The play’s emphasis on the Capulets rather than the Montagus?

8. The prince, his status in Verona, the introduction, his observations about the fights, the hearings? The laws? The later judgement on Romeo and exiling him? The end and his role in reconciling the families?

9. The youngbloods, the 16th century Jets and Sharks? Wanting to fight, their angers? Tybalt and his strength? His wanting to be a controller, always challenging? The fight with Mercutio? Romeo and his revenge in killing Tybalt? Mercutio and his character, the Mad Mab speech? The role of Benvolio? Cousin? Very young, a kind of wisdom, acting as ago-between?

10. Capulet and the invitations to the party, sending out the messenger, his inability to read, asking Romeo, Romeo discovering the party, his going with Benvolio, Tybalt seeing them and his being upset? His fears for Juliet?

11. Romeo and his glimpsing Juliet, the masks, the dance, the meeting, the interchange of the sonnets, falling in love, Romeo going home, exhilarated, climbing the wall? The classic scene with Juliet as the light…, wherefore Romeo.., parting is such sweet sorrow?

12. The character of the nurse, her devotion to Juliet, her confiding in the nurse? Her mother’s hard stances? His her father’s abrupt coming into the bedroom, expecting her to marry Paris, his demands, threats of disowning her?

13. Friar Laurence, working the garden, the idea for the marriage, Juliet coming to confession? The nurse organising this? Permission? The marriage ceremony? Friar Laurence and his knowledge of potions and poisons?

14. Romeo killing Tybalt, the Prince and his judgement, exile to Mantua? Juliet upset and disbelieving? The comments of the nurse?

15. The issue of the messages, the novice going to Manchu and stopping to help the ill child? Benvolio seeing Juliet dead, immediately going to Mantua, returning with Romeo?

16. The funeral, lying in state? Juliet and the potion, her reviving?

17. Romeo finding the apothecary, getting the poison, taking it, kissing Juliet, Juliet coming to life, the kissing, Juliet stabbing herself?

18. Friar Laurence, his dismay? The funeral, the comments of the Prince, wanting reconciliation, clasping hands? Benvolio going to Romeo and Juliet and
joining their hands?

19. How effective an experience of Romeo and Juliet in the 21st century? Critical harshness?