DRAMATIC EFFECT IN SHAKESPEARE
In class we are going to read The Balcony Scene an extract from ACT, scene V, when Romeo first sees Juliet at the Capulet’s great ball and it’s love at first sight.
The first video is from Zeffirelli’s movie (1968) starring Leonard Whiting as Romeo and Olivia Hussey as Juliet. It was very successful because of its humour and sensuality. It was filmed in Tuscany and for the first time the two teenagers were played by young actors Juliet and 17 Romeo), close in their age to Shakespeare’s characters. It won Oscars for costume design and cinematography.
The next video is the famous Balcony scene.
As it’s not that easy I’m sure you’ll appreciate the great Commnt Bubble Video made by my dear colleague Anna Laghigna who I thank for sharing it with us!
And now you can watch the trailer of BAZ LUHRMANN’S (1996) version starring Claire Danes and Leonardo Di Caprio. The Australian director made a very unconventional version mingling advertisements and video-clips in a Californian metropolitan setting (Verona beach) and thus creating a surreal but contemporary atmosphere.
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- Which actor and actress are closer to your idea of Romeo and Juliet?
- Which version of the play did you enjoy most and why?
ANSWER BY LEAVING A COMMENT. Bye!!
Before saying goodbye there’s also a funny website 60 SECONDS RECAP with 60 second summaries of the plot, themes, characters. Have a look: don’t worry if you find the speed of talk pretty fast :). Always keep in mind that Shakespeare’s plays have been subject to several changes through the years, as you can see in this website, Shakespeare Subject to change (needs Flash Player)
Last but not least An Interactive Folio of the Play with so much to see, even video interviews! And here you’ll find the 13 words You didn’t know were invented by the Bard 🙂
In order to study & revise you cannot miss this website by BBC: 60 Second Shakespeare. Check it out!
To end the post in a funny way PLAY an Interactive TUDOR FASHION GAME and see if you can dress the Victorian and Tudor gentlemen correctly.
Bye!
In my opinion the actors of both films are close to my idea of Shakespeare’s ones because I imagine them like young guys. The closest film is, without doubts, the version of Zeffirelli because of costumes, scenography and dialogues (to me more like the ones written by Shakespeare). I watched the film by Baz Luhrmann and I liked it because is different from all the others films about Romeo and Juliet. It gives us the vision of a love that lives in a contemporary age with issues caused by society and families instead, the one of Zeffirelli, gives the spectators an idea of an old vision of love with all the traditions of the time.
I think that the actors of Zeffirelli’s movie are closer to my idea of Romeo and Juliet for the clothes, also for the soundtrack and the atmosphere typical of that age. I wouldn’t like the version with Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes because I guess that this another way to explaine this love story subtract the real meaning of the original story written by William Shakespeare that is love reveal in every aspect.
I think that the actors of Zeffirelli’s film are closer to my ideal Romeo and Juliet, the scenery, the costumes and the dialogues represent better the story and are clearly more real than the ones from Baz Luhrmann but I find his film really appealing and actual; I watched this film and enjoyed it very much.
I think that all of them are a masterpiece, but the actors of the first video (made by Zeffirelli) are closer to my idea of Romeo and Juliet, especially for their costume design and the places where the film was set; but I enjoy most the new version with Leonardo Di Caprio and Claire Danes because the unconventional setting and the beautiful actors are closer to the idea of “dream love” in our time.
In my opinion Zaffirelli’s Romeo is closer to the idea of the character described by Shakespere, especially for the costume and the way he spoke, diffrently from the one of Luhrmann that has a strong American accent.
I think that I would enjoy more the new interpretation of Romeo and Julliet, because it is closer to our age.
I’d definitely say that the version of Zeffirelli is closer to the typical idea we have of the poem and of the love story but I find the new version somehow more interesting because of the adaptation and reinterpretation
Very interesting post! 😀 I’ve seen the movie of Zeffirelli, but I would like to see also the version of Baz Luhrmann