Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall in love against the wishes of their feuding families. Driven by their passion, the young lovers defy their destiny and elope, only to suffer the ultimate tragedy.
Cinematography
Golden hour in actual Italian locations—every frame is a painting.
Costume
Danilo Donati's Oscar-winning Renaissance fabrics you want to touch.
Acting
Hussey's 15-year-old Juliet captures trembling first love perfectly.
Director
Franco Zeffirelli
Leonard Whiting
Romeo
Olivia Hussey
Juliet
John McEnery
Mercutio
Michael York
Tybalt
Milo O'Shea
Friar Laurence
Pat Heywood
the Nurse
Robert Stephens
the Prince
Bruce Robinson
Benvolio
Natasha Parry
Lady Capulet
Antonio Pierfederici
Lord Montague
Esmeralda Ruspoli
Lady Montague
Roberto Bisacco
Lord Paris
Roy Holder
Peter
Keith Skinner
Balthazar
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Olivia Hussey was 15 and Leonard Whiting 17 during filming—Zeffirelli was legally required to have their mothers on set for nude scenes, which were still controversial enough to be banned in some countries.
This 1968 version briefly outgrossed The Graduate and sparked a Renaissance romance craze, influencing everything from high school productions to Taylor Swift lyrics.
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