Romeo and Juliet (Paramount Pictures) (1968)

Stil F#R&I1L2 Mat 2C A FIGHT TO THE DEATH between Romeo (Leonard Whiting) and Tybalt (Michael York) takes place when Tybalt kills Mereutio (John McEnery), Romeo’s friend. Paramount Pictures presents the Franco Zeffirelli production of ROMEO & JULIET. A BHE film in Technicolor opening ..... St the ick ss theatre. Franco Zeffirelli Leading Contemporary Interpreter Of Shakespeare Franco Zeffirelli, director of the Franco Zeffirelli Production of ROMEO AND JULIET, a BHE Film for Paramount Pic Tires, WHICH OPENS ..::....s0a000i. AR oo Ea 6 eae Theatre, has emerged as the leading contemporary interpreter of Shake speare’s plays. Zeffirelli made his motion picture debut last year with the highly popular “The Taming of the Shrew,” starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. His production of ROMEO AND JULIET for the Old Vic was a controversial theatrical success in Great Britain and the United States and he twice staged the tragedy in Italy. Zeffirelli, a native of Florence, received a singular honor in 1966, when he directed the world premiere of the Samuel Barber opera “Anthony and Cleopatra,” the inaugural presentation of the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center in New York City. His other credits range from classical to modern theatre and opera, encompassing such works as “Othello,” “Hamlet,” “Falstaff,” “Cavalleria Rusticana,” “Pagliacci” and “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Still #R&I1IO9 Mat 1E FRIAR LAURENCE (Milo O’Shea) is the only real friend that Romeo (Leonard Whiting) can count on. Not being involved in the family feud between the Montagues and the Capulets the Friar tries to help the star crossed lovers. ROMEO & JULIET, A BHE Film in Technicolor for Paramount Pictures, opens ........ at the ic enarenseetaite theatre. Column Items ASTRAY DELAY—A short delay during filming of the Franco Zeffirelli Production of ROMEO AND JULIET in Italy was caused by an unusual off-camera accident. Olivia Hussey, the 16-year-old actress who plays Juliet, suffered a bruised lip—playing football. She was struck when a kick by her co-star, 17-year-old Leonard Whiting, went astray, causing postponement of the Capulet ball scene. Miss Hussey and Whiting are the youngest performers ever to professionally play Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers. ROMEO AND JULIET, a BHE Film in techni color for Paramount Pictures, OPES ees Ge GHe eee stecees Theatre. “THE ‘LADY’ IS A PRINCESS”— Lady Montague in the Franco Zeffirelli Production of ROMEO AND JULDE LE copenin gies at the dinate Ooi. Theatre, is in real life a princess. She is the Princess Esmeralda Ruspoli, the daughter of Prince Carlo Maurizio Ruspoli, whose family is descended from Prince Talleyrand. She also is the granddaughter of Count Giuseppe Volpi, the patron of arts who founded the Venice Festival. She also is a successful actress and a_ distinguished portrait painter. ROMEO AND JULIET is a Paramount Pictures Presentation of a BHE Film. AH ... MERCUTIOW—John McEnery, appearing as Mercutio in the Franco Zeffirelli Production of ROMEO AND JULIET, almost lost his chance for the role because of a tonsilectomy. The actor was unable to speak when he appeared for an audition with director Zeffirelli, but when they next met a month later the actor’s booming, resonant voice was a factor in his being cast in the film. ROMEO AND JULIET, a Paramount Pictures Presentation of a BEES iilme" Opens (...217.-.2ac at the soacdecsustanes Theatre. Idealistic Romeo Leonard Whiting is a young Londoner, who although only 17 years old, had four years of experience on the London stage and in television. The Franco Zeffirelli Production of ROMEO AND JULIET, a Paramount Pictures’ Presentation of a BHE Film, which opens ............ AGRbMees ne Theatre, is his first motion picture and he was chosen by Franco Zeffirelli—along with 16year-old Olivia Hussey, who is his Juliet—after the noted Italian director had auditioned more than 350 British youngsters during an extensive search which occupied several months. Born and raised in North London, in the Woodgreen-Hampstead area, Whiting is the only son of Arthur Leonard Whiting, who manages a store where exhibition materials are made, and of Peggy Joyce O’Sullivan, who works in a telephone instrument factory. There are two younger sisters, Linda, 13 and Anne, 10. Whiting attended school at St. Richard of Chichester in Camden; an average scholar, he was graduated just a week or two before beginning work on ROMEO AND JULIET. An agent who happened to be at a recording studio when Whiting, then 12, was making a record with a “pop” group, was responsible for the boys’ professional start. After hearing him sing, the agent suggested he try out for Lionel Bart’s “Oliver!” which constantly needed replacements for its child performers. Leonard Whiting is 5’8”, weighs 130 pounds, has blue-gray eyes and dark brown straight hair. The cinema, theatre, music are his great loves, and he would like to become a well-rounded performer. proficient in all entertainment media. Before he faced the cameras on location in Tuscania and Pienza for ROMEO AND JULIET, he took daily voice, fencing and riding lessons. Director Zeffirelli describes his discovery: “He has a magnificent face, gentle melancholy, sweet, the kind of idealistic young man Romeo ought to be.” Juliet, A Tender 15 At the tender age of 15, a shy, petite brunette beauty of Argentine-English parentage was chosen for international screen stardom by director Franco Zeffirelli from more than 300 candidates to portray Juliet in his new Technicolor English language Production, of ROMEO AND JULIET, a Paramount Pictures’ Presentation of a BHE Film. In Technicolor it opens .......... atithereean: Theatre. Olivia Hussey is the youngest Juliet ever to act the role professionally. Zeffirelli describes her as “classically beautiful with a husky voice and mesmerizing eyes—perfect! Exactly what Shakespeare would have wanted.” Despite her extreme youth, Miss Hussey has had nearly four years of professional training, at London’s Italia Conti Drama School, to which she returned after ROMEO AND JULIET. For nearly two years she had acted in the London comedy-drama “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.” She left the play in early June to come to Rome for final tests and for rehearsals as Juliet. : She had small roles in two previous films—“The Battle of the Villa Fiorita” and “Cup Fever.” Her pale, olive-complexioned beauty, green eyes and dark brown waist-length straight hair parted in the center, reflect her Argentinian ancestry. She was born on April 17, 1952, in Buenos Aires in a British hospital, to Andreas Osuna, an operatic tenor, and to his English wife Joy Hussey. A brother, Andrew was born a year later. Their father died when Olivia was two, and five years later she came to England with her mother. The family occupies a flat near the Tower of London. Her mother works as a secretary. Still #R&SI206 Mat 2B DAGGER THIS IS THY SHEATH cries Juliet as she prepares to join Romeo in death. Leonard Whiting plays Romeo and Olivia Hussey plays Juliet in the Franco Zeffirelli production of ROMEO & JULIET. Opening ........ APEME Los cee theatre, ROMEO & JULIET is a Paramount Picture in Technicolor. Romeo Has 17th Birthday On June 30, 1967, in Tuscania, Italy, “Romeo” blew out 17 candles on a six-layer birthday cake and admitted he was “chaffed’”’ by the occasion. “Chaffed” is ‘pleased” in Liverpool slang, popular among London’s young set today. The term came naturally to Romeo, who was otherwise London-born screen newcomer Leonard Whiting, a handsome, stalwart, blue-eyed lad. The surprise celebration came during the noon-time break in rehearsals for the Franco Zeffirelli Production of ROMEO AND JULIET, a BHE Film for Paramount Pictures which opens ......... BUTI iicshscsteatotrens Theatre. Wearing his dark-brown hair in bangs in Florentine Renaissance style and dressed in a pale blue and stone-grey doublet, tights and blue ballet slippers, Whiting cut the huge “dolce’—a “St. Honore” of cream puffs, caramel custard and whipped cream made by Tuscania baker Firmani Ferrero and_ his assistant Angelo Lombardelli. Italian “spumanti” (champagne) was served in paper cups. After the birthday celebration, Romeo went to town to consume a huge plate of spaghetti “al burro” in the cool, vine-covered garden of Vincenti Pietro’s Tuscania restaurant, “Al Gallo” (The Rooster), where again he was’ wished “Auguri” (birthday congratulations) by the staff of the establishment. Whiting, who has had four years of acting experience, was chosen for the role after director Franco Zeffirelli had auditioned hundreds of candidates. The famed director has described Whiting as perfect for the part. “He has a magnificent face, gentle, melancholy, sweet, the kind of idealeae young man Romeo ought to e.’ Whiting played the role of the Artful Dodger in the London production of “Oliver,” has appeared on British television and was the youngest member of the famed National Theatre, touring with the group in Congreve’s “Love for Love.” For his Juliet, Whiting has 15year-old actress Olivia Hussey, a teaming which earns for the motion picture, the apt designation “a young person’s ROMEO AND JULIET.” Still #R&J116 Mat 2D THE HOLY VOWS OF MARRIAGE are taken by Romeo (Leonard Whiting) and Juliet (Olivia Hussey) in the Franco Zeffirelli production of ROMEO & JULIET, A BHE Film for Paramount Pictures. This Technicolor production opens ........ at the nie 5 See theatre.