Romeo and Juliet
Thames Television (1976)
Drama, Romance
In Collection
#11026
0*
Seen ItYes
IMDB   6.4
1 hr 27 mins USA / English
DVD  Region 1   NR
Christopher Neame Romeo
Ann Hasson Juliet
Director
Joan Kemp-Welch
Writer William Shakespeare

The acting here is fairly good. It's not really great as it doesn't stand out. The thing I really liked about this production is the costuming and scenery. These are important to me to help understand the play as Shakespeare intended. In this production the street scenes take place with street people around to give the feeling that the scene really is on the street. The scenes indoors likewise show what indoors would show in the time period. The dance scene is done showing many people dancing, though Rosaline is not shown as she is in some productions. Costumes were not cheaply done. Nobility are arrayed in very fine apparel.

As far as the acting is concerned, I didn't feel there were any standout performances, except perhaps Christopher Biggins as a Capulet servant who can't read, a good comical part. Biggins did a good job of pulling off the comedy of his part. The Nurse and Peter are supposed to be comical characters and they try at it, but don't come off as well as in other versions of Romeo and Juliet. The parts of Romeo & Juliet are delivered fairly well, but don't stand out. Juliet's father, Capulet, seems just a bit effeminate, rather inappropriate for so domineering a father, husband and lord of the house. Tybalt should be much more antagonistic and sly. Here he is certainly willing to fight, but it almost seems as if it was Mercutio that was the antagonist in the fight between he & Tybalt. Mercutio does a good job in his incessant talk at nothing, which is as his character is supposed to be. He rambles and makes it seem natural.

Lastly, the credits are lacking. The most notable omission is that there is no credit for Benvolio. Lady Montague and Peter are missing as well in the credits. Many of the other credits are missing in the film, but are filled in by IMDb.
Edition Details
No. of Disks/Tapes 1
Personal Details
Purchase Price $4.99