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Reacting to Different Romeo and Juliet Adaptations (Film, Theatre & Ballet Watch-along) (Patreon)

Published:
2022-03-28 15:47:56
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

It's time for a fun reaction video again.

Today we're appreciating different film and stage adaptations of Romeo and Juliet.

We have some hearty meals on the menu with the Zeffirelli and Luhrmann film versions, a palate cleanser in the form of actor interviews, and some desert with musical and ballet interpretations.

The balcony scene, the two lovers meeting, Juliet and her father's argument, Mercutio's death, and the death of the two lovers are all here.

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 Zeffirelli Hussey/Whiting (balcony scene)
  • 10:46 Luhrmann/DiCaprio/Danes (the first meeting)
  • 17:22 Luhrmann/Sorvino (Juliet and her father argue)
  • 21:30 Carlei/Booth/Steinfeld (balcony scene)
  • 23:00 Interview with Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting 
  • 27:10 & Juliet Musical/West Read/Max Martin
  • 32:37 Zeffirelli/McEnery (Mercutio's death)
  • 38:44 Philippines Ballet/Gatti/Parungao (death scene)

Questions for You:

1) Did any of the versions we enjoyed together do it for you? If so, why?

2) Did you see things differently in the theatre of your mind?

3) What other Romeo and Juliet adaptations would you recommend we watch?

Thank you for sharing your favourite passages, and please feel free to add any more you would like us to appreciate. 

Happy reading, everybody!

Files

Previews only

Reacting to Different Romeo and Juliet Adaptations (Film, Theatre & Ballet Watch-along

0:00 Zeffirelli Hussey/Whiting (balcony scene) 10:46 Luhrmann/DiCaprio/Danes (the first meeting) 17:22 Luhrmann/Sorvino (Juliet and her father argue) 21:30 Carlei/Booth/Steinfeld (balcony scene) 23:00 Interview with Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting 27:10 & Juliet Musical/West Read/Max Martin 32:37 Zeffirelli/McEnery (Mercutio's death) 38:44 Philippines Ballet/Gatti/Parungao (death scene)

Comments

Emma Yap

I'm very late to the party but thanks so much for this, Ben - I always love your reaction videos! My favourite adaptation is the Zefferelli - as a film, the cinematography is wonderful, and I really like what the director did while adapting the play. I first watched the Lurhmann version when I was a teenager and loved it. Watching it this time round, I really admire the boldness of the film, and like the acting, but I just felt it was way too frenetic. Too much shouting, and too much emphasis on visual spectacle as opposed to character. I didn't find Mercutio's death very moving in this film because there had already been so much drama and shouty gun-pointing before this point. My favourite version is actually a ballet which was choreographed by the legendary Yuri Grigorovich and danced by the Bolshoi. There's a very old, not very good quality version on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF_-qi5ipVc&t=3760s I found it incredibly moving and it's perfectly matched to Prokofiev's music. Watching Grigorovich's version set me off on a rabbit hole of watching his other ballet productions.

Jonathon Glover

I’ve jumped into the back catalogue to have a look at the videos for Romeo and Juliet as it is this week’s play in the ‘Shakespeare Project’. I think this is the first time you will be doubling up on content for the Bard, so looking forward to the discussion later this week on R+J. On a side note, it is interesting seeing some of the regulars who have been here for over a year (Caroline P, Emma M etc.) I don’t know if anyone will respond to this, but I found the observation, and discussion, around & Juliet really interesting. Is there something ironic in our questioning if people taking and appropriating Shakespeare’s work to fit our own cultural zeitgeist, when that is exactly what Shakespeare did with his plays (outside the Tempest I believe)? I wonder if classicists of his period were livid at his appropriation of Ovid and the like. ‘Who does this young upstart think he is?” 😂 Thanks for the great series of lectures Ben.

hardcoreliterature
>>108230928

I'm actually tremendously excited about this first time doubling up, Jonathon! It's been a lot of fun trying to focus on different areas from the last read through and see where my own thoughts might have developed. I can't wait to hear what you all make of this one. And absolutely it's so lovely to go through the back catalogue and see so many familiar names :) This irony is something I've been thinking about rather intensely recently, and my own thoughts seem to have changed a little bit. I think you're absolutely right there! I'm sure Will would be happy with many of our contemporary appropriations. It's in the Shakespearean spirit, after all!

Jonathon Glover
>>108230928

I wasn’t expecting a response to this comment. A pleasant surprise. I wonder if others will jump into these lectures too over the coming weeks. Hopefully. You can see that some of those regulars have grown in confidence since last year, and is a testament to what good literature, and your bookclub, can achieve. On a side note, would you prefer composers to do adaptation (Zeffirelli) or appropriation (West Side Story)?

hardcoreliterature
>>108230928

That's such a difficult question! I love both kinds so much. My favourite version of King Lear is Akira Kurosawa's 'Ran', and that is certainly more appropriation than straight adaptation. But it's such a masterpiece that it works. Same with A Midsummer Night's Dream. The best versions are actually musical responses/interpretations, rather than straight adaptations. Do you have a preference for adaptation or appropriation?

Jonathon Glover
>>108230928

Just listened to the R&J lecture. And you did a wonderful job doubling up on content. I think that you have found the sweet spot for your lectures this year between discussion and analysis. So rewarding. Ran is so good! As is Throne of Blood. I like appropriations too. Although, there is clearly a place for both. Have you ever read any theory by Linda Hutcheon about adaptation and appropriation? This could be the source for a wonderful lecture series. Comparing adaptations/appropriations of classic novels. For me, I like seeing adaptations on the stage and appropriations in other mediums (film, music etc). In saying that, the best adaptations I have seen on stage tend to appropriate in some way (such as Richard III being set in 1930’s Germany etc).

Jaye Cee
>>108230928

I’m here following these older lectures to add to the year of Shakespeare, although am about 3 months behind the group. They are great resources and I enjoy seeing how lectures have been developing over the last two years

Jonathon Glover
>>108230928

I like going through the back catalogue to Jaye. You can do things at your own pace, and also have the option to binge the text and lectures too (I did that with Siddhartha last week :).