Compare and Contrast Shakespeare's original text of "Romeo and Juliet" with two film productions, focusing on Act 1 scene 5.

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Compare and Contrast Shakespeare’s original text of “Romeo and Juliet” with two film productions, focusing on Act 1 scene 5.

Franco Zeffirelli’s version of Romeo and Juliet aims to echo Shakespeare's original format, while Baz Luhrman seeks to reintroduce the tragic tale of star-crossed lovers to a modern audience through the use of fast paced action and violence. In my assignment I will compare and contrast theses film versions with Shakespeare original text.

A striking contrast between these two productions is the choice of location where the actual story unfolds. Both Shakespeare and Zeffirelli set their play in Verona, Italy. I t provides a sunny and tranquil setting unlike Baz Luhrman's adaptation, which takes place in Verona Beach, California. Lurhman creates a suburban setting where sky scrapers take the place of sand stone buildings.  Luhrman, however fails to truly represent our lifestyle and society, as too much of the film’s emphasis is placed upon the expensive way of life enjoyed by the rival families. This is revealed by the lavish party held by the Capulets.

The costumes worn by the actors to the ball are very important.   In Luhrman’s production, Romeo is dressed as a knight in shinning armor, representing nobility, chivalry and courage.   Juliet wears an angel costume.  She is a perfect vision of beauty, unwise to the ways of the world.  Her purity, innocence and gentleness are exhibited.   Tybalt is attired in a devil’s costume.  It is representative of his malevolent nature.   His costume like him is a force to be feared.   Lady Capulet is dressed as Cleopatra, a famous seductress; she clearly plays up to this reputation by flirting with Tybalt and Paris.   Cleopatra is reported to have been a renowned beauty; I believe Lady Capulet strives to be one.  Lord Capulet is dressed a Caesar, demonstrating his vast wealth and power.   It is evident that Luhrman uses costumes to embody the innermost nature of the major players.  Zeffirelli applies traditional garments to reiterate the traditional format of his play.   His characters are masked, concealing their true identity.  This gives them a certain freedom from the constraint of society’s rigid rules concerning behavior and decorum.  Zeffirelli expects the audience to see Juliet’s purity, Romeo’s courage and Tybalt’s wickedness through the words they speak.

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Music is used to great effect in this scene by both Luhrman and Zeffirelli; it serves to heighten the emotion of the lovers’ first meeting.   The genre of music utilized varies enormously.   Luhrman infuses a contempory love ballad into the.  Zeffirelli employs music to convey a central theme.  The song is entitled: “What is a Youth?” it compares Romeo and Juliet’s love and lives to a rose, beautiful but brief:

“A rose will bloom, it then will fade

So does a youth, and the fairest maid.”

All background noise is erased as Romeo sees Juliet through the ...

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