In this specific scene Juliet’s mother asks Juliet if she would marry Paris, Juliet refuses and says that she does not want to marry anyone (we know this is because she is married to Romeo).
Juliet’s reaction is unexpected. Lady Capulet goes and tells lord Capulet about Juliet’s refusal of marriage. This is when the two directors have directed the films differently. In the Luhrman version lord Capulet enters Juliet’s bedroom straight after she refuses two marry Paris, they argue and then the argument moves onto the top of the stairs. He then disowns Juliet unless she marries Paris, also her mother disowns her.
But in the Zeffirelli version after Juliet refuses two marry Paris her mother has to go and get lord Capulet, when she tells him he has time two build up his anger while he is walking along the corridor and up the stairs (he is not able to build up his anger in the Luhrman version).
Juliet is disowned by both of her parents just like in the Zeffrelli version.
Unique things about the Lurman version are that it is set in the modern world, or at the time at which it was made (1997). The script is not totally the same; there are certain parts of the original play missed out. The costumes in this version are obviously modern, all of the people in this scene are wearing night clothes, lord Capulet is wearing a dark night gown this is symbolic to him because he is the head of the Capulet house hold. Also when they go onto the stairs the light isn’t very good so this shows the audience that it is serious and that Juliet is scared and upset.
There is music always playing in this version, it is soft and quiet, it gets louder in the more dramatic parts of the scene. There are a lot of close up camera shots in this version and also there are a lot of extreme close ups and over the shoulder shots. The close ups give a better picture of the characters face expressions.
The unique elements about the Zeffirelli version is are that, firstly the setting is in Elizabethan times and also the costumes are Elizabethan. The script is the same as in the play and also the story line is almost exactly the same. This version was filmed in 1968. The costumes are different to the costumes in the Zeffirelli version. In this version the lady Capulet, lord Capulet and the nurse are all wearing dark clothes. Juliet is still wearing a white night gown.
In this version there are not as many close ups and no extreme close ups, but there is some use of over the shoulder shots e.g. when Juliet slowly moves away from the nurse, this is when the music starts, it is slow which is symbolic to what is happening at that time.
Juliet is still disowned by both her parents but unlike in the new version, in this version (Zeffirelli’s) Juliet’s mother has an aggressive attitude towards Juliet.
If I was to direct act 3 scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet in a film version I would use a modern setting, the scene would still take place in Juliet’s bedroom, also lord Capulet would be able to build up his anger in the same way as in the Zeffirelli version when he walks down the corridor and up the stairs. The costumes would be modern, but the language would not be modern it would be Elizabethan because I think it would spoil the film if it was in modern language.
I would have music playing all the way through the scene, it would be quiet and it would get louder and faster at the more dramatic parts, just like in the Luhrman version. Only Lord Capulet would be wearing a dark night gown, the rest of the people in the scene would be dressed in white gowns. Close up shots would be used and also over the shoulder shots. But no extreme close ups. I think that the full facial features can be seen enough with the close up shots.
The mood of lord Capulet in my version would be the same as the lord Capulet in the Zeffirelli version, because I think he shows his feelings better that the one in the Luhrman version. The Juliet would be the same as the Juliet in the Luhrman version because I think that the Juliet in the Zeffirelli version cries too much. She would cry but only when her parents disown her, and also when the nurse rejects her.
In Romeo and Juliet the theme of violence is very strong, I think that the Zeffirelli version reflects this more, as can be seen when lord Capulet throws Juliet across the room and against the wall, in the Luhrman version lord Capulet does not do this he does hit lady Capulet though. Therefore I think that it is the physical actions and the characterisation that makes the Zeffirelli version that more violent.
Both versions of the film have differences and similarities, some of the similarities are that both directors have kept the script and the language the same. The films are set and filmed in different times; therefore the audiences for the two films would have been different.
I think that the Zeffirelli version presents a better dramatisation of act3 scene5 because it is longer than the Luhrman version, this makes more times for more things too happen and more things too be said. Also lord Capulet can build up his anger in this version, which makes it more dramatic.
