“Romeo and Juliet” (1968): Why Is Zeffirelli’s Film So Beloved?

Juliet’s balcony in Verona, Italy. | Source: Maksym Harbar, Unsplash

A Window Into Late 1960s Values

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has been reproduced countless times and adapted to multiple mediums: ballets, paintings, movies, TV shows, and operas. Arguably, the most enduring film version comes from 1968 and was directed by Franco Zeffirelli. Many have called it the best cinematic adaptation of Romeo and Juliet because it’s the closest to the actual play.

The film has certain qualities typical of ‘60s and ‘70s cinema: soft lighting, romantic music, long and beautiful hair, camera pans and tilts, and odd homoerotic hints — the pants the teenage boys wear in this movie are outrageous! The movie is as much a window into the late ‘60s as it is Shakespeare’s time.

The Most Successful Romeo and Juliet of the Modern Era

The 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet was nominated for four Oscars, winning two.

• Pasqualino De Santis won for best cinematography.
• Danilo Donati won for best costume design.
• It was nominated for best picture but lost to Oliver!
• Zeffirelli was nominated for best…