Exquisite. The beauty, the innocence, the undeniable - all consuming fire of first love portrayed to the hilt. Juliet's delicate grace was breathtaking. I was totally convinced by this young acting team that they were as in love as is humanly possible. One can smell and taste 14-15th century Italy while following the locations. The performers, everyone, are as genuinely sincere in their humor and passions as one could possible imagine, bringing to life Shakespere's words like I've never seen before.

I cry every time I see it - all the way through. Mr. Zeffrelli, you are the best.

Romeo and Juliet, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, is a fine adaptation of the play. It is lovingly designed, and the photography was stunning. As the star crossed lovers of the title, Leonard Whiting and 16 year old Olivia Hussey looked the part and acted more than convincingly. However, I do think the supporting performances from John McEnery, Michael York and Pat Heywood were better, McEnery and Heywood were exceedingly entertaining as Mercutio and the Nurse. The script was without little fault either, and the final scene is a real tearjerker. My only complaints are the slightly pedestrian pace and while there are bits cut out, others were unnecessarily extended, for example (I think I am the only person who thinks this) Mercutio and Tybalt's deaths took longer than I expected them to. Despite these problems it is altogether a well above average adaptation of a great play. 8/10 Bethany Cox

It took about five centuries for Shakespeare's signature play about young love to be filmed with teen lovers as Shakespeare wrote it. When Franco Zeffirelli got around to doing it as such it put all previous versions to shame. As good as MGM's version back in the studio system days with Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer, they now look arcane when viewing it today, taking nothing away from them as players.

Of course this is hard casting. You have to have extraordinarily good actors and charismatic at that for the big screen. What Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey didn't have in experience they make up for in charisma. And being British they're trained in the classics at an early age.

This film also gave a first big break for Michael York as Tybalt, a part that requires a lot of passion. You don't get more passionate than Basil Rathbone did in the Howard-Shearer version. But he's as arcane with the rest. York took it down a note or two and played him like a bully. I got the impression that York would be looking for fights if the Montagues and Capulets were bosom buddies.

Back in Master Will Shakespeare's day all the parts in the theater were men and there sure was no such thing as typecasting. As we got more sophisticated we demanded more. What Franco Zeffirelli did was now narrow it so that juveniles would be playing juveniles or at somewhat believable kids like the players at Beverly Hills 90210 in their 20s playing high school kids.

Romeo And Juliet got Oscars for cinematography and costume design and got a nomination for Best Picture and Franco Zeffirelli for Best director. Almost 50 years later it is still an impressive achievement.