- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,272
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Paramount's UK release of Franco Zeffirelli's gorgeously mounted Romeo and Juliet is not only beautifully told and acted, but magnificently photographed cinematographer Pasqualino De Santis. It's one of those production that may have even those inattentive to the cinematographic art, sit up and take notice.
Startlingly beautiful 35mm dye transfer prints were produced in 1968, many of the screened uncut, i.e. with an intermission, which works beautifully, but was ultimately unnecessary for a 138 minute film.
My recall of the imagery is quite good, with highly resolved main and end titles, a healthy grain structure, and an occasionally gently filtered look, along with strong color.
The UK Blu-ray has part of that.
Good grain, good color, but a softness that either belies an older transfer or a poorly produced IP. Something is amiss, and the film deserves better.
This is a beautiful film that deserves to be in every serious cinephile's library, along with The Taming of the Shrew.
Hopefully, WB will be able to do a proper release under their current agreement with Paramount.
As an aside, the Narrator for the English version of the film is Sir Laurence Olivier. Sir Laurence is one of a tiny group of actors who would have my full attention reading a phonebook.
Image - 3.75
Audio - 4.75