What's new

A Few Words About A few words about...™ Romeo & Juliet (1968) -- in Blu-ray (1 Viewer)

Robert Harris

Archivist
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
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

 

Mark-P

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2005
Messages
6,481
Location
Camas, WA
Real Name
Mark Probst
3.75 is a pretty decent score. I've been satisfied with a lot of Blu-rays to which you gave a much lower score. I bought this a while back from Amazon UK and am very pleased with the results.
 

Tom St Jones

Supporting Actor
Joined
Jul 14, 2013
Messages
860
Location
the Great Northeast
Real Name
Thomas
Surprised, and rather happy, that RAH would see fit to review this now as I believe this disc was released an entire year ago. It wasn't long ago that I myself brought up what I felt was the strange fact that this had not yet been issued on Region A Blu-ray. Glad the man got around to reviewing this one, as his verdict is close to gold here.
 

Michel_Hafner

Screenwriter
Joined
Feb 28, 2002
Messages
1,350
What is the connection between this film and the Hunger Games series? :)
4 notes, by one of the geniuses of last century cinema.
 

schan1269

HTF Expert
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2012
Messages
17,104
Location
Chicago-ish/NW Indiana
Real Name
Sam
Tom St Jones said:
Surprised, and rather happy, that RAH would see fit to review this now as I believe this disc was released an entire year ago. It wasn't long ago that I myself brought up what I felt was the strange fact that this had not yet been issued on Region A Blu-ray. Glad the man got around to reviewing this one, as his verdict is close to gold here.
RAH went Region Free this year.
 

Charles Smith

Extremely Talented Member
Supporter
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
5,982
Location
Nor'east
Real Name
Charles Smith
Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet was a stunningly beautiful film and quite the movie event, as it was considered a milestone in the presentation of Shakespeare on film. You could maybe say it put Shakespeare on the map for an entire generation, except that it was a huge hit, admired by pretty much everyone.

I do look forward to this or a future Blu-ray, as I haven't seen the film now for way too many years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PMF

JoeDoakes

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
3,448
Real Name
Ray
Mr. Harris, are you ever going to say anything about the blu of Touch of Evil? It's probably the most notable title I can recall on which you have not opined.
 

PMF

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 6, 2015
Messages
6,002
Real Name
Philip
Does anyone know if the Swedish BD pressing of Franco Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet" (Region A/B/C) would be equal to the UK BD pressing?

Additionally, is there any word from Paramount if they are planning on a better BD transfer in the United States that will exceed RAH's UK/BD score of 3.75 (Image)?

PMF
 

ABaglivi

Second Unit
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
304
Real Name
Anthony
I have Paramount's Japanese release of Romeo and have enjoyed watching it several times. At start-up, the disc defaults to English/No Subtitles. The color is paler and less varied than the IB prints I knew, but it's very acceptable.
 

BIP

Auditioning
Joined
Feb 12, 2008
Messages
10
Real Name
Bogi Palfay
Hi

I was just thinking does anyone know if there'll be a re-release of this, maybe on UHD, now that Roundabout Entertainment together with Paramount and Park Circus have completed the 4K restoration of Zefirelli's 1968 movie?

I saw the restored version last week and it was really great! For me this version is the definitive Romeo and Juliet version and I dearly hope this new restored version will get a new release. Has anyone any info on that?
 
  • Like
Reactions: PMF

PMF

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 6, 2015
Messages
6,002
Real Name
Philip
It's been 3 years and 10 months since the posting of this review. Since that time, I had somewhere read about Paramount having done a full 4K restoration of this masterful film. Can anyone clarify if this is true? Also, if this has occurred, can anyone address if Paramount intends to release the results of their work and investment with another BD release?
 
Last edited:

Andrew Budgell

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2002
Messages
2,279
Location
Ontario, Canada
Real Name
Andy Budgell
It's been 3 years and 10 months since the posting of this review. Since that time, I had somewhere read about Paramount having done a full 4K restoration of this masterful film. Can anyone clarify if this is true? Also, if this has occurred, can anyone address if Paramount intends to release the results of their work and investment with another BD release?

There's a 4K DCP of Romeo and Juliet (and a 4K DCP of another Paramount film I badly want on Blu-ray, A Place in the Sun). I've been wanting to re-watch this film for awhile, so I finally broke down and ordered the older Blu-ray from Germany as it was only around 6 Euros plus shipping.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PMF

Bill Fisher

Agent
Joined
Jul 5, 2018
Messages
47
Real Name
Bill Fisher
when will we get to see R&M on Blu-ray? for that matter, when is Paramount going to step up and restore/release Blu-rays of PLACE IN THE SUN, GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, ORDINARY PEOPLE, etc. etc. etc. so many of the greats in their library haven't been upgraded. or they farm them out to other studios or companies to do lousy Blu-rays of their classics (case in point, FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS).
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Latest Articles

Forum statistics

Threads
356,712
Messages
5,121,150
Members
144,147
Latest member
cennetkaralowa
Recent bookmarks
0
Top