STUDENT SAMPLE ESSAY #3
This is an adequate essay response to the assignment comparing two videos of Romeo & Juliet. It is well-written and uses a number of specific detail. Compared to essays 1, 2, and 4 there is less effort to cover all the elements in the original assignment. There is some analysis of why the filmmakers made their choices, but little effort to provide a larger framework in which the view the films.
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English 154
Film Comparison Essay
ROMEO AND JULIET
William Shakespeare’s classic play Romeo and Juliet is brought to life by two different film directors who modify the script slightly and use diverse imagery to capture the powerful story of two star-crossed lovers. The first film was produced in the year 1968; it was directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and starred Elizabeth Hussey as Juliet and Leonard Whiting as Romeo. A more modern version followed in the year 1996, directed by Baz Luhrmann, featuring Leanardo Dicaprio as Romeo and Clare Danes as Juliet. Although the dialogue remained fairly consistent to Shakespeare’s original play, the settings of the two films were very different, and portions of the original play were deleted.
The scenery itself reflected the different time periods, as the 1968 version used the Old World town of Verona with accompanying costumes of the era by all of the actors in the film. The 1996 version displayed Verona Beach as an industrial city of modern civilization; billboards marked the capitalist displays of the rival families, and their members carried guns instead of swords. Many of the scenes in the 1996 version showed the parents separate from their feuding children instead of a confrontation with them in front of the entire town. When the family members where reprimanded for their violent acts In Act I, Scene 1, it was played out in a courtroom as opposed to the Prince issuing a verbal warning in the town square.
Some of the characters in the play also took on different identities in both films. One character that was a dramatic impact in the 1968 film, Juliet’s nurse, played a small and less significant role in the 1996 version. In the 1968 film, Juliet appeared quite close to her and looked to her for guidance and support. This was seen in Act I, Scene 3, when Juliet’s mother shut her out of the room to relay the happy news of her new partnership to a man; Juliet’s expression was so much of surprise at her mother’s actions that the Nurse was immediately invited back into the room. The pride and happiness that the Nurse exuded upon the news of young Juliet becoming a bride could easily be seen with emotion as well as loving physical embraces. The nurse also tolerated great humiliation in public to arrange for their marriage at Juliet’s request. The scene that most demonstrated their closeness was in Act III, Scene 5, when Juliet’s father threatened to disown her if she did not marry Paris; after being turned away by her mother and looking to the Nurse for empathetic words, Juliet is deeply hurt by the Nurse’s derogatory comments of Romeo. Juliet’s expression show obvious signs of hurt from the Nurse’s lack of empathy, and she then asks her to leave the room. Although the same scene was depicted in the 1996 version, the impact of the nurse’s action was not as dramatic and the character of Juliet seemed less dependent on any type of support from the servant.
In Act I, Scene 5 of both films Romeo and Juliet’s first encounter is portrayed slightly different. The 1968 version was a gradual meeting of their eyes that transpired over a few moments time, while the 1996 version found them catching each other’s eyes through a large fish tank right away. This seemed to have meshed with another common thread of this version, which was water. In Act I, Scene 3, Juliet is being beckoned by the nurse to see her mother and her face appears in a large basin of water, where she lifts her head to hear the call. We also see Romeo’s face in a similar image while at the Capulet party. A balcony separates Romeo and Juliet when confessing their love to one another after the party in Act II, Scene 2 of the 1968 version, while they end in a loving embrace under water in a swimming pool in the 1996 film. This appears to symbolize their isolation with one another through the element of water.
The speech that Juliet recited to herself in Act IV, Scene 3 before drinking the poison to put her into a deep sleep was also deleted in both films. The absence of her words seemed to take away the intensity of the action she was about to undertake upon herself, as she speaks fearfully of the chance the poison may not be effective, and she vocalizes frightening thoughts of being locked in the vault upon awakening.
One of the most significant scenes, the act where they divulge their true love and dedication to one another was altered slightly the 1996 film. In this version, Juliet begins to show signs of awakening while Romeo is in the midst of poisoning himself. She then takes the gun lying on the coffin and shoots herself in the head to join him in death. In the 1968 version, Juliet appears completely lifeless as Romeo takes the potent drink, and she then awakes to find him dead on the floor, thrusting a dagger through her heart in despair.
Friar Lawrence was also a prominent figure in the play and the films varied with their interpretation of the holy man. In the 1996 version, he plays out the words in Act II, Scene 3, speaking of poisonous flowers, and evil virtues of life on Earth. Although he is seen reciting these words in the 1996 version, the last sequence of words in the play were intended to be heard by Romeo as he is entering the room. Both Romeo and Juliet immediately sought comfort and guidance with him when distraught with pain; Romeo looked to him to ease his mind of Tybalt’s death, and Juliet begged his help in delaying her marriage plans to Paris. The Friar was a confidant to the young lovers and wanted to create peace between the feuding families with their marriage. In the 1996 version, Juliet awoke in the tomb to find Romeo dead, but the Friar knew the consequences of his actions would be severe if he did not flee upon hearing the approaching authorities, and when Juliet refused to leave, he abandoned her. In the 1996 version of the film, the Friar was not even present in the tomb at the time that the young lovers were taking their own lives. Instead, he is seen before the time that Juliet was to awake sensing that there is trouble; yet he makes no attempt to visit Juliet in the tomb and rescue her.
Another deletion in both films is the quarrel that led to Paris’s death before Romeo entered the tomb to be with Juliet in Act V, Scene 3. After Paris dies, Romeo grants his request to be laid in the tomb with Juliet; he then recalls Mercutio telling him that Paris should marry Juliet, yet questions if he was dreaming. Romeo was never made aware of the marriage arrangement while in Mantua, and this scene seems to symbolize the irony surrounding the events that led up to their tragedy.
Although I enjoyed both versions of the two films, I found that 1968 version evoked more of an emotional reaction. I felt Elizabeth Hussey played the part with strength and passion, yet also maintained the subtle sense of innocence that makes this story so tragic.