Main Cast: Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn, David Blair, Desmond Doyle, Julia Farron
Release Year: 1966
Country: US/UK
Run Time: 124 minutes
Plot
Writer/director Paul Czinner, who in 1936 adapted Shakespeare's As You Like It to the screen, was the guiding force behind the 1966 feature Romeo and Juliet. Unlike Czinner's earlier Shakespeare film, however, not a word of the Bard's text is spoken in the 1966 production. Rather, this is a filmed record of a performance of Prokofiev's ballet version of Romeo and Juliet, as originally presented at the Royal Opera House. The stars are the matchless Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, who brilliantly overcome the disappointingly bland choreography of Kenneth McMillan. For the benefit of non-ballet aficionados, each of the production's three acts is introduced by a spoken synopsis. Others in the corps de ballet include David Blair as Mercutio, Desmond Doyle as Tybalt, Gerd Larsen as Nurse and Ronald Hynd as Friar Lawrence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Michael Somes - Lord Capulet; Anthony Dowell - Benvolio; Derek Rencher - Paris; Leslie Edwards - Prince Escalus; Georgina Parkinson - Rosaline; Gerd Larsen - Nurse; Ronald Hynd - Friar Laurence; Christopher Newton - Lord Montague; Betty Kavanagh - Lady Montague; Franco Balducci - Benvolio; Deanne Bergsma; Andrea Bosic - Capulet; Mario de Simone - Peter; Antonella delia Porta - Lady Capulet; Rosemarie Dexter - Juliet; Carlos Estrada - Mercutio; Antonio Gradoli - Montague; German Grech - Tybalt; Pat Heywood - Nurse; Anne Howard; Jose Marco - Paris; Kenneth Mason; Gerald Meynier - Romeo; Jennifer Penny; Umberto Raho - Friar Lawrence; The Royal Ballet; Bruno Scipioni - Balthasar; Toni Soler - Nurse; Elsa Vazzoler - Lady Montague; Robert Mead; Margaret Lyons; Ian Hamilton
Credit
Kenneth MacMillan - Choreography, John Lanchbery - Conductor, Nicholas Georgiadis - Costume Designer, Paul Czinner - Director, Philip Barnikel - Editor, Bruno Nicolai - Composer (Music Score), John Lanchbery - Musical Direction/Supervision, George Claff - Makeup, S.D. Onions - Cinematographer, Paul Czinner - Producer, Nicholas Georgiadis - Set Designer, Sergey Prokofiev - From Ballet by, William Shakespeare - Play Author
