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Differences Between Romeo And Juliet 1968 And 1996

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William Shakespeare’s beloved Romeo and Juliet has been reenacted many times throughout the centuries. One of the most memorable scenes of this play is Act II, ii; otherwise known as the Balcony Scene. This scene takes place in the Capulet’s garden where Romeo listens to Juliet confess her love for him into the night. The two more recent film adaptations of the play have very different interpretations of this famous scene, but also a key similarity that keep the authenticity of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. These two film adaptations include Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 version and Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 version. Some very notable differences between the two include setting, actor’s portrayal, and music selection. A significant similarity is the tone and mood set during the scene. …show more content…

In the 1968 version, the true setting of Elizabethan Verona, Italy is portrayed. Romeo runs through cobblestone streets after leaving a masquerade party and ventures into the Capulet’s garden to find Juliet on her balcony. The garden is filled with greenery for Romeo to hide in and the balcony is made of stone. During this scene, Romeo looks up to Juliet as if worshiping her. He scales a tree to get to her balcony. Contrarily, in Luhrmann’s version, Romeo and Juliet are positioned on the same level. Juliet enters the scene in an elevator, symbolizing that in today’s society, men and women are equals. In this scene, there is a pool, artificial string lighting, and Romeo is monitored on security cameras as he watches Juliet. It is clear that this is a modernized setting for the balcony

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