Comparing the Original Script of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with Baz Luhmann's Film Version

Comparing the Original Script of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet with Baz Luhmann's Film Version

In this essay I aim to discuss, analyse and compare the original

script of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Act One, scene five

with Baz Luhrmann's 1997 film version of the same scene.

'Romeo and Juliet' is set in Verona, Italy, and is believed to have

been written around the late sixteenth century. The timing and setting

of the play would therefore suggest that costume, music and setting

traditional to the time would be used.

On the other hand, Baz Luhrmann has taken a very different approach to

the interpretation of the play. This version is made to appeal to the

modern audience and so has adopted all the elements of any other high

budget, Hollywood blockbuster. The film is set in the created world of

Verona Beach, taking on a typical American, Hollywood feel with

skyscrapers and other modern buildings lining the streets of the city.

The fast pace, good-looking actors, and many twits to the story also

add to that modern day, blockbuster feel.

'Romeo and Juliet' is one of Shakespeare's most famous plays telling

the tale of two teenagers from rival families (the Capulets and the

Montagues) who fall in love. As the story unfolds, tragedy is all that

awaits the couple, eventually leading to their own suicides.

Act one, scene five of the play sees a ball taking place in the

Capulet residence, to which Romeo, along with other Montagues,

attends. It is here that he meets Juliet and they fall in love. I have

divided the scene into seven sections making it easier and more

manageable to analyse and compare the two versions of...

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...uld not therefore have been

able to acquire one himself. It becomes apparent to the viewer here

that Romeo has taken some sort of drug. This is shown by the camera

being slightly blurred and in slow motion, showing perhaps, Romeo's

drug induced state; not being able to focus and unable to function at

a normal speed. This is confirmed as Romeo arrives inside the party

and whispers the words;

" Thy drugs are quick."

This extract is, in fact, in the original script, however it is not

seen until Act five, scene three, in reference to the poison that

Romeo takes to end his life. This shows how Luhrmann has stuck to the

original script however has just re-arranged it slightly to live up to

modern day expectations, as it were, before a party is a much more

modern idea, reflecting the actions of many of today's youths.