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Authors, Black & White, Black & White Movies, Classic Movie Reviews, Classic Novels, Classics, Edna May Oliver, Irving Thalberg, Leslie Howard, Movie Reviews, Movies, Norma Shearer, Novels, Old Hollywood, Reviews, Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare, Talkies, Thoughts, Vintage, Vintage Movies, Writing
A Valentine’s gift for you all.
This is the review of the 1932 version starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard if you can believe it.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you what this about so this will only be a short overview.
Romeo, a Montague, is in love with Rosaline but she is a part of the Capulet house. The Montague’s and the Capulet’s are enemies, and are constantly fighting in the streets of Verona.
Romeo is then roped in by his friend Mercutio into going to the Capulet’s party even though they weren’t invited. A member of the Capulet’s house, Tybalt, recognizes Romeo and threatens to attack him at the party. He is talked out of it but he swears to fight Romeo for coming.
It is at this party that Romeo (Leslie Howard) sees Juliet. (Norma Shearer) He falls in love with her at first sight, forgetting about Rosaline. They spend a few moments together before Juliet is called away and they soon learn that they are meant to be each other’s enemies.
Romeo goes to the balcony outside her window and Juliet plans to send her nurse to him tomorrow to see if he is serious about marrying her. They secretly get married in a ceremony that only a chosen few know about by Friar Lawrence.
Soon, Tybalt comes to fight Romeo and Romeo declines. Mercutio gets angered by this and fights Tybalt. Mercutio is killed and then Romeo avenges Mercutio’s death by killing Tybalt. Romeo is banished from Verona, leaving Juliet in despair.
Her parent’s think that she’s grieving over Tybalt and arranges for her to marry Paris, who is a kinsman to the Prince and interested in her. She says no but her parents threaten to throw her out onto the streets if she refuses to marry him. She pretends to go see Friar Lawrence to confess her sins and they come up with a plan to reunite her with Romeo.
Juliet is to take something that will make her to appear dead so she doesn’t have to marry Paris. Friar Lawrence is to write to Romeo and tell him of the plot so he can come for her and they can run away together. The letter never reaches Romeo and he thinks she is really dead. He buys some fast acting poison and heads for Verona. He fights and kills Paris on the way to find Juliet.
He drinks the poison, dying shortly before she wakes up. Friar Lawrence comes to try and get her to run but she refuses, instead killing herself with Romeo’s knife. Everything comes out in the end and the family’s are reconciled to each other.
I was surprised at Leslie Howard’s portrayal of Romeo. He didn’t portray him as a dreamy version but he was close to Shakespeare’s original character which I liked.
Norma Shearer was beautiful. I’ve read a lot on her and she was not know for her looks because she had a cast eye among other things that she learned to hide. The film offered several close ups of her face and I saw nothing wrong with her.
It goes to show that everyone has their own ideals of beauty that no one will every be able to fit perfectly. Everyone in the world is beautiful, it’s just that not everyone sees it.
I rate this movie three stars.