Archived Pages from 20th Century!!

William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet

20th Century Fox

Release Date: November 1

MPAA rating: 'PG-13' for scenes of contemporary violence and some sensuality

"Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona (where we lay our scene)
From ancient grudge break new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives"

Welcome to Verona Beach, a sexy, violent other-world, neither future nor past, ruled by two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets...

So begins Shakespeare's beloved play "Romeo & Juliet," which is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year. These famous lines and the vivid language of this cautionary tale drive director Baz Luhrmann's cinematic interpretation, WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO & JULIET. Welcome to Verona Beach, a sexy, violent other-world, neither future nor past, ruled by two rival families, the Montagues and the Capulets. Wealthy, selfish, ruthless and powerful, the parents share an enmity that has become the birthright of their offspring.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO & JULIET stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo and Claire Danes as Juliet. DiCaprio made his film debut in "This Boy's Life," and his performance in his next film, "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?," merited an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Other features include "The Basketball Diaries," "The Quick and the Dead," and Agnieska Holland's "Total Eclipse," in which he played the poet Rimbaud. He also can be seen in the screen adaptation of the play "Marvin's Room," opposite Meryl Streep.

Danes won a Golden Globe Award and earned an Emmy nomination for her work on the highly-regarded television drama, "My So-Called Life." She went on to garner praise for her portrayal of the frail, winsome sister, Beth, in Gillian Armstrong's feature film "Little Women." She next starred in Jocelyn Moorhouse's "How To Make An American Quilt," appeared in Jodie Foster's ensemble comedy, "Home For The Holidays," and has a key role in "To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday."

Also starring in WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO & JULIET are Brian Dennehy as Romeo's father, Ted Montague; John Leguizamo, as Tybalt, Juliet's cousin and Romeo's sworn enemy; Academy Award-nominee Pete Postlethwaite as Father Laurence; and Paul Sorvino and Diane Venora as the sovereigns of the Capulet empire. Two-time Academy Award-winner Tom Hanks makes his feature film directorial debut with THAT THING YOU DO, which he also wrote. Set in 1964, the film stars a talented group of newcomers as The Wonders, a fictional rock band that embarks on a humorous journey when its hit song, "That Thing You Do," rockets to the top of the charts. Traveling cross country from spaghetti joints to state fairs, The Wonders land a record deal, a manager (played by Hanks), a trip to Hollywood and an extraordinary look at the halcyon days of rock and roll.

The Main Cast

Romeo................................... LEONARDO DiCAPRIO
Juliet.................................. CLAIRE DANES
Ted Montague............................ BRIAN DENNEHY
Tybalt.................................. JOHN LEGUIZAMO
Fulgencio Capulet....................... PAUL SORVINO
Father Laurence......................... PETE POSTLETHWAITE
Gloria Capulet.......................... DIANE VENORA
Mercutio................................ HAROLD PERRINEAU
Dave Paris.............................. PAUL RUDD
Balthasar............................... JESSE BRADFORD
Benvolio................................ DASH MIHOK
The Nurse............................... MIRIAM MARGOYLES
Captian Prince.......................... VONDIE CURTIS-HALL
Caroline Montague....................... CHRISTINA PICKLES


Directed by............................. BAZ LUHRMANN