Romeo & Juliet: The Contemporary Film, The Classic Play

by Craig Pearce, Baz Luhrmann, William Shakespeare

Award-winning director Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom) has updated Shakespeare's classic tragedy of young love and teen suicide in a unique new film, in which the warring Capulets and Montagues are gangsters who carry guns instead of swords. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Basketball Diaries) and Claire Danes (My So-Called Life, Little Women) as the doomed lovers, the film is set in a modern city. The actors speak Shakespeare's words--but with their own American accents.


Readers can now experience this new vision of Shakespeare's violent, tragic play alongside the Bard
s original text, in a special single volume that features an introduction by the film's director.
--back cover

Genres: Classics, Drama, Romance, Plays, Fiction, Shakespeare, Tragedy

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published November 1, 1996

Reviews

[Sherry B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall in love all over again, it's a must!

[ElenaE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super!

[Laila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had already memorized some of the script before reading this and it just showed me how much I knew. I loved this and will probably read it again very soon.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed life.

[Ktg · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite play and book and movie!!!! hehe

[Evoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watched this in the cinema some time ago & guess how many people saw we sobbing out my heart and soul?..

I am speechless! This film left a profound impact on my life and personality to this day. Love how the original Shakespearean text is embedded into this more contemporary setting. Absolutely recommend to not only read, but to also watch this version of the renowned "Romeo & Juliet" story!

[frida · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[marwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5

“What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”

[Finished on August 11, 2024]

[LG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two scripts … though both are certainly not alike in dignity. This edition of Shakespeare’s most cherished love story is interspersed with the screenplay of Baz Lurhmann’s entertaining 1996 movie. I know adapting “Sword” and “Rapier” as brand names of guns is lame, but you have to admit, the update is generally clever.

[Clare Swapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in English, and enjoyed Shakespeare's amazing writing. I thought Romeo and Juliet acted foolishly at times, but otherwise it wouldn't have been a tragedy. Very well written!

[Zeynab]

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