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In 1996, Baz Luhrmann turned his eye to the works of Shakespeare, and this created a finished product with several differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie. William Shakespeare’s 38 plays have proven to be quite memorable, but the one that remains the most adapted is Romeo and Juliet. It may have been first performed in the 1500s, but elements of the tragic play (“the star-crossed lovers”) can be found in the likes of several popular TV shows, rom-coms, musicals, and even video games. None remained as loyal while making such drastic changes, as Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet.
There have been many modernizations of Shakespeare’s works, such as how 10 Things I Hate About You brought Taming the Shrew to modern times. However, few have done anything as kinetically different as when Luhrmann presented the story using the original dialogue, but setting it in a modern-day setting in Verona Beach. Shot almost like a long-form music video, Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet uses the original Shakespeare dialogue, but interspersing it with television footage, news crews, and car chases, making it like nothing fans of the Bard had ever seen while making it accessible for contemporary teenagers to finally understand the tragic love story.
The Setting Is More Modern In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
The original version of Romeo and Juliet is set long ago, with most guesses being the 14th or 15th century. People acted differently, the world operated with a different structure, and things looked almost unrecognizable. The main change here is that Baz Luhrmann’s version is set in the modern-day (or at least 1990s America). The Romeo and Juliet movie changes to allow cars, guns, FedEx trucks, cafés, and TVs. Everyone is also dressed in modern clothes and many people have dyed hair. It couldn’t look more different, but the language remains unchanged.
Some Of The Lines Have Either Been Cut Or Altered In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Despite the language of the play remaining unchanged, notably with the characters still referring to their guns as “swords,” a few things did have to be adapted if it was to be shown on the big screen. One of the differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie was Luhrmann cutting some of the lines since he only had a certain run time to tell his version. Additionally, despite the majority of Romeo and Juliet being written in iambic pentameter, Father Laurence (Pete Postlethwaite) is the only character in Romeo + Juliet to speak in this meter.
The Montagues And Capulets Are Two Warring Mafia Empires Rather Than Families In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Tying in with the updated location and time period, the actual presence and existence of the Montagues and Capulets are drastically different from the original play. Rather than being two families at war, the difference between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie is that the war here is between two rival businesses. In the movie, it is actually rival mafia empires, and that made them criminal empires rather than prominent families. However, they pretend to be legitimate corporations even with law enforcement in their pockets. With this comes a change in motivation for a lot of the major plot points in the story.
The Messenger/Prologue Chorus Is Replaced With A News Report In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
As the film modernizes the original play, it naturally had to find a new way to present the role usually fulfilled by the chorus, such as in the opening prologue. This is cleverly done by having a news anchor read these lines, presenting the chorus lines as if it were a news report on television screens. Additionally, the TV also fulfills the role of the messenger that was in the play. Instead of the cast finding out about the Capulet’s party by messenger, they see it announced on TV. This is not only a good way to modernize the story, but to make it work cinematically.
Rosaline’s Role Is Reduced Drastically In The Plot Of Romeo + Juliet
Rosaline is a character that doesn’t actually appear in the play but still plays an important factor. She is Romeo’s (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) first love and the reason he is distraught at the beginning of the story, as she does not love him, instead swearing a vow of chastity. Rosaline is the main reason the Montagues visit the Capulet’s party, as she is meant to be there. In the film, Rosaline’s role was reduced, though she still acts as a device to get Romeo to the party. Despite Romeo brooding at the beginning, his feelings for Rosaline appear to be presented as more of a crush, and Romeo’s emotions are downplayed when Benvolio (Dash Mihok) asks about why he is sad.
The Balcony Scene Is Cut In Favor Of The Pool Scene In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
The balcony scene is arguably the most iconic scene of not only Romeo and Juliet but of Shakespeare’s entire works. It is a scene that is frequently referenced in pop culture and that is well-known to most people, even if they have never read or watched the play in any form. So it’s pretty surprising that the film decided to change up this legendary scene. In Romeo and Juliet 1996 vs the play, Luhrmann first reduced the 190 lines to just 90 lines. Secondly, the setting changed from an orchard scene to a more modern scene in a swimming pool.
The Tone Of The Marriage Proposal Is A Lot More Immature And Impulsive In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
In the original play, the scene where Romeo proposes that he and Juliet (Claire Danes) should get married is normally perceived as being a serious part of the play. However, one of the differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie is that the characters are less serious. Instead, they are giggling and laughing as they relay the lines that are more commonly acted out more earnestly on stage. Of course, this could be Luhrmann’s way of presenting how happy the two are, so joyous that they keep smiling and laughing, but it downplays the importance of their union and how it would unite their two houses.
Paris’ Death Is Excluded From The Romeo + Juliet Movie
In the original version of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo goes to the Capulet crypt to find Juliet. However, when he gets there, Paris is there grieving the loss of Juliet and Romeo kills him during a fight. The Romeo and Juliet movie changes this. Firstly, Paris is called Dave Paris in the Romeo and Juliet cast, and secondly, he isn’t at the crypt at all, meaning Romeo doesn’t bump into anyone there. In turn, this means Dave Paris ends the film very much alive, while the Romeo and Juliet play provided that cruel twist ending everyone is too familiar with. This makes a major change, as his death showed how the battle even killed innocent people who were not part of the feud.
Lady Montague Is Alive At The End Of The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Although six people died in the play, Baz Luhrmann’s version reduced this number to four as he left two individuals alive. Not only did he omit Paris’ death from his script, but he also omitted Lady Montague’s death too (who can be sitting in the limousine at the very end). While the Shakespearean play said she died as a result of Romeo being exiled, it appeared that Luhrmann didn’t think it was as important in his adaptation since she didn’t really have much impact on the story. Of course, her fate could have remained the same, but it was not part of the movie’s tale.
The Montagues And Capulets Don’t Reconcile At The End Of The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Luhrmann’s continued to create differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie by not including the reconciliation. This came in the final act of the tragedy when the two fathers walked into the church and discovered that their children died. To pay tribute, they decide to end the feud and build two statues of them side-by-side. It’s possible Luhrmann decided not to include this scene because it overlooked Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. However, they were the most important people in their parent’s lives, so Luhrmann instead had them contemplate the brevity of the situation and how their violent feud cost several people their lives.
Balthasar And Friar Laurence Don’t Appear In The Ending Of Romeo + Juliet
While they appeared in the movie version, some people might not have realized that Balthasar (Jesse Bradford) and Father Laurence should have also been involved in the final act. In the play, it is Balthasar and Friar Laurence who discover Romeo and Paris’ bodies and explain why this tragedy came about. However, given that the movie is set in a more modern era, where technology and autopsies are more advanced, and marriage certificates are easy to track, the two families would have been able to quickly figure out what happened, which would mean that this scene was not needed.
The Prince And Paris’ Familial Relationship Is Excluded From The Romeo + Juliet Movie
With Paris still alive at the end of the movie, it appears that Lurhmann had cut the familial ties between Paris and Captain Prince (Vondie Curtis-Hall), since they were declared “kinsmen” in the play. Although some might say that it didn’t really affect the story as much since Paris and Prince Escalus didn’t really interact, it changed the interpretation of the play slightly. Not only was Paris’ death meant to highlight the immense tragedy further, but the Prince’s grief was to show that innocent people were also caught up in this family’s feud. Once again, this allowed Luhrmann to keep the focus on Romeo and Juliet and not as much on the other casualties.
Paris’ Familial Relationship With Mercutio Is Also Excluded From The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Since the play established that Paris and Mercutio (Harold Perrineau) were kinsmen to the Prince, it also appears that the movie adaptation excluded their familial ties to each other too. The only one Lurhmann keeps intact is that of Mercutio and Captain Prince. Given that Mercutio played a pivotal role in Luhrmann’s version of the play, it makes sense the director kept Captain Prince and Mercutio’s relationship as it emphasized that even outsiders can be drawn into the family feud. It also makes a lot of sense that he would cut Mercutio and Paris’s ties too since they didn’t even interact in the play or acknowledge their relation to each other.
Juliet Wakes Up Before Romeo Dies (Whereas She Doesn’t In The Play)
The twist ending is one of the reasons why Romeo + Juliet is one of the most memorable adaptations. Where the play saw a heartbroken Romeo take his own life before Juliet woke up, one of the differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie is that the film changes this. Instead of the heartbreakingly unfulfilled, and brutal ending of the original, Luhrmann has Juliet wake up just before Romeo dies, so they can share a quick kiss before she takes her own life. It was a silly end that Hot Fuzz made fun of in its mock Romeo and Juliet play, which itself was the cast adapting the Luhrmann movie – not the play, including the movie’s song “Lovefool.”
The Misuse Of Drugs Is Different In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
One of the differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie is its depiction of drugs. In the play, the only time “drugs” are used is when Juliet takes tonic to fake her death or the poison Romeo drinks at the end. However, the misuse of drugs is completely different in the Lurhmann version as Romeo is seen taking a pill before he enters Capulets party. While this might have been the director’s way of making it modern, it added to the symbolism and hidden meanings. This isn’t to say there weren’t drugs in the 15th century, as marijuana (The Herb) was around in those days, which created hashish. With that said, Shakespeare didn’t use it in his play.
Baz Lurhmann Replaces Swords With Guns In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Baz Luhrman’s film replaced the swords from the original with much more modern guns. Swords obviously require a lot of close combat, which means fights need to be done from close range. A gun, obviously, could end a fight in less than a second, which could really reduce the dramatic tension. Having said that, shootouts give the scene the Hollywood edge and make the film fit the 1990s more. It was also needed because people in the 1990s wouldn’t likely be carrying swords in a beachside town. Luckily, the dialogue still referred to the guns as “swords,” keeping the callback to the play intact in this Romeo and Juliet adaptation.
The Costumes In Romeo + Juliet Are More Reflective Of Their Personalities
During the Capulet party, the costumes in the original Shakespeare play seem nothing particularly outlandish, with the characters wearing Elizabethan garments that would have been worn during any part of that era. However, in the film, Luhrmann decides to dress each character in a costume that reflects their personality. The audience sees Juliet with ethereal angel wings and Tybalt dressed as the devil. It’s not just the party. Mercutio’s glitzy lingerie set and cape was perfect for his character’s personality and the flaming sacred heart on the Hawaiian shirt Romeo wore was iconic. Australian costume designer Kym Barrett delivered strongly for the movie.
Baz Lurhmann Gave The Characters First And More Modern Names In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Baz Luhrmann kept the dialogue the same as it would have been so many hundreds of years ago, but he changed the Romeo and Juliet character names. Paris gets a first name in Dave. The Montagues are named Caroline and Ted, while the Capulets are named Fulgencio and Gloria. Friar Laurence is turned into Father Laurence and Prince Escalus becomes Captain Prince, a police chief. Of course, these differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie make sense. Friar makes no sense in 1990s America and the police officer being a captain is also the proper title for the timeframe.
Some Minor Characters’ Affiliations Are Swapped Around In The Romeo + Juliet Movie
Luhrmann decided to shuffle the affiliations of certain minor characters around. It’s a little confusing for those already familiar with the characters and doesn’t really seem to make much sense or have any reasoning behind it. Abram (Vincent Laresca) and Petruchio (Carlos Manzo) become Capulets despite being Montagues in the original, while Sampson (Jamie Kennedy) and Gregory (Zak Orth) are Montagues in the film. Sampson, in particular, is an interesting one, as he becomes Romeo’s cousin, whereas before he was nothing more than the Capulet servant.
Friar John Is Excluded From The Romeo + Juliet Movie Altogether
Although he isn’t exactly a huge presence in the original play, Friar John nevertheless exists and has a certain role to fulfill. His character is used as a tool to send a letter from Friar Laurence to Romeo, but regrettably, he is unable to fulfill his duty because he becomes quarantined after an outbreak of plague. His small role is ultimately unsuccessful, but this makes him hugely important to the plot. He was supposed to tell Romeo about Juliet’s false death, and since he never arrived, it led to Romeo’s death. Of the differences between the Romeo and Juliet play and movie, this one might have been omitted because Laurence could just overnight the letter, which he did.
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