richard-1787 This movie had everything going for it. Clearly, visibly a big budget, with some very impressive production numbers. Some very fine actors - John Barrymore may have been drunk much of the time, but he still gives a memorable performance as Mercutio. Edna May Olliver is great as the Nurse. Basil Rathbone is evil as Tybalt. But for reasons I can't really explain, this movie just didn't hold me. I kept thinking of the Midsummer Night's Dream that Max Rinehardt did for Warner Brothers about the same time, in many ways a magical movie. This movie is often impressive, but, for me, it was never magical.Some will criticize the casting of Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer as Romeo and Juliet. Yes, they are clearly much too old to be taken as adolescents. But they don't try to be adolescents, so the play becomes the story of two middle-aged people in love, which didn't bother me at all. I find Shearer to be a very mannered actress, good in some things stilted in others. She very much overdoes Juliet, to my eyes, though I could see a teen-age girl acting just the same way.If you like the play, or even if you don't, watch this movie once. I don't know that I could sit through it again a second time myself.

Jithin K Mohan With a huge production for the time and being extremely faithful to the source material, there is little to distinguish this from a stage play and the actors don't help in that matter either. From the actors being too old for the roles, there are a lot of factors that make this very dated.

Eric Stevenson Well, what can you really say about the first feature length film adaptation of one of the most famous stories of all time? The ageless classic of star crossed lovers comes to the big screen for the first time. There's very little to even say as everyone knows the story. Really, there's still spoilers here? There were no major changes from the original Shakespeare play. It figures, seeing as how it was the first of its kind. The atmosphere is quite good in this movie. All of the actors and actresses know their parts well.This version was just a tad over two hours long and the pacing was quite good. It's a shame I'm not familiar with any of the actors in this. Interesting bit of trivia. When Juliet says, "Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo?" she is not asking where Romeo is. She is actually declaring the fact that his name is Romeo. As the member of a rival family, she wishes it were something else. As it took place in the same time period, it's about as authentic as you could want. ***

wes-connors Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard play Shakespeare's star-crossed young lovers Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague. As this version of "Romeo and Juliet" is a relatively faithful adaptation of Shakespeare's original play, the ages of the characters are relevant; thus, Ms. Shearer, Mr. Howard, and others are, obviously, too old for the parts. That being said, this is still an entertaining film, well directed by George Cukor, and expertly photographed by William Daniels. The production, sets, and lighting are extraordinary. Shearer is especially well lighted; and, she performs Juliet in earnest. John Barrymore (as Mercutio) and Basil Rathbone (as Tybalt) are more fun than a barrel of Montagues. You live by the sword, die by the sword. ******* Romeo and Juliet (8/20/36) George Cukor ~ Norma Shearer, Leslie Howard, John Barrymore, Basil Rathbone