I'm not quite sure what it says to me as a man that two of my favorite movies ever are Shakespeare in Love and Sense and Sensibility (#1). I'm either a romantic or a pansy.
I pray it's the former.
I love the way the movie attempts to delve into the mind of young William as he starts to write Romeo and Juliet, whose working title was Romeo and Ethel the Pirate's Daughter.
Yikes. Doesn't quite have the same effect does it? My favorite part is towards the end when the play is actually performed before a live audience. The reaction of the crowd really pulls you in, like you're there.
It reminded me of a time many years ago.
The time was the summer of 1969.
The place was the Lansdale theater, our small town movie venue.
The movie was the 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet.
I was 12 years old.
I don't remember why I was there by myself (I enjoyed solitude) but I do remember there weren't many people in the theater. I sat in the middle of the cool theater (it was a hot summer day) mesmerized by Olivia Hussey, the 15 year old Juliet.
Hubba, hubba.. what a vision of beauty. She is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful women in the world.
As a 12 year old, I thoroughly enjoyed the action scenes as the Capulets and the Montagues fought in the streets. I even enjoyed the King's English, as it was probably the first time I was ever exposed to it. But it was the love story that truly captured my heart, even at that young age. As the tears trickled down my face when Juliet finds that her Romeo has ended his life and then takes her own, I was glad to be alone.
Great movie. Great story. Great Song.
