Romeo and Juliet

Released Sep 3, 1936

2h 6m

Romance

List

78%

9 Reviews

Tomatometer

54%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

In this classic Hollywood take on Shakespeare's tragic romance, dashing young Romeo (Leslie Howard), a Montague, falls in love with the radiant Juliet (Norma Shearer), a member of the Capulet family, the Montagues' sworn enemies. Willing to defy the families' feud, the two secretly get married, however their happy day turns tragic when Juliet's cousin, Tybalt (Basil Rathbone) kills Romeo's best friend, Mercutio (John Barrymore), prompting Romeo to retaliate.

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Ann Ross

Maclean's Magazine

It's a beautiful show and a beautiful story; so dramatic and so overwhelmingly right in every detail that it will carry you right back into the Renaissance.

Aug 14, 2019

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

The problem lies in the casting.

Rated: 6/10

Aug 20, 2007

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

The film has some merits, though Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard were simply too old to play Shakespeare's juvenile lovers.

Rated: C+

Oct 20, 2006

Full Review

Michael Szymanski

Zap2it.com

Rated: 3/5

Nov 4, 2005

Full Review

Michael W. Phillips, Jr.

Goatdog's Movies

[It] doesn't hold a candle to Franco Zeffirelli's nearly flawless 1968 version, but it [is] the best Shakespeare film before Laurence Olivier started making them.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 15, 2005

Full Review

Thomas Delapa

Boulder Weekly

Rated: 2/5

Apr 13, 2005

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steve d

Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard are always worth a watch.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I do love Shakespeare, as I do Romeo and Juliet. Of the other three versions I loved Zeffirelli's but was underwhelmed by Luhrmann's. This version is good and in between the two for me. It boasts handsome costumes and sets, the cinematography is gorgeous and the whole film is beautifully directed by George Cukor. The story is compelling and moving still, and the writing likewise, though one or two speeches could have been delivered a little slower. The music also is charming and wonderfully romantic in places. Of the cast I did get more pleasure of the supporting turns more than the leads. Though the leads certainly weren't bad. Leslie Howard is perhaps too mature and lacks Romeo's boyish passion but he does at least have a grasp of the style. Norma Shearer starts off a little shaky, coming across as too "giddy" on her first appearance(was it an attempt to show some girlish naivety?) but she is very moving from that point on and exudes good chemistry with Howard. John Barrymore also was a point of controversy, true he is a little too insidycratic in places but as Mercutio overall he is delicious and steals his scenes. The best turns though come from Edna May Oliver as a warm and humorous Nurse and the wonderfully oily Tybalt of Basil Rathbone. Ralph Forbes does what he can, though the role of Paris is rather thankless. All in all, a good version.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

jordan m

This was quite a lot better than Warner's Midsummer Night's Dream from the year prior. The source material in this case was inherently better suited for a cinematic interpretation but the acting was also better, with the Nurse and Rathbone being particular highlights. The negative things I would say about the movie would be better directed toward the source material as I don't like Romeo as a character and it took them quite a long time to chew through the necessary scenes to get to the end of the plot. Outside of the acting I was very impressed by/appreciative of the obviously high production values with fancy armor on even the extras, quality swordfighting thanks to Rathbone and very good set decoration. I worry that watching this quality version will make the 1968 edition I intend to watch feel redundant, but watch it I shall. Kudos!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

My fav version is still the Leo DiCaprio version don't care what the critics say. I've also seen the one in the 70s many years ago in 9th grade. I prob liked that version a little better than this one. This one it seemed esp like Norma Shearer was overacting with the constant tears, but Claire Danes does the same thing. I also didn't like who was casted as Romeo, as he seemed gay. All the versions except the 90s one are forgettable and I always compare to that one the entire time.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/15/23

Full Review

david l

The 1936 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet is obviously never as great as the 1968 ultimate version, but it's still a pretty solid flick in its own right. Yes, it has long, slow stretches in the middle act, and yes, Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer were simply too old to play these roles. However, they are both very good, especially Shearer who steals the show. The movie is also faithfully adapted, very strong in emotion and particularly cinematic in cinematography and production design.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best romance movie ever made!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

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George Cukor

Director

Norma Shearer

Juliet

Leslie Howard

Romeo

John Barrymore

Mercutio

Edna May Oliver

Nurse to Juliet

Basil Rathbone

Tybalt

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Synopsis

In this classic Hollywood take on Shakespeare's tragic romance, dashing young Romeo (Leslie Howard), a Montague, falls in love with the radiant Juliet (Norma Shearer), a member of the Capulet family, the Montagues' sworn enemies. Willing to defy the families' feud, the two secretly get married, however their happy day turns tragic when Juliet's cousin, Tybalt (Basil Rathbone) kills Romeo's best friend, Mercutio (John Barrymore), prompting Romeo to retaliate.

Director: George Cukor
Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 3, 1936, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016
Runtime: 2h 6m

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