Review by All Movie Guide
All Movie Guide
liked it.
William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, the classic story of two doomed lovers from rival clans, was a favorite subject of filmmakers throughout the 20th century, with more than a dozen different feature versions. One of the best was MGM's big-budget, glossy production of 1936, overseen by
George Cukor, one of Hollywood's most respected directors. It was a pet project of producer Irving Thalberg, who cast his wife,
Norma Shearer, as Juliet. Shearer, then 32, was too old for the part, as was 43-year-old
Leslie Howard as Romeo (just two years later, he would play a crusty middle-aged professor in
Pygmalion).
Fredric March,
Robert Donat, and
Robert Montgomery reportedly all turned down the starring role before it was offered to Howard. But Howard and Shearer used mesmerizing acting to try to overcome the age problem, and Shearer was nominated for an Oscar, as was
Basil Rathbone as Tybalt.
John Barrymore also steals scenes with a riveting performance as Mercutio. Romeo and Juliet was also nominated for an Oscar as Best Picture, losing to
The Great Ziegfeld. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide