Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet

What a horrible piece of garbage (on TCM right now). How did this man ever get any work? Okay, he didn't pick the too old cast (34 year old Norma Shearer and 43 year old Leslie Howard), but he did direct them to be sickeningly coy. He and the entire cast completely missed the point of the play. Horrible!

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Updated On: 1/6/05 at 10:52 PM

No one should need to look further than the Zeffirelli version for a movie of R&J.

Very true Taryn!!

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Can't wait to hear the reaction to the Baz Lurhmann version in 70 years time... "What were they all THINKING???"

I agree, the Zeffirelli is the keeper.

Actually, I list "My Fair Lady" along with "David Copperfield" and "Little Women", among his travesties.

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I've always contended that anyone who loves the film version of "My Fair Lady", never saw the original Moss Hart production. It just isn't possible to like that film after you've seen his version. While the film retains the script and songs, it has nothing in common with what was the tone of the stage production, and that's why I hate it. As for 'Copperfield' and "Little Women", well, that's just a matter of taste. The 1994 version of "Little Women" is vastly superior in every single way, IMO. I always found Cukor's directing style to be heavy-handed and utterly unsubtle.

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Updated On: 1/7/05 at 08:44 AM

I have to state up front: I adore George Cukor. I think he got the best performances out of his actors (male and female) and he worked with the best of the best. For a good documentary watch American Master's "On Cukor" (some of it misses but overall a great tribute to his film legacy.)

I believe Romeo and Juliet (which isn't very good in my opinion) was begun as vehicle for Norma Shearer (she had already done the balcony scene in The Hollywood Revue of 1929) and she, being the wife of Irving Thalberg, got the roles she wanted to play. Thalberg loved literary adaptations. I believe the film was a hit for M-G-M even though Shakespeare wasn't a box-office guarentee.
I do, however, get a kick out of Edna Mae Oliver as the nurse -- all wrong, but love her anyway.

As for "My Fair Lady" the American Masters doc. relates this story: George Cukor and some of his friends were sitting at home watching "My Fair Lady" on television. Near the end of the film, George got up to go to bed. A friend said, "Where are you going? The film is not over yet." Cukor replied, "Well, it should be."

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Updated On: 1/7/05 at 10:42 AM

I add my thanks as well.

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Well, I tend to make up my own mind about what I like and don't like. Not based on what someone else tells me is good. But, I appreciate all viewpoints, whether I agree with them or not. I stand by my assessment of George Cukor's work. Yes, he did make some fine films. Anything modern (for the period) was generally just fine. The period stuff is dire, and no film appreciation class will change my opinion of that. All I have to do is view the film. Film, after all, is a very personal experience. That's what makes it such a great art form.

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Wait!!!! There's an even worse movie version of ROMEO AND JULIET floating around somewhere. It stars Laurence Harvey--who was in his late 20's or early 30's when he filmed it. In the "nightengale" scene, he is on the other side of the room, while his Juliet lies, unfruffled, on the bed. Please remember, they were supposed to be spending their one evening together before he is banished to Mantua. What did they do all night, play Scrabble? Also, there are references to the "holy Franciscan friar", who isn't wearing a Franciscan habit, but a Dominican one.

This film was ordered by mistake by a member of our English Dep't and we all borrowed it for the laughs it provided.

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