Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet
Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#0
Posted: 1/6/05 at 10:52pmWhat 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!
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#1
Posted: 1/6/05 at 10:53pm
I've never seen the film, only snippets and it does seem off.
I hope AndyHardy can chime in about this.
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#2
Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:04pm
No one should need to look further than the Zeffirelli version for a movie of R&J. 
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#3
Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:05pmAnd the Cranko ballet.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#4
Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:05pmVery true Taryn!!
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#5
Posted: 1/6/05 at 11:22pm
Given performance practices of the time, it's a beautifully realized production, ages notwithstanding. And Norma Shearer was an astonishingly "modern" actress for her generation and delivered very truthful and believeable performances, anticipating 'method' acting by decades without sacrificing style.
And yes, yes, yes, the Cranko ballet! (Is it available on tape or DVD?)
Updated On: 1/6/05 at 11:22 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/04
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#6
Posted: 1/7/05 at 3:12am
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.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#7
Posted: 1/7/05 at 6:54am
"How did this man ever get any work?"
This is just a guess, but perhaps it's because of films like:
Little Women
Camille
The Women
The Philadelphia Story
Adam's Rib
Born Yesterday
Pat and Mike
A Star is Born
My Fair Lady
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#8
Posted: 1/7/05 at 8:36amActually, I list "My Fair Lady" along with "David Copperfield" and "Little Women", among his travesties.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#9
Posted: 1/7/05 at 8:38am
Feodor - well, you're certainly entitled to your opinion, but that's honestly one I've never heard before 
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#10
Posted: 1/7/05 at 8:44amI'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.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#11
Posted: 1/7/05 at 9:07am
F - I'll have to take your word on that, as I didn't see the original - just a bit before my time. But from the perspective of someone who didn't have that opportunity, I'm glad that Mr. Harrison's work was preserved on film. We won't get into the whole Eliza controversy
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#12
Posted: 1/7/05 at 10:42am
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."
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#13
Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:03am
Thanks AndyHardy!
I was waiting for that.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/04
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and Juliet#14
Posted: 1/7/05 at 11:21amI add my thanks as well.
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and J#15
Posted: 1/7/05 at 12:35pm
AndyHardy should have a COLUMN somewhere!
And Feodor should go back to film appreciation class--not necessarily to see R&J but to appreciate the overall body of Cukor's work. Most of the movies are DGrant's list were perfect when they were made and remain perfect today.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/21/04
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and J#16
Posted: 1/7/05 at 1:34pmWell, 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.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and J#17
Posted: 1/8/05 at 4:01am
Actually, RICH AND FAMOUS is a guilty pleasure for me and Bissett has never given a finer performance.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
re: Among the many Cukor travesties, is their a bigger one than Romeo and J#18
Posted: 1/8/05 at 6:16pm
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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