Morgan Hunt
English 9
April 13, 2008

There are some major similarities and difference between the ways movies portray the Balcony Scene in Romeo and Juliet. The 1939 version is a MGM production, directed by George Cukor, starring Leslie Howard and Norma Shearer. The Second version, (1969) is directed by Franco Zeffirelli and is starring Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey. The third version is my prompt book; the director would be me.
The 1936 version, in my opinion, was overly dramatic. As Romeo makes his way to the balcony, someone looks out of the house and Romeo hides. Romeo talks to himself softly once the coast is clear. Juliet comes onto the balcony and talks to herself in a dreamy yet seriously affectionate tone of voice, talking about her love dilemma. As soon as Juliet sees Romeo, she backs away in fear, and once she realizes who it is she tells him how dangerous it was, him a Montague, to be on Capulet land. Romeo seems fearless because of love. They both express their emotions very strongly, yet are gentle with each other. It always seems that they are trying to touch one another, always smiling, and staring into each other’s eyes.
The 1969 Balcony Scene version was less dramatic, and more serious. It was also closer to what flirting is like today than the 1936 version. Romeo freaks out when he sees Juliet, for he is so happy. As Juliet talks to herself, she talks in a dreamy, silly girl in love, yet unsure ton. When Juliet acknowledges Romeo’s presence, it startles her. Juliet’s tone changes to more serious. Romeo climbs her balcony (this did not happen in the other two versions), and they grasp each other intensely. Juliet does not say their love is too rash (as in the other versions) but instead shows it by stopping the embracement between them. Romeo is very overjoyed by the night, and they both are reluctant to say goodnight; they watched each other for as long as they could as their distance grew.
In my prompt book, the tone of both of their voices are lighter and less dramatic; only strong, bold emotion in a few places. When Romeo sees Juliet at her balcony he becomes very enthusiastic with love. When Juliet is discussing her love issues to herself, she is doing it while looking up at the moon, and instead of in a love happy mood, she talks in a sad tone. When Juliet realizes that she is not alone, she is more curious to who it is and how they got there than afraid. Also, instead of being extremely worried of the consequences if Romeo were to be found, she is only slightly worried because she is just too happy that he is there. They talk of their love more seriously yet almost casual. When it comes time for them to part, and Romeo comes back, they talk to each other in a playful yet flirty tone – but still don’t want to leave each other.
Over all, each version was mostly similar, for they all were seriously ’I love you’ however some versions were more believable than others. Such as the first one, they were too dramatic to sound real. In the second version, they were too touchy so it made it look like Romeo just wanted to be all over her instead of profess his love. In my version, everything was done more lightly so it seems more real, except it didn’t seem as sincere.