Over five decades after the 1968 film adaptation ofRomeo and Juliethit theaters, both leads from the film, Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, are taking action against Paramount for making them perform scenes that contained nudity when both of them were still teenagers.
Whiting and Hussey are suingParamountfor making them do naked scenes not just because they were underage at the time but also because the film’s director allegedly told them they wouldn’t have to do such a scene before reneging.
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Romeo and Julietdirector Franco Zeffirelli allegedly assured them beforehand that they wouldn’t have to do any nudity but went back on his word for the sake of the film’s success. “The suit alleges that Zeffirelli — who died in 2019 — assured both actors that there would be no nudity in the film and that they would wear flesh-colored undergarments in the bedroom scene,“Varietywrites. “But in the final days of filming, the director allegedly implored them to perform in the nude with body makeup, ‘or the Picture would fail.'” The suit also alleged more of Zeffirelli’s lies that they would not be filmed naked. “Zeffirelli showed them where the camera would be positioned and assured them that no nudity would be photographed or released in the film. The suit alleges that he was being dishonest and that Whiting and Hussey were filmed nude without their knowledge.”
The nude scene in questionhappened the day after Romeo and Juliet consummated their marriage. First, 16-year-old Whiting showed his rear end for over a minute in the scene that displayed that the two had slept together. Later, in that same scene, 15-year-old Hussey briefly showed her breasts while getting out of bed. Despite the film’s positive reception, due in part to Whiting’s and Hussey’s performances as the iconic star-crossed lovers, this scene has always been mired in controversy since the film’s release because of how young both actors were when they performed that scene in particular.
Knowing their age, it’s fair to say that neither Whiting nor Hussey “had” to display any nudity from their end for the film to establish that Romeo and Juliet had sex. For decades, TV shows and movies have clearly established that a couple has slept together without showing any form of nudity whatsoever. Showing Whiting’s buttocks and Hussey’s breasts added no artistic value to that scene, and the fact that they were teenagers at the time makes it all the more off-putting. Kudos to both actors for abiding by their director’s wishes anyway, knowing how young they were back then,but this lawsuit feels justified.
Remember that neither Hussey nor Whiting should be shamed for what they were told to do when the movie was being filmed because they were just doing their jobs, especially if their allegations are true. Funny enough, Hussey has defended that scene in the past, but now, both actors are suing because of the distress and damage they claim it did to them and their careers. If they feel this is the best way to go about the controversy, despite how many years it’s been, they have every right to.
Romeo and Julietcan be rented on Amazon Prime.
