Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has been modified numerous times and has been a source of inspiration for many playwrights and directors. Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann are examples of directors who use Shakespeare's legendary tragedy as the basis for their films. In the Franco Zeffirelli version of Romeo and Juliet, produced in 1968, the setting is faithful to the time when William Shakespeare wrote the play. In the last act of the film, some differences emerged. In Zeffirelli's production, Romeo does not ask his friend Balthasar for a letter announcing Juliet's well-being, although he did so in the play. This letter was to be delivered by Brother John, who is not mentioned in the 1968 film. In Act 5, Scene 3, Paris was placing flowers near Juliet's tomb. Romeo then comes to kill Paris and his page. Both of these details were removed in Zeffirelli's version. Lady Montague was alive at the funeral in Zeffirelli's film. William Shakespeare said she died from the stress of knowing her son had died in his famous play. Baz Luhrmann took a modern approach to Romeo and Juliet. A myriad of differences were featured in his 1996 film. For example, all the characters were given names, such as Ted Capulet instead of just Capulet and Dave Paris as an alternative to Paris. The feud between the two families was not so much due to an "old grudge" as it was due to the families' rival businesses. Additionally, when Juliet, played by Claire Danes, takes the potion to make her feel like she is dead, she thought it would kill her or that it wouldn't work, and imagined that her dead cousin, Tybalt, was with it. She. in his room. In the film, she did not hallucinate and took the potion without a single... middle of paper ...... the tragic celebration of forbidden young love as told by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, a been adapted into numerous film adaptations. The most famous of these adaptations are Franco Zeffirelli's version and Baz Lurhmann's 1996 film. Both of these films used Shakespeare's best-known work as the basis for their films. The two films have similarities, but the differences are much more obvious. Since William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was created, it has been and always will be an artistic influence for playwrights, directors, and other artists.Works CitedRomeo + Juliet. Real. Baz Lurhmann. Perf. Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, etc. Paramount Pictures, 1968. Film. Romeo and Juliet. Real. Franco Zeffirelli. Perf. Leonard Whiting, Olivia Hussey, John McEnery, etc. Twentieth Century Fox, 1996. Film.