Tag: Romeo and Juliet Scripts

Scripts Based on Shakespearean Plays

One of the few authors that remain as popular today as they did in their own time is William Shakespeare. The ingenious writer concocted plays that intrigued his audiences and scintillated their minds. Today, film and theater production companies crank out remakes and adaptations with the desperate desire to add even more beauty to the already classic plays.

In order to create a film or play based on a Shakespearian script, a writer must remember that he or she should not go too far in changing the story. While the film, Romeo and Juliet (1996) fared well in theaters, some Shakespearian fans thought it was a cheesy remake. The same can be said of Hamlet (1996), which had many qualities of the original play, but lacked some of the most important plot points.

In order to create a Shakespearian-inspired script, an individual must become familiar with the master. In addition to that, the writer must be humble enough to realize the tremendous impact that Shakespeare had on the literary world. By becoming humble, the writer may be able to characterize the emotions of the original play in a respectfully done modern adaptation.

Remember that people come to Shakespearian-inspired films and plays with their own pre-conceptions. They have, more than likely, read the original Shakespeare play and will judge the new film against his original work. To go against Shakespeare is like a fight between David and Goliath. But instead of fighting the giant, the writer must learn to stand on his shoulders.

Below is a list of some of the greatest and worst Shakespearian-inspired scripts. Take note of the differences that make them good or bad. Sometimes all it takes is a little too much creativity to cause the popularity and emotion of the film to plummet. The best plays consist of a person making the most of their technological advances to further the ideas that Shakespeare had already pictured but perhaps, lacked the technology to display.

 

  1. (1956) Forbidden Planet [Transcript]
  2. (1958) Kiss Me Kate [Transcript]
  3. (1967) Chimes At Midnight Script ($)
  4. (1968) Romeo and Juliet [Transcript]
  5. (1989) My Own Private Idaho Script
  6. (1990) Hamlet [Transcript]
  7. (1996) Romeo and Juliet [Transcript]
  8. (1996) Hamlet Script ($)
  9. (1999) A Midsummer Night’s Dream [Transcript]
  10. (1999) Ten Things I Hate About You Script
  11. (2000) Hamlet Script ($)
  12. (2003) Deliver Us From Eva [Transcript]
  13. (2004) The Merchant of Venice [Transcript]
  14. (2006) She’s the Man Script ($)

Film Scripts Based on “Romeo and Juliet”

Out of the hundreds of “Romeo and Juliet” films that have been made in the past, only handfuls have been able to stand up to the test of time. Writers have tried everything to make the story different, while still maintaining the basic storyline first depicted by the great William Shakespeare. There are Romeo and Juliet films based in underground vampire worlds, slum cities and even in a suburban family’s backyard.

Many of these film scripts make it to the big screen, simply because audiences cannot get enough of this tragic love story. However, the success of a movie depends solely on the film maker’s ability to weld his or her creativity with the work of Shakespeare.

In the film, Romeo + Juliet (1996), Director Baz Luhrmann took a chance by creating a modern landscape with the same romantic couple. In this sexy, high fashion world, he was able to paint an astounding picture of the lovers’ lives that attracted young audiences everywhere.

Some people thought that the film was trash, but to this day it is still a very popular film.

On the other hand, a film maker can create a great adaptation by merely, omitting most of Shakespeare’s direct influence. In these films, the advertisements make no mention that the love story is based on Shakespeare. In fact, the film can only hint to the possibility of a relationship. A good example of this is the film, Underworld (2003) that tells the story of a doomed relationship between a wolf-man and a vampire.

By leaving out the potential influence of Shakespeare, the director steered clear of the “Shakespeare Police” crowd, who are characterized by their severe, religious devotion to the original Shakespeare plays; and will blow the whistle at anyone who tries to take too much creative freedom in the depiction.

So take note from the following film scripts and determine what route to take when writing a “Romeo and Juliet” styled play. There are a million creative ways that it can be expressed- it just requires an original mind to employ them.

  1. (1961) West Side Story Script
  2. (1998) The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride Script
  3. (1961) Romanoff and Juliet Script
  4. (1996) Romeo + Juliet Script
  5. (2003) Underworld [Transcript]