Search - Nino Rota :: Romeo & Juliet

A Rare Gem of a CD!

J. A. Retzer | Phoenix, AZ | 04/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me begin by saying that most of the previous reviews were negative because they simply failed to read the lable where it clearly states "Dialogue Highlights with Original Score." It's visible right there on the cover illustration.



The original LP was a relic of it's time, where Shakespearean films and faux-Shakespearean films (like Beckett) often spawned albums which showcased dramatic scenes and dialogue highlights, backed by the score.



The liner notes for this CD even say that it was a phenomenon when teenagers of the 60's would put aside their pop albums and devote 45 minutes in rapt attention listening to actors their own age performing Shakespeare (BTW: There was another pressing issued at the time -a deluxe four LP set with illustrated booklet in a box featuring the entire film's audio track, issued to schools and libraries).



My only gripe (and it's barely even that) is that the music used is often not that which accompanied the scene. There are moments where music from another scene has been repositioned to bridge the edited dialogue sequences. It makes for a better "flow" but I miss some of the familiar "hits" that Rota worked into his score to accompany certain lines (like the discordant squeal when Lady Capulet appears).



Summing up, this is an excellent CD and should actually be in every home library along with the DVD of the film. It is far superior in most respects to the Leo & Claire version under any circumstances. It may come across as 'Shakespeare Lite' to some purists, and it is not the MUSIC soundtrack album, but it stands very well on its own.



The sound is clear and "present" -marred only by the excessive dubbed-in sound of the original film's dialogue tracks. The stereo separation preserves the spread of the music as well as the 60's period left-right channel spread of sound effects, movement and dialogue.



For those who want the music only, there are two CDs out there you can look for (both of which I own).



The actual motion picture soundtrack in stereo is available on the Cloud Nine lable (deep red cover with a still of R&J touching palms at the feast).



A digital re-recording of the complete score was issued by Silva Screen and while it is very nice in that it presents every cue and in very clear sound, it fails to compare to the original in terms of performance (the vocals are awful) and lack of "feeling."



For the serious collector and R&J fan, you can also hunt down the deluxe 4 LP set [SWDR-289] Romeo & Juliet - The Complete Motion Picture Soundtrack Recording (which of course I also own). Transferred to CD it fits nicely on two CDs, so I don't know why some record company hasn't done so already."

Nothing like the CD with just the music soundtrack!

R. Driscoll | Houston, Tx | 09/19/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have the original music soundtrack (music only) on CD! It was a rare find and it took me 25 years to find it. This CD has the music from the lost, original Nina Rota score. I loaded this music into my iTunes library and it is great to listen to it from time to time. Beautiful music soundtrack from the movie. The CD with music and dialog is also very nice, but it is sweet to have the CD with just the music.



Do not buy the CD with Label by SILVA! That is an imitation disc with a horrible vocal by an unknown singer for the song: What is a youth? No one can sing this like Glen Weston!"

Brilliant

J. Welch | Ocean County, NJ | 04/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a teenage boy of 17 when this film came out I, along with my girlfrend of 16 saw this movie a dozen times in the still standing Baronet in Asbury Park NJ. I purchased the LP. We both knew the dialog by heart. 30 years later I purchased the CD that was only the music. A wonderful soundtrack but I missed the dialog. Yet, suprise here it is. I scooped it up right away.

Both this CD and the music only are superb. Olivia, you are still a beauty and although my youthfullness has faded I recall this time fondly. I can only wonder if my high school sweetheart feels the same way all these years later."