A judge dismissed a case brought by two actors against the 1968 film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s classic “Romeo and Juliet,” in which brief nudity of actors aged 15 and 16 was depicted.
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On Thursday, Superior Court Judge Alison MacKenzie ruled in favour of defendant Paramount Pictures, stating that the scene, which showed Olivia Hussey’s bare breasts and Leonard Whiting’s buttocks, did not constitute child pornography and could be considered sexually provocative enough to be illegal under the law.
Hussey and Whiting had claimed during the legal filing that the film’s director, Franco Zeffirelli, had initially said that nudity would not be necessary, but later informed them, after the death of Zeffirelli, that wearing flesh-coloured clothing would not be sufficient, and he insisted that the teenage actors perform a naked scene “or the film would fail.”
The stars of “Romeo and Juliet” sued the studio for sexual harassment.
Read more ‘Romeo and Juliet’ stars sued the studio for sexual harassment
Despite its brief nudity, the film was a major hit upon its release and has been shown in school curriculums in many countries.
“We firmly believe that the film industry should address the exploitation and sexualization of minors and protect vulnerable individuals from harm and ensure compliance with existing laws,” said Solomon Grayson, the lawyers for Hussey and Whiting, after the ruling. Paramount Pictures has not commented on the decision.
The director’s son, Pippo Zeffirelli, told The Guardian earlier this year that the actors’ decision to pursue the legal challenge was “shameful” and argued that it was unrealistic for them to “declare, years later, that they had to face a misbehaviour that has tormented them for years and emotional distress.” The film was released almost 55 years ago.
Their lawyers said that Hussey and Whiting intend to file the case again in federal court.