William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" was by far the world's most famous classic piece of romantic literature, a powerful dramatic tragedy. Over the decades, it has been adapted for film by directors from all kinds of linguistic backgrounds. Of these, two are certainly the most successful and famous adaptations: the much-loved classic version by Franco Zeffirelli in 1968 and the modern version made by Baz Luhrmann in 1996. Although controversial, it depicts the the purest and unstoppable love in a turbulent society using creative and jazzy elements that were edited with style and a modern way. The 1968 and 1996 films clarified the setting from the beginning of the film - 13th century (medieval times) Italy for the 1968 version, and modern but problematic - a society full of people in Verona Beach California in the version from 1996. Scenes took place on the beach or in the Capulets' grand mansion, in stark contrast to the classic, antiquated cobblestone castles of the medieval centuries. The 1996 film being a modern adaptation, begins with the television news reporting the fire at the gas station caused by the shooting of Romeo and Juliet's cousins, which gives the audience a sense of danger, fast pace and risk as well as saving time. knowledge of the hostile relationship between the families of Romeo and Juliet. The 1968 version opens its curtain and offers the audience a panoramic view of the Italian landscape. As the camera pans, the narrator reads the famous prologue to Shakespeare's original play, indicating that the film's trend will closely follow the classic play. The props and clothing used in both films are what make them contrast, mainly because of the different...... middle of paper ......he scenes. The 1968 version uses calming, majestic music to give the viewer a sense of the time and mannerisms that were used then; while the music in the 1996 version was entirely Western style. The song “What is youth?” ” is carefully chosen and had a foreshadowing effect on the star-crossed lovers' future. Slow, pleasant music played behind the conversations between Romeo and Juliet which added to the mood. In conclusion, between two films, they each have their own merits, as they cannot be judged by which is the better or more successful interpretation of the masterpiece - the 1968 version was grandiose and classic, the plot and setting closely follow Shakespeare's original written work, while the 1996 version is fashionably creative and focused on the meticulous emotional details of the characters and original in its edited cinematography..