Directed by J. Gordon Edwards Written by Adrian Johnson Initial release 22 October 1916 | Distributed by Fox Film Corporation Director J. Gordon Edwards Producer William Fox | |
 | ||
Starring Theda BaraHarry Hilliard Similar Romeo and Juliet movies, Silent movies | ||
Romeo and Juliet is a 1916 American silent romantic drama film directed by J. Gordon Edwards and starring Theda Bara. The film was based on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and was produced by the Fox Film Corporation. The film was shot at the Fox Studio in Fort Lee, New Jersey.
Contents
Romeo and juliet 1996 trailer
Competing versions of Shakespeare
This film and other Shakespeare-oriented pictures were released in 1916, the 300th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. This film went up against direct competition from another feature-length Romeo and Juliet film from Metro Pictures starring Francis X. Bushman and Beverly Bayne.
In a recorded interview, Bushman states that William Fox had spies working for Metro, and stole some of the intertitles from the Metro version. Fox rushed his version into the theatres in order to capitalize on exhibiting his film first. Bushman recalled going to see Fox's Romeo and Juliet and was startled to see the intertitles from his film flash on the screen.
Cast
Preservation status
This film is now considered a lost film.