British actress Olivia Hussey and actor Leonard Whiting star in Franco Zeffirelli’s ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ circa 1967.
Keystone | Hulton Archive | Getty Visuals
Two stars of the 1968 movie adaption of “Romeo & Juliet” have sued Paramount Shots for far more than $500 million above a nude scene the actors shot when they were young people, in accordance to a copy acquired by CNBC.
Leonard Whiting, 72, and Olivia Hussey, 71, assert director Franco Zeffirelli “secretly” filmed them nude or partly nude without having their awareness irrespective of earlier assurances that there would be no nudity exhibited in the Oscar-profitable movie. At the time of filming, Whiting, who portrayed Romeo, was 16, and Hussey, who portrayed Juliet, was 15.
The pair filed the accommodate in Los Angeles County Exceptional Court docket alleging sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud.
Paramount has not built any general public assertion about the match and did not react to request for remark from CNBC.
In accordance to the filing, Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, to begin with informed the actors that they would don flesh-colored undergarments in the bedroom scene in which Whiting’s bare buttocks and Hussey’s bare breasts are briefly demonstrated. On the other hand, when the scene was shot in the final days of filming, the actors have been instructed they would put on only human body makeup and that the digital camera would be positioned in a way that would not demonstrate nudity, in accordance to the accommodate.
The actors stated they “considered they experienced no preference but to act in the nude in entire body make-up as demanded,” and allege the scene was in violation of California and federal legal guidelines in opposition to indecency and the exploitation of children.
Solomon Gresen, the actors’ legal professional, reported they are searching for punitive damages of $100 million, but are maybe entitled to damages of extra than $500 million to match the volume the film has gained given that 1968.
“Paramount proceeds to show and financial gain from these photos of nude insignificant little ones,” mentioned Gresen. “They absolutely know superior. Time should really be up.”
On its release, the movie also proved a important good results, winning academy awards in the finest cinematography and costume layout classes, and earning a nomination for very best photo.