Judge Again Dismisses ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Lawsuit Over Underage Nude Scene
variety.comGene Maddaus Senior Media Writer A judge on Monday dismissed a second lawsuit over the bedroom scene in the 1968 version of “Romeo and Juliet,” finding that the lead actors consented to their appearance in the film.
Actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting were 16 and 17 at the time of filming. They first sued Paramount in December 2022, alleging that they were duped by director Franco Zeffirelli into appearing in the nude.
The scene includes a lingering shot of Whiting’s bare buttocks and a glimpse of Hussey’s naked breasts. The original lawsuit was thrown out in May 2023, partly on statute of limitations grounds.
The actors filed a new lawsuit in February 2024, arguing that the 2023 Criterion re-release, with a digital restoration, triggered a new statute of limitations Judge Holly J.
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