"William Shakespeare's classic tragedy of youthful yearning and forbidden love finds Juliet (Olivia Hussey) and Romeo (Leonard Whiting) as two star crossed lovers. The two come from families who for some reason harbor long standoing grudges against each other, and naturally the parents do not approve. Keeping the two teens apart only seeks to strengthen their love for one another. Romeo steals away to be with the fair Juliet at every opportunity as the two forsake family, friends and reason to be together. When Romeo suffers a fatal knife wound in a street fight, Juliet takes her own life rather than live without her young husband. Narrated by Laurence Olivier, the film was mercilessly panned in the Variety review upon its release, labeling the feature ""a tough sell."" Director Zeffirelli gained no small measure of personal vindication when the film became an international smash and introduced Shakespeare to a new generation of fans who related to the characters who actually portrayed their own age as Shakespeare intended. No one under 16 years of age was allowed to see the film without an adult, adding to the box office draw. Romeo and Juliet won Oscars for Best Photography and Best Costumes, and was nominated for Best Director and Best Picture. The movie spawned the hit romantic ballad ""A Time For Us."" Reading the slanderous Variety review, one has to wonder what the reviewer could have possibly been thinking when he dipped his pen in the venemous poison when he panned this classic love story."