THIS ONE IS SETTING OFF MY STINK-O-METER

By Bob Walsh

 

I am old enough I remember the Zeffirelli version of ROMEO AND JULIET,  which was released more than 50 years ago.  At the time Olivia Hussey (Juliet) was 15.  Leonard Whiting (Romeo) was 16.  The movie showed some of Hussey's boobs and Whiting's ass.  Big whoop.  They are both now pushing70 from the far side, and are suing Paramount for sexually exploiting them and distributing "nude" images of them.

Allegedly Zeffirelli told them they would be wearing body stockings and wouldn't actually have any nudity, but on the day of shooting he convinced / coerced them into doing the scene au natural.  According to the suit they have both suffered mental anguish in the 55 years since the film's release and have lost work opportunities, apparently due to this stress.  Neither one of them became A-listers after the flick, though Olivia Hussey did do OK afterwards.  They are seeking unspecified monetary damages.

Olivia Hussey defended the nude scene in an interview five years ago.  

Paramount has declined comment.  

Maybe it's just me, but I seem to hear a cash register going "ca-ching" in the background.  A change in CA law due to the Catholic Church and Boy Scout scandals changed the statute of limitations re-set the statute of limitations on these claims to December 31, 2022.  The suit was filed on December 30 in Santa Monica.