Paramount Seeks to Throw Out Suit Over 1968 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Nude Scene

Leonard’s twinky nude ass was one of the great wonders of the modern world.

I totally agree, R1.

Dunno about Whiting, but several years ago, Hussey said she'd lied about her age at the time at the behest of the filmmakers, and she'd really been 20 years old when the film was shot.

If so, this lawsuit is going to be thrown out, and IMHO it's sad that it was filed at all. Those two must need money pretty badly, to try something this stupid.

R3 she was 16.

Somewhere three teen girls grew up flatchested because of the Boob Fairy's unfair distribution.

[quote]alleging that Zeffirelli pressured them into performing in the nude.

Interesting. Paramount says a lot, but one thing they don't do is deny that Zefferelli pressured them.

[quote] Paramount’s lawyers filed a motion on Monday, arguing that the suit is doomed to fail for a host of reasons. Among other things, the suit argues that the actors cannot file suit under a California law that suspends the statute of limitations for child sexual assault, because the scene does not qualify as assault.

[quote]The motion also notes that Hussey and Whiting have fondly recalled their participation in the film in the intervening decades, including in a 2018 Variety interview and a 2016 Q&A with the British Film Institute.

[quote]The motion argues that Hussey and Whiting cannot sue in California, as they lived in the U.K. at the time and the filming took place in Italy. They also note that Paramount was only the distributor of the film, not the production company. Paramount was thus not Zeffirelli’s employer, and was not responsible for supervising his conduct on set, the motion argues.

[quote]The motion invokes the California anti-SLAPP statute, which protects First Amendment speech on matters of public debate. Paramount argues that the film stoked “ongoing debate about nudity in cinema.” The company also quotes from a glowing 1968 review of the film by Roger Ebert.

[quote]“A lot of fuss has been made about the brief, beautiful nude love scene,” Ebert wrote at the time. “I doubt whether anyone could see it and disapprove of it, but apparently someone has.”

[quote]The motion also notes that Hussey and Whiting have fondly recalled their participation in the film in the intervening decades, including in a 2018 Variety interview and a 2016 Q&A with the British Film Institute.

This particular lawsuit aside, in general, I wish people would stop saying nonsense like this. Someone maintaining a professional relationship or [publicly] feigning friendship with a person who assaulted them, robbed them, or wronged them in some way doesn't mean anything. Speaking up could be career suicide or hurt their livelihood, not everyone is in a position where they can take that risk. I understand why the person or entity being accused says things like this but anyone else saying it is either an idiot who chooses not to understand or an asshole who doesn't care.

Judge Plans to Dismiss $500M Suit From 1968 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Stars:

Nooooo. My contingency fee !

[quote]The motion invokes the California anti-SLAPP statute

Chris Rock should sue Will Smith for violating this California statute in 2022.

Good luck to Leonard and Livvy. They were gorgeous naked.

Thanks R7. That's a point that is often overlooked in cases like this. They are also entitled to mixed feelings about the film. It's a great movie and has obviously meant a lot to audiences over the world. They were also, it seems, sexually exploited during the filming. These things aren't mutually exclusive.

R7 It certainly means something in jury trials. Juries tend to view that behavior as discrediting a witness/complainant. Which makes sense: we are all naturally distrustful of people who contradict themselves.

Whatever happened to statutes of limitations?

NOW a warning?!?!

Ugh, what typical MeToo crap. And yes, if you maintain a friendly relationship with someone you much later claimed violated you for decades, it should at least be looked into. What rot - “my trauma made me stay friends with this person I wasn’t required to have any contact with!!!”

Has Leonard's ass commented?

Oh, c'mon. They're senior citizens. They probably have no money left. They were probably hoping to settle for a few hundred thou to spend the rest of their lives in some comfort. Give 'em a break.

I agree with R1. Leonard’s twinky ass made a big impact on many gay men when it first debuted over five decades ago. It has since become a popular attraction in many Shakespeare English classes. Leonard should be proud of his ass's place in film history.

Give them a couple hundred thou to live on in their twilight years.

Lawsuit has been dismissed for now. But these sad grifters keep trying.

The only thing that could have made the scene hotter is if Leonard had been wearing Chuck Taylors.

It is sad if you disown the one beautiful thing you will be remembered for. But running out of money in old age is tough.

Whiting hit a wall with his looks in his twenties. Don’t know if it was from his lifestyle or just being British.

Hussey will also be remembered, forever, as the daughter of Salome Otterbourne in Death on the Nile. It is amazing how she managed to upstage Angela Landsbury in this role.

Here is the updated court ruling:

Judge throws out second lawsuit from Romeo and Juliet stars over underage nude scene in 1968 movie