A California judge dismissed a second lawsuit filed by actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, stars of Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. The lawsuit alleged Paramount’s 2023 Blu-ray release of the film constituted a new misappropriation of their likeness.
Judge Holly J. Fujie ruled that the latest claims “lack merit” and found no significant difference between the 2023 release and older versions of the film, which were the subject of a prior lawsuit dismissed last year. The central issue revolved around the famous “bedroom scene” filmed when Hussey was 16 and Whiting was 17. While the scene depicts Romeo and Juliet lying in bed together, speaking lines and kissing, it also briefly shows Whiting’s bare buttocks and Hussey’s bare breasts.
Hussey, in a declaration to the court, described the scene as “sexual abuse of minors” and “child pornography,” claiming Paramount “engineered” the Blu-ray release to embarrass her. However, Judge Fujie disagreed, stating, “A comparison of the 2023 release with the prior versions shows no significant visible improvement in the film, particularly in the bedroom scene, to the naked eye. The lack of noticeable distinction defeats plaintiffs’ assertion.”
Hussey’s lawyer, William Romaine, argued that the Criterion release manipulated the original film, specifically highlighting the lighting, claiming it emphasized Hussey’s breasts in a lewd manner. Despite this, Judge Fujie dismissed the lawsuit. Romaine stated his intention to appeal the decision.
A previous judge dismissed the actors’ initial lawsuit in 2022, citing precedent stating that not all images of nude children are pornographic. Paramount declined to comment on the latest ruling.
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