Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 17 June 2019
"Romeo and Juliet" director Franco Zeffirelli dies at 96

By COLLEEN BARRY far away. In 1978, he threat-
Associated Press ened to leave Italy be-
ROME (AP) — Italian direc- cause of attacks by some
tor Franco Zeffirelli, who de- Italians who saw Zeffirelli as
lighted audiences around an exponent of Hollywood.
the world with his roman- And when piqued by Amer-
tic vision and extravagant ican criticism of his 1981
productions, most famously movie "Endless Love," star-
captured in "Romeo and ring Brooke Shields, Zeffirelli
Juliet" and the miniseries said he might never make
"Jesus of Nazareth," died another film in the U.S. The
Saturday at 96. movie, as he predicted,
While Zeffirelli was most was a box office success.
known for his films, his name In his 2006 autobiography,
was inextricably linked to Zeffirelli recounted how his
the theater and opera. He mother attended her hus-
produced classics for the band's funeral pregnant
world's most famous opera with another man's child.
houses, from Milan's vener- Unable to give the baby
able La Scala to the Metro- either her name or his fa-
politan Opera in New York, ther's, she tried to name
and plays for London and him Zeffiretti, after an aria in
Italian stages. Franco Zeffirelli is shown in this Friday Oct. 16, 2009 file photo, in Rome. Italian director Franco Zef- Mozart's "Idomeneo." But a
Zeffirelli's son Luciano said firelli, famed for operas, films and television, has died in Rome at the age of 96. typographical error made
his father died at home in Associated Press it Zeffirelli.
Rome. His mother died of tuber-
He made it his mission to became one of Italy's most ian directors close to the States, though it was made culosis when he was 6, and
make culture accessible to prolific directors, working Vatican, and the church with two unknown actors, Zeffirelli went to live with his
the masses, often seeking with such opera greats as turned to Zeffirelli's theatri- Leonard Whiting and Olivia father's cousin.
inspiration in literary greats Luciano Pavarotti, Placido cal touch for live telecasts Hussey. The film, which cost There, Zeffirelli developed
for his films, and producing Domingo and Maria Callas, of the 1978 papal installa- $1.5 million, grossed $52 the passions that would
operas for TV audiences. and Hollywood stars includ- tion and the 1983 Holy Year million and became one of shape his life. The first was
Zeffirelli once likened him- ing Elizabeth Taylor, Rich- opening ceremonies in St. the most successful Shake- for opera, after seeing
self to a sultan with a ha- ard Burton, Mel Gibson, Peter's Basilica. spearian movies ever. Wagner's "Walkuere" at
rem of three: film, theater Cher and Judi Dench. But Zeffirelli was best known A year earlier, he directed age 8 or 9 in Florence. The
and opera. Italy's Prime Minister Gi- outside Italy for his color- Taylor and Burton in Shake- second was a love of Eng-
"I am not a film director. useppe Conte described ful, softly-focused roman- speare's "The Taming of the lish culture and literature,
I am a director who uses Zeffirelli "was an Italian am- tic films. His 1968 "Romeo Shrew." after his father started him
different instruments to ex- bassador of cinema, art and Juliet" brought Shake- His 1977 made-for-televi- on thrice-weekly English les-
press his dreams and his and beauty." speare's tale to a new sion "Life of Jesus" became sons.
stories — to make people Throughout his career, Zef- generation, and his 1973 an instant classic with its His experiences with the
dream," Zeffirelli told The firelli took risks. His screen "Brother Sun, Sister Moon," portrayal of a Christ who British expatriate communi-
Associated Press in a 2006 success in America was a told the life of St. Francis in seemed authentic and rel- ty under fascism, and their
interview. rarity among Italian film- parables. evant. The film earned over disbelief that they would
Born on Feb. 12, 1923, in the makers. "Romeo and Juliet" set box- $300 million worldwide. be victimized by Benito
outskirts of Florence, Zeffirelli He was one of the few Ital- office records in the United But controversy was never Mussolini's regime, were at
the heart of the semi-auto-
biographical 1991 film "Tea
21 Savage donates $25K for legal aid for with Mussolini."
As a youth, Zeffirelli served
detained immigrants with the partisans during
World War II. He later acted
as an interpreter for British
troops.
Associated Press seph is a British citizen and After a short-lived acting
ATLANTA (AP) — Grammy- moved to the U.S. when he career, Zeffirelli worked
nominated rapper 21 Sav- was 7. with Luchino Visconti's the-
age has given $25,000 to In a statement, immigration atrical company in Rome,
the Southern Poverty Law attorney Charles Kuck said where he showed a flair
Center after the watchdog that the Atlanta-based rap- for dramatic staging in "A
organization helped him per wants to support the Streetcar Named Desire"
while he was in federal im- work the SPLC has done to and "Troilus and Cressida."
migration custody earlier give immigrants legal rep- In 1950, he worked in lyric
this year. resentation and fight what theater as a director, set
The rapper, whose real Kuck called ICE's "oppres- designer and costumist,
name is She'yaa Bin Abra- sively adverse conditions of bringing new life to works
ham-Joseph, was arrested detention." by his favorites: Mozart,
Feb. 3 in what U.S. Immigra- The rapper spent 10 days
In this Monday, May 6, 2019 file photo, Rapper 21 Savage at- Rossini, Donizetti and Verdi.
tends The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute ben- tion and Customs Enforce- at the Irwin County Deten- Over the next decade, he
efit gala celebrating the opening of the "Camp: Notes on Fash- ment has said was a tar- tion Center before he was staged operas, romantic
ion" exhibition in New York. geted operation over his released on a $100,000 melodramas and contem-
Associated Press expired visa. Abraham-Jo- bond.q porary works in theaters.q