Leonard Whiting Movies
British actor Leonard Whiting may best be remembered for playing Romeo at age 17 in Franco Zeffirelli's beautifully rendered version of Romeo and Juliet (1968). It was Whiting's film debut and its popularity led him to be cast in similarly romantic parts. Whiting ended his film career in the mid-'70s and subsequently placed his focus upon his theatrical career as an actor and writer. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1975
The great Biblical romance between Jacob and Rachel provides the basis of this costume drama. The trouble begins when the young woman's stern father demands that they wait seven years before they wed. On the blessed day the wedding occurs and that night the union is consummated. The next day, Jacob discovers that Rachel's homely sister is the bride behind the veil and that he has impregnated her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Per its title, Jack Smight's Frankenstein: The True Story, strives for greater faithfulness to Mary Shelley's novel than prior versions. Thus, as in the book, Dr. Frankenstein's (Leonard Whiting) creation is no monster, but a handsome young man of high intelligence (Michael Sarrazin). In fact, the doctor and his creature are the best of friends until the latter's body begins to deteriorate. This sends the creature over the bend into insanity, prompting Frankenstein -- with the help of his evil mentor, Dr. Polidori (James Mason), a character not in the Shelley novel -- to try, try again to create a viable synthetic human. The film ends more or less as the novel does, with the outcast Frankenstein and his creature expiring in the frozen wastes of Antarctica. Adapted for television by Christopher Isherwood, Frankenstein: The True Story was originally telecast in two parts on November 30 and December 1, 1973. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
This French film is a sex comedy set in the World War I period. Franz (Leonard Whiting) is in love with the Colonel's daughter, but the Colonel will not let a mere lieutenant marry any daughter of his. In order to further his career so as to wed the woman of his dreams, Franz makes love to a succession of women. Bedroom confidences lead him to get hold of the Russian plan for an attack on his countrymen. This gets him his promotion and the hand of his girl. When he finds himself behind enemy lines, he heads off for yet another adventure involving a General (Curt Jurgens) and his mistress. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Curd Jürgens, Sylvie Fennec, (more)
- 1971
- PG
Jean Simmons is a housewife on a brief shopping trip to London. A young, unemployed lout (Leonard Whiting) who, seeing her on the inbound train, sets his sights on her, and tries to get a response from her as he chases her all over town. At one point desperate, he steals her purse so that he will be the one chased. Eventually, he breaks down her reserve and they are able to meet properly, converse, and get to know one another. A romantic energy has developed in their relationship as the unlikely twosome joins together briefly. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
Historical accuracy is cast aside in the film version of Peter Shaffer's play. Fueled by promises of gold, Pizarro (Robert Shaw) and his explorers make a third trip across the treacherous Andes Mountains to Peru. There they meet King Atahuallpa (Christopher Plummer), considered to be a god by his faithful followers. The two leaders overcome their initial mistrust and suspicion, garnering admiration for each other. When the King is sentenced to die, Pizarro tries unsuccessfully to prevent the monarch's death at the hands of gold-hungry explorers. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robert Shaw, Christopher Plummer, (more)
- 1969
The famous Italian lover Casanova is portrayed by Claudio De Kunert as a child and by Leonardo Whiting as an adolescent on the verge of manhood. Planning to help the poor by going into religious law, he quickly is smitten by a bevy of beauties and by Millescudi (Senta Berger) in particular. After his first sermon as an aspiring abbot, the collection plate is flooded with love letters to the handsome young man. Casanova soon abandons his religious pursuits for more worldly pleasures. The gravely voiced Lionel Stander and Wilfred Brambell also appear in this 2 million dollar production. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Leonard Whiting, Maria Grazia Buccella, (more)
Director Franco Zeffirelli's 1968 version of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet was touted at the time of its release (successfully, if the box-office receipts are any indication), as something of a "youth trip" movie. This is because Zeffirelli broke the long-standing tradition of casting over-aged, sometimes grey-haired players in the title roles. Seventeen-year-old Leonard Whiting plays Romeo, with 15-year-old Olivia Hussey as Juliet. The youthfulness and inexperience of the leading players works beautifully in the more passionate sequences (some of these breaking further ground by being played in the nude). Among the younger players are Michael York as Tybalt and John McEnery as Mercutio. The duel between Romeo and Tybalt starts out as a harmless, frat-boy exchange of insults, then escalates into tragedy before any of the participants are fully aware of what has happened. Photographed by Pasqualino DeSantis on various locations in Italy, Romeo and Juliet was one of the most profitable film adaptations of Shakespeare ever produced. Its most lasting legacy is its popular main theme music, composed by Nino Rota. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting, (more)
