Paramount...
- willfully funded the production of the 1968 "Romeo and Juliet" film.
- had the opportunity to edit the 1968 "Romeo and Juliet" film.
- willfully promoted and distributed the 1968 "Romeo and Juliet" film.
The Godfather (1972 film)
Simonetta Stefanelli was 16 years old (Date of Birth: 11-30-1954) when her breasts (exposed nipple) were filmed in a bedroom scene in 1971 for the film “The Godfather.”
Simonetta was age 17 when the film premiered (NYC) on March 14, 1972 and was released in the United States on March 24, 1972.
Romeo and Juliet (1968 film)
Olivia Hussey was 16 years old (Date of Birth: 4-17-1951) when her breasts (exposed nipple) were filmed in a bedroom scene in 1967 for the film “Romeo and Juliet.”
Olivia was age 16 when the film premiered in London on March 4, 1968 and was released in The UK on March 5, 1968.
Olivia was age 17 when the film was released in the United States (October 8, 1968)
Connecting The Dots
Paramount once again neglects to consider how their young actors will be affected during roles many would consider exploitative.
From the New York Times: "The studio distributing "The Kite Runner,'' a tale of childhood betrayal, sexual predation and ethnic tension in Afghanistan, is delaying the film's release to get its three schoolboy stars out of Kabul - perhaps permanently - in response to fears that they could be attacked for their enactment of a culturally inflammatory rape scene."
Paramount again chooses "authenticity" instead of care, opting for underage actors to perform in the movie "The Kite Runner." This sounds familiar, as Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting were both underage when they worked on Zeffirelli's "Romeo and Juliet."
The 12-year old actor playing Hassan reported "that he feared for his life because his fellow Hazara might feel humiliated by his rape scene." (New York Times)
Another familiar Romeo and Juliet-related issue concerned the young actor's father. According to the New York Times article, "His father said he himself was misled by the film's producers, insisting that they never told him of the scene until it was about to be shot and that they had promised to cut it."
Excerpt from "The Godfather" screenplay...Michael and Apollonia Bedroom scene
MICHAEL’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Michael opens the shutters. Apollonia stands in her wedding slip, seemingly a little nervous. Michael goes and kisses her. She lets down her slip. They embrace and kiss.