Everyone Is Entitled To My Opinion- On Senseless Lawsuits

Dear Friends,

      What do you remember from the year 1968? I was driving a 1958 Chrysler, dating a girl named Barbara, working at a movie theater and landscaping, playing guitar and singing in a band, The Capps. The top six songs on the radio that year were; “Hey Jude” – “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” – “Delilah” – Dock Of The Bay” – “What A Wonderful World” – and “Honey.” In theaters the top five grossing movies were; “Funny Girl” – “2001 Space Odyssey” – “The Odd Couple” – “Bullit” – and “Romeo and Juliet.”

      I remember the music I saw the movies (remember I worked in a theater) my buddy Paul Barrett and I with our girlfriends joined Paul’s brother and his wife for dinner and a movie, Romeo and Juliet. The movies were now rated and this film was rated R meaning you had to be 18 or over to see it. It did not escape our attention that though you had to be at least 18 to see the movie the stars; Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting were 15 and 16 respectfully, and appeared in a nude on screen in a love scene. From a classic Shakespeare writing, arguably the most famous love story ever, with so many story lines that have come from this book including the 1961 musical movie “West Side Story”. I liked “West Side Story” so much I took the role of “Ice” (Cool in the movie) three times and helped directing the fight scenes for a high school performance.

So what happened that fifty-five years later that Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, now in their 70’s, are suing the 1968 production? First the lawsuit is only possible because California has temporarily suspended the statute of limitations for older claims of child abuse in the wake of Boy Scouts of America and Catholic Church abuse suits. The lawsuit claims that the stars were told by Director Franco Zeffillei (who died in 2019) that they would not appear on screen nude. They were told they would wear nude bodysuits, later they were told that it was necessary they shoot the scene in the nude to save the movie but were assured that the camera angles would preserve their innocence, even being shown what camera angles would be used. The final cut included naked bottom and bust shots. In a 2018 interview Natalie stated that Leonard was not in the least shy about this and that once shooting began she forgot she didn’t have clothes on. Now claiming mental anguish and emotional distress they are seeking $500,000,000 settlement. “Juliet my fair, we can never be, therefore let us split the money.” Maybe Shakespeare should be the one suing.