Romeo, heir of the lordly Montague family of the Italian city of Verona, goes wearing a mask to a dance held by the Capulets, their bitter rivals in the city. There, Romeo falls head over heels for Juliet Capulet, and they are secretly married by the... (more) obliging Friar Lawrence. Following a fight, Romeo is banished from the city, and Juliet's father promises her in marriage to another young fellow, Paris. Juliet unwisely agrees to a plan suggested by Friar Lawrence, takes a drug which will make her seem dead for two days and is put into the family vault, expecting Romeo to collect her when she wakes up. However, Romeo fails to get Friar Lawrence's message, believes Juliet is dead, kills Paris, then drinks poison and dies by Juliet's side. On waking up, she finds Romeo's body and stabs herself to death. As a result (if a rather unlikely one) the Montague and Capulet lords make up their ancient quarrel and a new friendship blossoms between the warring factions.

Alan Rickman, Anthony Andrews, Bunny Reed, Celia Johnson, Christopher Northey, Christopher Strauli, David Sibley, Esmond Knight, Jack Carr, Jacqueline Hill, John Gielgud, John Savident, Joseph O'Conor, Laurence Naismith, Michael Hordern, Patrick Ryecart, Paul Henry, Rebecca Saire, Roger Davidson, Vernon Dobtcheff, Zulema Dene