Biografie

Franco Zeffirelli

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In January 2018, actor Johnathon Schaech accused Zeffirelli of sexually assaulting him during the production of Zeffirellis Spatz (1993) in 1992. Schaech, now 48, wrote in People magazine that he was 22 years old when Zeffirelli pestered him during the day, verbally abused him, and tried to enter his room at night, forcing him to lock the door. Then one night in Sicily, Schaech wrote, the director got a key, entered Schaech's room and his bed and assaulted him. Zeffirelli denied the allegation. Bruce Robinson, who acted in Zeffirelli's Romeo und Julia (1968), had made similar allegations many years previously.
One of eight Italians to have been nominated for the Academy Award for 'Best Director'. The others are Federico Fellini, Pietro Germi, Michelangelo Antonioni, Gillo Pontecorvo , Bernardo Bertolucci, Roberto Benigni and Lina Wertmüller.
Has worked not only with former husband and wife Robert Stephens and Maggie Smith, but also with their son, Toby Stephens.
Received a Special 1962 Tony Award "for designs and direction of the Old Vic's 'Romeo and Juliet'." The following year, in 1963, he was nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as Best Scenic Designer for "The Lady of the Camellias."
For one scene in Romeo und Julia (1968), Zeffirelli had to get special permission to show Olivia Hussey topless. Even so, Ms. Hussey was not allowed to attend the premier because of her age and the film's rating, even through the only bare breasts in the entire film were her own.

[About Totò che visse due volte (1998)] I must confess, from the bottom of my heart, my sadness and my discomfort to such a film devoid of any form of sentiment and values. In what society do we live? Why do you thus these films? Should be the heart of the matter. This is something that is deeply against humanity, society and the fundamental values of man and I think that in a case like this, total censorship is necessary. And as for me I will not see this movie because I already know what it is and I do not want to sully my eye.
[on William Hurt] The most complicated actor I ever worked with.
[on "Endless Love"] The initial screenplay was ruled overlong by our production execs, who insisted on whittling the script from nearly three hours down to roughly two hours. In doing so, alas, they removed only too much of what made it work in the first place. When I was in the editing room after shooting, I kept furiously asking myself, "How could I have let this happen - and *why* did I?"