CA: Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over Underage Nude Scene in 1968 Film ‘Romeo and Juliet’

Source: news.yahoo.com/Rolling Stone 5/26/23

Los Angeles County judge Alison Mackenzie confirmed she would grant Paramount Pictures’ motion to throw out a lawsuit over a nude scene in the 1968 film Romeo and Juliet, citing the First Amendment.

Earlier this year, lead actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting sued Paramount for sexual exploitation and child abuse over the use of nude footage in the movie, which was captured when they were 15 and 16, respectively. In the suit, the actors claimed that their consent was violated by the film’s director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019.

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What is and what isn’t child pornography??????

Two old and broke actors looking for another payday.
I’ll bet they competed for those roles and were thrilled to have the opportunity.

This is just a shameless cash grab… Maybe also trying to recapture some of the fame they used to have… Get their names in the media again.

Olivia Hussey’s daughter is in “ Look Away” and she’s nude in the movie. If you aren’t comfortable being naked on ser don’t take the role. Hopefully she won’t follow her mom’s footsteps in the future.

In federal criminal law, there is a specific statute defining and governing pornography and CP. Please refer to 18 USC 2256.

These days, those under the age of 18 but not younger than 16 who are depicted in a nude scene such as the 1968 Zeffirelli “Romeo & Juliet” (and all other photos, videos, movies, etc.), are almost never, ever criminally charged and/or prosecuted in the federal system. Depending on your state, the same typically holds true for state prosecutions. Essentially, prosecutors have bigger fish to fry, and juries typically will not convict if it is but images of nudity, and no sexually explicit behavior is depicted. There are always exceptions. And there certainly are opportunistic prosecutors who may be seeking public office and would use the publicity to their advantage.

However, Hussey and Whiting sued Paramount civilly. And anyone can sue anyone else for any civil tort. Whether or not they will be successful will be up to a judge and/or jury.

Last edited 1 year ago by SG

Many people of the US are so stuck up when it comes to sex and the human body.

Now with all of these book bans in libraries it will be a miracle if kids will learn things. Some politicians want to put librarians in prison if they have books on the shelves that some politicians don’t approve of. Really?! Kids nowadays are not even learning to write/read script – really ?! What will they ban next?! I am so thankful that I am not a teacher now. I never was but I would feel that if I could not teach (in good faith) the way I needed to I could not do my job properly. I would not be surprised if human teachers were removed from the classroom and replaced with robots who are programmed to say only certain things. Kids will not learn how to expand their minds and think out of the boxes at this rate. They will be shocked at little things that to older adults now were just normal everyday things. Hide the kids in bubbles and then set them loose in society and expect them to survive on their own.

My parents were great. I never once got grounded for anything I did and believe me I did some hairy things. My parents raised me to learn by my mistakes. They would sit me down and explain what I did and how it impacted others and what the consequences will be. They were not strick and let me learn things on my own because they trusted my judgement and when I swayed in the wrong direction – sit down time with discussion of what I did, how it impacted others and what I could have done instead. I am 67 yo now and I can still remember many conversations my parents had with me like they were yesterday, not out of fear but out of respect for both of them.

This goes to show you how scenes in a movie like this back in the 60’s meant nothing, fast forward to 2023 and it is child se$ual abuse. Wow!!!!

You don’t file a lawsuit if you don’t want the publicity to cause more people to see the film. Who today would have stumbled across this movie without this new publicity? It must be for the money or they just want publicity to get back into the spotlight.

GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!