Paramount sued for $500 million over 1968 'Romeo & Juliet' nude scene

Two stars of the 1968 movie adaption of "Romeo & Juliet" person sued Paramount Pictures for much than $500 cardinal implicit a nude country the actors changeable erstwhile they were teenagers, according to a copy obtained by CNBC.

Leonard Whiting, 72, and Olivia Hussey, 71, assertion manager Franco Zeffirelli "secretly" filmed them nude oregon partially nude without their cognition contempt erstwhile assurances that determination would beryllium nary nudity exhibited successful the Oscar-winning film. At the clip of filming, Whiting, who portrayed Romeo, was 16, and Hussey, who portrayed Juliet, was 15.

The brace filed the suit successful Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging intersexual abuse, intersexual harassment and fraud.

Paramount has not made immoderate nationalist connection astir the suit and did not respond to petition for remark from CNBC.

According to the filing, Zeffirelli, who died successful 2019, initially told the actors that they would deterioration flesh-colored undergarments successful the chamber country successful which Whiting's bare buttocks and Hussey's bare breasts are concisely shown. However, erstwhile the country was changeable successful the last days of filming, the actors were told they would deterioration lone assemblage constitution and that the camera would beryllium positioned successful a mode that would not amusement nudity, according to the suit.

The actors said they "believed they had nary prime but to enactment successful the nude successful assemblage constitution arsenic demanded," and allege the country was successful usurpation of California and national laws against indecency and the exploitation of children.

The lawyer for the actors accidental they're seeking $500 cardinal successful damages to lucifer the magnitude the movie has earned since 1968. Upon its release, the movie besides proved a captious success, winning academy awards successful the champion cinematography and costume plan categories, and earning a information for champion picture.