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ITALY-ZEFFIRELLI-FILM-OPERA
Italian director Franco Zeffirelli dies aged 96: media
ROME, June 15, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Italian film and opera legend Franco
Zeffirelli died Saturday at the age of 96 at his home in Rome, local media
reported.
The director of movies and operas “died serenely after a long illness,
which had worsened these last months,” Italian media said, citing family
members.
“I never wanted this day to come. Franco Zeffirelli departed this morning.
One of the greatest men in the world of culture. We join in the grief of his
loved ones. Goodbye, dear Master, Florence will never forget you,” tweeted
Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence, where Zeffirelli was born.
A director, screenwriter, and producer, Zeffirelli has about 20 feature
films to his name.
Internationally, he is best known for having directed the 1968 film version
of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” for which he was nominated for an Academy
Award.
He also borrowed from Shakespeare for adaptations of “Hamlet” in 1992 with
Mel Gibson and Glenn Close, and “The Taming of the Shrew” in 1967 with
Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.
He also directed more than 30 plays and operas.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1810 hrs