Phaedra (Film)

• Melina Mercouri: Phaedra
• Anthony Perkins: Alexis

Phaedra is a film drama in 1962, which originated in American- French- Greek co-production. The screenplay is based on the tragedy The crowned Hippolytus by the Greek poet Euripides.

Action

Thanos Kyrilis is a powerful Greek shipowners. His second wife was married to Phaedra, from his first marriage he has a now 24 - year-old son, Alexis, who currently lives in London. Thanos sends his wife to London to her stepson leads them to spend the summer in Greece.

The young man and the older woman feel attracted to each other. They begin a secret love affair. At home on the island of Hydra, however, Alexis overcome feelings of guilt. Thanos is happy that his son has returned. He will bring him into the shipping business. In addition, he is planning a wedding with the daughter of another ship-owner, with whom he wants to merge Alexis. Phaedra is jealous and does not want Alexis to give up. She confronts Thanos with her ​​affair, the rage sentenced his wife and his son beats.

Alexis wants to leave the house. Phaedra asks him to take her, but he refuses. He gets into his car and drove along the coastal road. He commits suicide by controlling his car over the cliff. Phaedra goes to her room and takes an overdose of sleeping pills.

Reviews

The lexicon of the International film about the film: " In addition to some original ideas, there are also embarrassing corny scenes. "

The " TV Guide " is, the film suffers from the many symbolic representations and the hard directing Dassin. The camera work is, however, praised, especially the fact that the film was shot in black and white, and thus the gloomy atmosphere is not ruined.

The " TimeOut Film Guide " describes the film as " poorly designed ". The main problem is that the transmission of ancient tragedy to modern film does not work. The Posie, the dramatic sense of purpose of the original as well as psychological insights were lost. Contrast, WOULD horror over the inbred case with the stepson only inflated.

Awards

1963 was nominated for the Oscar Theoni V. Aldredge for Best Costumes ( b / w). Melina Mercouri was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress ( Drama ) as well as a nomination for the British Film Academy Award for Best Foreign Actress. The film was also nominated for Best Picture.

Background

In Germany the film was first used on September 7, 1962 in the cinemas.

The film was shot on the Greek island of Hydra, Piraeus and on the coastal road to Cape Sounion ( suicide scene Alexis ).

With director Jules Dassin had to leave Hollywood in 1953 - he was on the "black list" of HUAC - he moved to France, where he was successful with a small budget. There he met the Greek actress Melina Mercouri know. With her he never turned the 1960 festival success Sundays! .... Since had ended in the U.S., the anti-communist McCarthy era, Dassin could also hold back in the U.S. on foot. With Melina Mercouri, which his wife in 1966, he made five other films in which he, as well as in Phaedra, also appeared himself as an actor.

Anthony Perkins had become through his role as Norman Bates in the Hitchcock classic Psycho a star. To avoid a cliché role, Perkins went to Europe. Phaedra was the second European film work for him.