“Phaedra” is a 1962 American-Greek romantic drama film directed by Jules Dassin, based on the greek tragedy “Hippolytus” by Euripides.
The powerful Greek ship-owner Thanos (Raf Vallone) proposes to marry Phaedra (Melina Mercouri), daughter of Thanos’ greatest competitor, during the baptism of a ship with her name. Thanos gives an expensive ring to Phaedra and soon she learns that his estranged son from his first marriage, Alexis (Anthony Perkins), has left the London School of Economics (L.S.E.) in London to dedicate himself to painting. Thanos asks Phaedra to travel to London to bring Alexis to meet him in Greece. When Phaedra meets Alexis, she falls in love with her step-son and seduces him. In rain-soaked Paris, their passionate affair threatens to destroy Thano’s empire. Will the modern temptress accept her fate?
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Original Title: Φαίδρα
IMDb rate: 6.9/10
Cast:
Melina Mercouri
Anthony Perkins
Raf Vallone
Elizabeth Ercy
Olympia Papadouka
Andreas Filippides
Movie Trivia:
1. The film was the fourth collaboration between Dassin and Mercouri, who took the title role. Greek writer Margarita Liberaki adapted Euripides’ Hippolytus into a melodrama concerning the rich society of ship owners and their families, but still containing some of the tragic elements of the ancient drama. The film is set in Paris, London, and the Greek island of Hydra.
2. The music was composed by Mikis Theodorakis. In the soundtrack, Melina Mercouri sang two songs. The first one was written by Nikos Gatsos, a major Greek poet, and was sung by Mercouri and Perkins after their love scene in Paris. The other one was heard in the film as the main love theme. Both of the songs are popular in Greece and they have been performed by hundreds of singers and actors.
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