Electra (I) (1962)
"Ilektra" (original title)

Living in exile after the death of their father, the grown children of a murdered and usurped king converge to exact eye-for-an-eye revenge.

Director:

Mihalis Kakogiannis

Writers:

Euripides (play), Mihalis Kakogiannis

Stars:

Irene Papas, Giannis Fertis, Aleka Katselli

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 11 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Irene Papas	...	Elektra
Giannis Fertis	...	Orestis
Aleka Katselli	...	Klytaemnistra
Theano Ioannidou	...	Chorus Leader
Notis Peryalis	...	Elektra's Husband
Takis Emmanuel	...	Pylades
Fivos Razi	...	Aegisthus (as Phoebus Rhazis)
Manos Katrakis	...	The Tutor
Eleni Karpeta
Kitty Arseni
Eleni Marki
Eleni Marianou
E. Chatzeemichalee
Theano Krassa
M. Mauropoulou

Storyline

A powerful rendering of the tragedy of Elektra by Euripides, second in a trilogy. The film begins with a summary treatment without dialogue of the action of the preceding play, The Agamemnon, in which the wicked Queen Clytemnestra and her lover Aesgisthes murder her husband Agamemnon upon his return from the Trojan War.

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Plot Keywords:

tragedy | murder | betrayal | toga | water spring | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

Greece

Language:

Greek

Release Date:

1 December 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Electra

Company Credits

Production Co:

Finos Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Having seconds thought about killing Klytaemnistra, Orestis proclaims a devil, not a god, must have spoken to the oracle who told him to seek vengeance. As it happens, the word "devil" comes from the Greek word diábolos which means slanderer or accuser, not the Christian or Islamic word for a supernatural enemy of humankind tempting people to commit evil deeds.

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Quotes

Elektra: I would talk but I am afraid.
Orestis: No longer do you have to be afraid.
Elektra: Perhaps they'll accuse us of insulting the dead.
Orestis: Nobody would reproach you.
Elektra: People accuse and judge quickly here.

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Connections

Followed by The Trojan Women (1971)

User Reviews

Wonderful!

I accidentally came across this film while looking through used DVDs at a local store. Having a passing interest in Greek myth, I bought it sight unseen. Far, far better than recent American and British attempts to retell (read remake) these great stories, this marvelous film stays fairly close to the original, telling a tale of betrayal and revenge. I've always loved the story of Orestes: damned if he doesn't avenge his father's murder, damned if he kills the chief assassin-his own mother. Elektra's story is woeful as well-driven by her own desire for vengeance, a vengeance she believes will never come, only seeing her own doom and the triumph of her father's murderers.

Wonderfully acted by Irene Pappas. I'm recommending it to all my friends.