Phaedra (1962)

Director:

Jules Dassin

Writers:

Jules Dassin
Margarita Lymberaki (original scenario)
(more)

Release Date:

September 1962 (Austria)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A violent drama of profane love

Plot:

A retelling of the Greek myth of Phaedra. In modern Greece, Alexis's father, an extremely wealthy shipping magnate...

Plot Keywords:

Foreign Language Adaptation | Lesbian Interest | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

Melina Mercouri	...	Phaedra
Anthony Perkins	...	Alexis
Raf Vallone	...	Thanos
Elizabeth Ercy	...	Ercy (as Elisabeth Ercy)
Tzavalas Karousos		(as T. Karoussos)
Zorz Sarri	...	Ariadne (as George Sarris)
Andreas Filippides	...	Andreas (as Andreas Philippides)
Olympia Papadouka	...	Anna
Stelios Vokovich	...	Stravos
Nikos Tzogias	...	Felere (as Nicos Tzoyas)
Depi Martini	...	Heleni (as Depy Martini)
Alexis Pezas	...	Dimitri
Tasso Kavadia
Kostas Baladimas	...	Dimo (as Dimos Baladinas)
Faidon Georgitsis
Giannis Bertos		(as Yannis Bertos)
Phedon Papamichael		(as Phaedon Papamichael)
George Txanis
Giorgos Panjas
E. Zachariades
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Elisabeth Mottet
Marc Bohan	...	Himself (uncredited)
Jules Dassin	...	Christo (uncredited)
Giorgos Karoussos	...	The Old Man (uncredited)
Lillia Ralli	...	Herself (uncredited)

Directed by
Jules Dassin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jules Dassin
Euripides		play "Hippolytus" (uncredited)
Margarita Lymberaki		original scenario (as Margarita Liberaki)

Produced by
Jules Dassin	....	producer
Noël Howard	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mikis Theodorakis

Cinematography by
Jacques Natteau		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Roger Dwyre

Art Direction by
Max Douy

Costume Design by
Theoni V. Aldredge		(as Denny Vachlioti)

Makeup Department
Anna Armaou	....	makeup artist
Jill Carpenter	....	makeup artist
Janine Casse	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Margot Capelier	....	assistant production manager (as Margo Capelier)
George Mills	....	production manager
Michel Rittener	....	production manager
Marios Stavropoulos	....	production manager
Stefanos Vlachos	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ginette Diamant-Berger	....	assistant director
Despina Kontogiorgou	....	second assistant director
George Koukopoulos	....	assistant director
Roy Millichip	....	assistant director
Henry Wise	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Maurice Barnathan	....	set dresser
Jacques Douy	....	assistant art director
Yannis Migadis	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Jacques Carrère	....	sound engineer (as Jacques Carrere)
Thanasis Georgiadis	....	sound engineer (as Athanasios Giorgiadis)
Jacques Lebreton	....	sound engineer

Visual Effects by
Jean Fouchet	....	opticals

Camera and Electrical Department
Gilbert Chain	....	camera operator
Roger Corbeau	....	still photographer
Max Lechevallier	....	assistant camera (as Max Le Chevalier)
Bernie Prentice	....	gaffer
John von Kotze	....	unit photographer: London (as John Kotze)

Editorial Department
Bernard Bourgoin	....	assistant editor (as Bernard Bourgouin)
Johnny Dwyre	....	assistant editor
Anne-Marie Philipe	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Raymond Le Sénéchal	....	music arranger: jazz (as Raymond Le Senechal)
Jacques Métehen	....	conductor: orchestra (as Jacques Metehen)

Other crew
Maya Caliga	....	technical advisor
Jean Fouchet	....	title designer: main title
Veta Pikologlou	....	production secretary
Zoe Pitta	....	production secretary
Alice Ziller	....	script supervisor
Harriet Medin	....	dialogue coach (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Joele
• Melinafilm

Distributors

• Lopert Pictures Corporation (1962) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  lighting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

France | Greece | USA

Language:

English | Greek

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

British Museum, Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London, England, UK

Company:

Joele

Goofs:

Continuity: When Alexis goes to get the car from the garage toward the end of the movie, there is a very evident dent near the door handle. The dent is not evident when he gets out of the car in the next scene.

Quotes:

Alexis:Phaedra... please, help me... let me go.
Phaedra:I can't.

unforgettable story of obsession

One more voice to be added to the many! Where, oh where is this movie and why isn't it on video or DVD??? When each of the stars, Mercouri and Perkins, passed away one hoped that at very least it might make it to TV in some kind of tribute. No such luck. Brilliant acting, extremely well directed by Dassin (who made the classic RIFIFI) this movie deserves a greater appreciation than it has received. Terrific performances by Mercouri as the love-obsessed stepmother and Perkins as the stepson who allows himself to be seduced by her. The critics were hostile and cynical when the movie first came out, possibly because of the very public antics of Onassis and Callas, but the movie itself deserved a much better reception. (One movie which this viewer has never been able to forget!) Classically elegant, this is a well made movie that Dassin's talents translated from ancient themes into modern with a true director's skill. This movie deserves to be seen again! Where is it?????