Oedipus Rex (1967) Edipo re (original title)

Director:

Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writer:

Pier Paolo Pasolini
(more)

Release Date:

7 September 1967 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In pre-war Italy, a young couple have a baby boy. The father, however, is jealous of his son - and the scene moves to antiquity...

Plot Keywords:

Oracle | Queen | Fight | Desert | Italy

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Silvana Mangano	...	Jocasta
Franco Citti	...	Oedipus
Alida Valli	...	Merope
Carmelo Bene	...	Creon
Julian Beck	...	Tiresias
Luciano Bartoli	...	Laius
Francesco Leonetti	...	Laius' Servant
Ahmed Belhachmi	...	Polybus
Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia	...	Priest (as Ivan Scratuglia)
Giandomenico Davoli	...	Shepherd
Ninetto Davoli	...	Angelo the Messenger
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Laura Betti	...	Jocasta's Maid (uncredited)
Pier Paolo Pasolini	...	High Priest (uncredited)
Isabel Ruth	...	Jocasta's Maid with a Lamb (uncredited)

Directed by
Pier Paolo Pasolini

Writing credits
Pier Paolo Pasolini
Sophocles		play "Oedipus Rex" (uncredited)

Produced by
Alfredo Bini	....	producer

Cinematography by
Giuseppe Ruzzolini

Film Editing by
Nino Baragli

Production Design by
Luigi Scaccianoce

Set Decoration by
Andrea Fantacci

Costume Design by
Danilo Donati

Makeup Department
Ernesta Cesetti	....	hair stylist
Maria Teresa Corridoni	....	hair stylist
Giulio Natalucci	....	makeup artist
Goffredo Rocchetti	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Eliseo Boschi	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean-Claude Biette	....	assistant director (as Jean Claude Biette)
Benoît Lamy	....	assistant director

Art Department
Dante Ferretti	....	assistant production designer

Sound Department
Fausto Ancillai	....	sound mixer
Carlo Tarchi	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Bruno Bruni	....	still photographer
Sergio Rubini	....	assistant camera
Otello Spila	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Piero Cicoletti	....	assistant costume designer

Other crew
Lina D'Amico	....	script supervisor
Walter Fabrizio	....	production secretary
Paolo Ferrari	....	voice dubbing: Franco Citti

Production Companies

• Arco Film
• Somafis

Distributors

• Euro International Film (EIA) (1967) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Eureka Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD) (DVD & Blu-ray Release)
• ABC-Kinot (1970) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Water Bearer Films (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Europix (19??) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Connoisseur Video (1993) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Medusa Home Entertainment (2006) (Italy) (DVD)
• Water Bearer Films (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Edipo re" - Italy (original title)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Italy | Morocco

Language:

Italian | Romanian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Spain:13 | Italy:VM18 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-16 | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Basilica of San Petronio, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Company:

Arco Film

Trivia:

First part of Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Mythical Cycle" also including Teorema (1968), Pigpen (1969) and Medea (1969).

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Black Dahlia (2006) (V)

Read the play, then see the film.

Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is adapted well for the foreign screen. Pasolini, better known for the controversial Salo; 120 Days of Sodom, has kept the intensity level to a minimum while still presenting the perverse qualities for which he would be known for. If you don't know the story (like who doesn't) read the play before seeing the movie - there tends to be a shortage on literature freaks these days. Beautifully filmed, Oedipus Rex begins in modern times, continues sometime BC, and finally ends back in the 20th century; thus presenting a sociological thesis for the viewer. The acting is a bit hammy (seeing Oedipus with a mad streak can be over the top) although the characters are developed well and recite their lines as if on stage. My only complaint is the subtitles seem to blend in with the scenery --- white subtitles against a white background. Therefore, this flaw makes it difficult to enjoy some scenes, and Pasolini's poetry is usually superb. Nevertheless, it's still a great film and is worth a look, especially by people with preconceived hatred for Pasolini's later work -and there's definitely a lot out there.