IMDb > Oedipus the King (1984) (TV)

Oedipus the King (1984) (TV) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.9/10   83 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 8% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Don Taylor
Writers:
Sophocles (play)
Don Taylor (translation)
Contact:
View company contact information for Theban Plays: Oedipus the King on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Drama more
Plot:
Plagues are ravaging Thebes, and the blind fortune-teller Tieresias tells Oedipus, the King, that the gods are unhappy... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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Awards:
2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
DVD release inspirations including The Lucky Ones
 (From BoxWish. 17 August 2009, 2:16 AM, PDT)
Previews For The Falcon Theatre's Oedipus The King, Mama Begin 8/12
 (From BroadwayWorld.com. 16 July 2009, 10:35 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Best version of Oedipus Rex i've seen on a screen. more (6 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Michael Pennington ... Oedipus Rex
Claire Bloom ... Jocasta

John Gielgud ... Teiresias
John Shrapnel ... Creon
Michael Byrne ... Chorus
Cyril Cusack ... Priest
Ernest Clark ... Chorus
David Collings ... Chorus
Donald Eccles ... Chorus
Robert Eddison ... Chorus
Edward Hardwicke ... Chorus
Denys Hawthorne ... Chorus
Noel Johnson ... Chorus
Clifford Rose ... Chorus
Alan Rowe ... Chorus
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Theban Plays: Oedipus the King (USA)
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Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
111 min
Country:
UK
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Sound Mix:
Mono
Company:
Bioscope more

Fun Stuff

Movie Connections:
Followed by Antigone (1984) (TV) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful.
Best version of Oedipus Rex i've seen on a screen., 19 May 2005
10/10
Author: riddickrp from United Kingdom

Michael Pennington quite simply DOMINATES this version of Oedipus Rex. While some might not like the update of Thebes to what appears to be Industrial Revolution England, I believe it works. Various characters look "Greek" enough for me, and the removal of the traditional masks that were found in Greek plays works out.

Why? Well Pennington fits the part of the play's namesake. He obviously did well researching or getting into the 'mind' of Oedipus. Watching him speak, his expressions is much better than somehow finding 'hubris' from a mask that is frozen into place. The rest of the cast compliments well, but above all is Pennington. If you are going to show a version of Oedipus to a literature class, this is the version. Its easy to understand and updated for a culture that would find little interest in watching frozen masks walk around.

I wish this play was released widely on DVD and not only available at insane high prices on an educational website.

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits News articles
IMDb Drama section IMDb UK section Add this title to MyMovies

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