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IMDbPro

Oedipus the King

  • 19681968
  • GG
  • 1h 37m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
339
YOUR RATING
Oedipus the King (1968)
DramaHistory
This classic (Greek) tale tells how a noble youth accidentally marries his own mother, kills his own father (deliberately) and ends up paying a terrible price for invoking the wrath of the G... Read allThis classic (Greek) tale tells how a noble youth accidentally marries his own mother, kills his own father (deliberately) and ends up paying a terrible price for invoking the wrath of the Gods.This classic (Greek) tale tells how a noble youth accidentally marries his own mother, kills his own father (deliberately) and ends up paying a terrible price for invoking the wrath of the Gods.
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
339
YOUR RATING
    • Philip Saville
  • Writers
    • Michael Luke
    • Paul Roche(translation)
    • Philip Saville
  • Stars
    • Christopher Plummer
    • Lilli Palmer
    • Richard Johnson
    • Philip Saville
  • Writers
    • Michael Luke
    • Paul Roche(translation)
    • Philip Saville
  • Stars
    • Christopher Plummer
    • Lilli Palmer
    • Richard Johnson
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos11

    Christopher Plummer and Diana Jervis-Read in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Alexis Mann in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Christopher Plummer and Richard Johnson in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Orson Welles and Christopher Plummer in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Richard Johnson in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Christopher Plummer and Lilli Palmer in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Christopher Plummer in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Christopher Plummer in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Christopher Plummer in Oedipus the King (1968)
    Oedipus the King (1968)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher Plummer
    Christopher Plummer
    • Oedipus
    Lilli Palmer
    Lilli Palmer
    • Jocasta
    Richard Johnson
    Richard Johnson
    • Creon
    Orson Welles
    Orson Welles
    • Tiresias
    Cyril Cusack
    Cyril Cusack
    • Messenger
    Roger Livesey
    Roger Livesey
    • Shepherd
    Donald Sutherland
    Donald Sutherland
    • Chorus Leader
    Friedrich von Ledebur
    Friedrich von Ledebur
    • King Laius
    • (as Friedrich Ledebur)
    Dimos Starenios
    Dimos Starenios
    • Priest
    Alexis Mann
    • Palace Official
    Oenone Luke
    • Antigone
    Cressida Luke
    • Xemene
    Minos Argyrakis
    • Chorus
    Manos Destounis
    Manos Destounis
    • Chorus
    George Dialegmenos
    • Chorus
    Takis Emmanuel
    Takis Emmanuel
    • Chorus
    Alexandros Maniatakis
    • Chorus
    Giorgos Oikonomou
    Giorgos Oikonomou
    • Chorus
    • (as George Oekonomou)
      • Philip Saville
    • Writers
      • Michael Luke
      • Paul Roche(translation)
      • Philip Saville
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Donald Sutherland's voice is dubbed by another actor.
    • Connections
      Featured in Discovering Film: Orson Welles (2015)

    User reviews6

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    "Count no man happy in this life......"
    'Oedipus Rex', the first of Sophocles' Theban trilogy, is rightly regarded as one of the masterworks of the human mind in terms of its construction and well-drawn characters.

    Bringing Greek drama to the screen is fraught with difficulties not least of which is whether one makes it declamatory thereby alienating a modern audience or keeping it conversational and risking the loss of its grandeur. In this regard I think this version has achieved the perfect balance. The other problem is how to employ the Greek chorus and here alas director Philip Saville has been found wanting. The chorus of Theban elders has been dubbed by English thesps which is totally incongruous and the spectacle of Donald Sutherland speaking with the voice of Patrick Allen is utterly absurd.

    There is no faulting the performances of the principals however. Ironically Christopher Plummer had recently worked with Saville on a television film of Hamlet, a character whose behaviour has often been linked to his having an 'Oedipus complex'. The role of Oedipus is extremely demanding and Plummer is splendid as a seemingly confident, self-satisfied ruler whose life begins to unravel when a prophecy made years before by a drunken guest becomes a horrifying reality. His physique and delivery puts one in mind of a younger Olivier. The part of Jocasta is difficult to cast as she has to look young enough to have borne Oedipus two young children but old enough to be his mother! Lili Palmer, still looking great in her late fifties, is ideal in every respect. Incest should definitely be kept in the family! Richard Johnson never disappoints and is excellent as Creon who assumes kingship following Oedipus' fall from grace. In the third play of the trilogy Creon's proud, implacable nature will bring him into conflict with Oedipus' rebellious daughter Antigone. Further gravitas is supplied by Orson Welles who does his thing as Tiresias the blind prophet and Cyril Cusack quietly steals his scenes as the Messenger who brings tidings which aren't altogether welcome. Nice to see Roger Livesey in one of his last film roles as the Shepherd.

    The cinematography is by Walter Lassally, certainly no stranger to Greek terrain as he had previously shot 'Electra' and 'Zorba' for Michael Cacoyannis. One cannot but wonder how Cacoyannis himself would have handled this material. Mr. Saville's direction is capable but not particularly inspired and as mentioned earlier, the misjudged use of the chorus is not only aggravating but weakens the film immeasurably.

    05/02/2021: Farewell Christopher Plummer. May flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest."
    helpful•2
    1
    • brogmiller
    • Jan 12, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 14, 1968 (West Germany)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ancient Theatre of Dodoni, Ipiros, Greece
    • Production companies
      • Crossroads World Film Services
      • Universal Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 37 minutes
      • Mono

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