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 ...
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Title: Oedipus the King (1968)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Christopher Plummer | ... | Oedipus | |
| Lilli Palmer | ... | Jocasta | |
| Richard Johnson | ... | Creon | |
| Orson Welles | ... | Tiresias | |
| Cyril Cusack | ... | Messenger | |
| Roger Livesey | ... | Shepherd | |
| Donald Sutherland | ... | Chorus Leader | |
| Friedrich von Ledebur | ... | King Laius (as Friedrich Ledebur) | |
| Dimos Starenios | ... | Priest | |
 |
Alexis Mann | ... | Palace Official |
|
|
Oenone Luke | ... | Antigone |
|
|
Cressida Luke | ... | Xemene |
|
|
Minos Argyrakis | ... | Chorus |
|
|
Manos Destounis | ... | Chorus |
|
|
George Dialegmenos | ... | Chorus |
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
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. Written by Steve Crook <steve@brainstorm.co.uk>
Plot Keywords:
greece | foreign language adaptation | king | ancient greece | tragedy |Taglines:
An unsurpassed cast in one of the great plays of the ages -- now on the screen! See more »Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 June 1968 (West Germany) See more »Also Known As:
Edipo rey See more »Filming Locations:
Ancient Theatre of Dodoni, Ipiros, GreeceCompany Credits
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IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
MonoColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.66 : 1
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Did You Know?
Trivia
King Laius does not appear in the original play; he is only referred to. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Sophocles on cinema is a delight; but with a dream cast that includes the lovely, talented Lili Palmer, the great Orson Welles, the charming Cyril Cusack, the arresting Donald Sutherland in a most unusual role, and of course stalwarts Christopher Plummer and Richard Johnson, the effect can be heady.
I recommend the film to anyone who cares for drama and acting. I am amused that the film has not been marketed intelligently by the studios and remains unseen by many who would have loved to see the film.
The scenes where Oedipus unknowingly kills his own father is captured on film in a truly remarkable way, suggesting the fleeting moment where recognition between father and son is totally implausible.
Jocasta's (Lili Palmer) performance is top notch--probably her best role ever. Cyril Cusack, Orson Welles, and Donald Sutherland add additional flavour to this remarkable effort.
I have always wondered why the famous cinematographer Walter Lassally did not choose to film the movie in the letterbox or cinemascope format, which would have given the subject an epic sweep it deserved. The format used by Lassally restricted the film to the level of a play on film rather than cinema capturing the great play on celluloid. Even with this fault, the film will remain one of my favourites. I commend Phillip Saville for his casting--bringing together great actors on both sides of the Atlantic.
I doubt if the ancient Greeks could have enjoyed the play any better than on a technicolor screen with special effects.