Phaedra

Released Oct 18, 1962

1 hr. 55 min.

Drama

List

20%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

39%

100+ Ratings

Audience Score

Phaedra (Melina Mercouri) is sent by her wealthy older husband, Thanos (Raf Vallone), to London in order to bring his son from a previous marriage, Alexis (Anthony Perkins), home for the summer. After Phaedra meets Alexis, they fall in love and embark on an affair. Alexis returns to Greece but feels consumed by guilt about the situation. When Thanos tries to arrange a marriage for him, it brings out jealousy in Phaedra that leads to a tragic series of events.

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Cyril Joyce A

i hate when he abandoned her, after all betrayals and flings

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

Full Review

Ken R

Phaedra – An Emotional Rollercoaster How painfully true was movie critic John Simon's summary for 'Phaedra'; "Unfortunately Unforgettable". When I experienced this work as an impressionable youth going through the turmoils of young love and relationships it left me shattered. I knew I was in for a tour-de-force the instant that electrifying scream rang out before the main title! (would like to know who the creative genius was that came up with that stunning idea...don't believe I'd ever seen or heard that done before!) Here was my dream, a profound, life-changing love - but with one huge problem, it was doomed. The power of this film lies in the political connections that gave it birth. Firstly; director (Dassin) who had been hunted out of the homeland of his birth, never to return. Then his romantic involvement with a politically passionate Greek woman (Mercouri), born into a heavily political family in Athens and who would herself eventually be forced out of Greece. Add to this the politically persecuted Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis who, as with Dassin, was forced to flee his native country. This crew alone represented a powerful force of creative people with something to say! It's little wonder the first meeting between Phaedra and her stepson takes place in the British Historical Museum, in front of fragments of the Elgin Marbles, the Marbles that Mercouri would later devote so much time fighting for their return to Greece (a Greece that was also foolish enough to let many valuable artefacts go for monetary gain) Looking back at this great movie, my main regret is that almost none of those that make up the characters of Phaedra are particularly likable. We have overly rich and powerful people that live only for becoming richer. They are bored with themselves and are too often motivated towards immoral 'games' to alleviate boredom at the emotional expense of others. When people deviate from our basic understanding of acceptable loving human relationships, all too often the result is disaster, and here, the disaster builds like a tidal wave - one situation cascades from another like an avalanche. Apart from a basis in classic Greek literature (the pen of a man known as one of the most tragic of poets) Euripides' 'Hippolytus', what else makes Phaedra great? If you take away the astonishingly haunting music of Theodorakis with its song lyrics written by great Greek poet Nikos Gatsos, who also helped make famous many melodies by Manos Hadjidakis and songs by Nana Mouskouri, the film would lose half of its considerable impact. Another vital element is the huge contribution of Turkish born lighting/cinematographer: Jacques Natteau known for his famous collaboration with Jean Renoir. Natteau's visuals draw you into each moment with striking emotional impact. On location shooting on the Island of Hydra supplies a grand setting. Hydra at that time was largely an Island without cars (Donkeys were, and still remain, basic transport) Dassin either got special permission or used another location for the spectacular scenes involving Alexis' Aston Martin 'dream' car. Under Dassin's gifted direction these elements forge together an unforgettable cinematic experience. Melina Mercouri for me, is far from beautiful, and this stretched believability in the rapid seduction of young Alexis just a little, but as described within the film... she has unique facial and physical qualities. The intense Anthony Perkins turns in a strong performance as the vulnerable, disintegrating, Alexis. Raff Vallone also delivers both a powerful and devastating performance as the shockingly betrayed Husband and Father. This is super-strong storytelling that will haunt the sensitive viewer for many years. Yes Mr Simon, for any of its regrets, it remains 'unforgettable'. Footnote: How tragic it is that the best arrangement/performance of the main theme music (with Oboe), was never included on any of the 'original' soundtrack recordings. With the 'Main Title' being the first thing you hear in the film (after that shock scream that is!), why would you leave it off!? I imagine the only person still alive that could explain would be Mr Theodorakis, and while it would be interesting, it's rather unlikely to happen. Not withstanding, it has taken over 50 years for MGM/UA to finally make this remarkable film available on a quality 'studio' DVD, so, small miracles do happen! KenR

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/09/21

Full Review

steve d

It fails to do anything with its myth.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Some of the scenes are deftly directed, but the script strays too much, from the classic tragedy, into melodrama.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/20

Full Review

Audience Member

Mediocre film that spends its best time on Mercouri's beauty and presence. Perkins is overwhelmed and unconvincing as a man that a woman like Mercouri could fall hopelessly in love with. The love making scene is almost laughable today without sensuality or credibility. The lesbian attendant to Phaedra is nonsense by today's ethos. She kisses her beloved on her way to eternity or hades. What's good is Mercouri and her costumes. That final look with the headscarf turban and dark glasses is fierce and should be on POSE. Also good is the scenery. The winding road on which Perkins and "his girl" kill themselves is better than the dialog. Another scene which is almost comical. I still say it's watchable so I gave it two good stars.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

ashley h

Phaedra is a decent film. It is Phaedra who has married a Greek shipping-tycoon but falls in love with her stepson. Melina Mercouri and Anthony Perkins give good performances. The screenplay is a little slow in places. Jules Dassan did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Jules Dassin

Director

Melina Mercouri

Phaedra

Anthony Perkins

Alexis

Raf Vallone

Thanos

Giorgos Karoussos

The Old Man

Elizabeth Ercy

Ercy

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Dwight MacDonald

Esquire Magazine

In the Dassin version, the melodrama is heightened and the logic is eliminated.

Aug 1, 2019

Full Review

Isabel Quigly

The Spectator

When you think of the repetitiveness of film love-scenes and the low emotional temperature as a result, it seems odd how little has been done on these lines.

Jul 13, 2018

Full Review

Phil Hall

Film Threat

Unlike wine, bad films do not get better with age.

Rated: 2/5

Oct 3, 2011

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

I found it entertaining as a bad film, one that detracts from the Greek tragedy with ludicrous offerings of sex.

Rated: C+

Jul 16, 2011

Full Review

Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

"Phaedra" straddles a line between ancient and modern sensibilities. It is an undervalued and underseen example of mythology adapted to cinema.

Rated: A

Jul 10, 2011

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Synopsis

Phaedra (Melina Mercouri) is sent by her wealthy older husband, Thanos (Raf Vallone), to London in order to bring his son from a previous marriage, Alexis (Anthony Perkins), home for the summer. After Phaedra meets Alexis, they fall in love and embark on an affair. Alexis returns to Greece but feels consumed by guilt about the situation. When Thanos tries to arrange a marriage for him, it brings out jealousy in Phaedra that leads to a tragic series of events.

Director: Jules Dassin
Distributor: Lopert Pictures Corp.
Production Co: Melinafilm
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 18, 1962, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008

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