Helen of Troy (film)

Infobox Film
name = Helen of Troy


caption = Original film poster
director = Robert Wise
producer =
writer = Hugh Gray
N. Richard Nash
John Twist
narrator =
starring = Rossana Podestà
Jacques Sernas
Cedric Hardwicke
Stanley Baker
Niall MacGinnis
music = Max Steiner
cinematography = Harry Stradling
editing = Thomas Reilly
distributor = Warner Bros.
released = January 26 1956 (USA)
runtime = 118 min. (US version)
country = USA
Italy
France
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id = 1:94695
imdb_id = 0049301

"Helen of Troy" is a 1956 Warner Bros. epic film, based on Homer's "Iliad". It was directed by Robert Wise, from a screenplay by Hugh Gray and John Twist, adapted by Hugh Gray and N. Richard Nash. The music score was by Max Steiner and the cinematography by Harry Stradling Sr. The film stars Rossana Podestà, Stanley Baker, Sir Cedric Hardwicke and Jacques Sernas, with Niall MacGinnis, Nora Swinburne, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher, Harry Andrews, Janette Scott, Ronald Lewis, Eduardo Ciannelli, Esmond Knight and a young Brigitte Bardot as Andraste, Helen's handmaiden.

Production

* The film was made in Rome's Cinecittà Studios.

Plot

The film retells the story of the Trojan War, albeit with some major changes from the Iliad's storyline: Paris of Troy (Jacques Sernas) sails to Sparta to secure a peace treaty between the two powerful city-states. His ship is forced to return to Troy in a storm after he has been swept overboard on the shore of Sparta, but Paris is found by Helen, Queen of Sparta (Rossana Podestà), with whom he falls in love. He goes to the palace where he finds Helen's husband, King Menelaus (Niall MacGinnis), Agamemnon (Robert Douglas), Odysseus (Torin Thatcher), Achilles (Stanley Baker) and many other Greek kings debating whether to go to war with Troy. Menelaus sees that Helen and Paris are in love and, pretending friendship, plots Paris' death.

Warned by Helen, Paris flees and takes Helen with him to Troy. The Greeks unite, and the siege of Troy begins. Much blood is shed in the long ordeal, with the Trojans blaming their plight on Paris and Helen until it turns out that the Greeks are solely after Troy's riches, not Helen. The siege culminates in Greek victory through the ruse of the legendary Trojan Horse. While trying to flee, Helen and Paris are cornered by Menelaus. Paris faces the Spartan king in single combat, but just as he wins the upper hand he is stabbed from behind, thus denying him a fair trial by arms. Helen is forced to return with Menelaus, but she is serene in the knowledge that she will someday be reunited with Paris.

This project makes several departures from the original story, including showing Paris as a hero and great leader, and most of the Greek lords as treacherous and opportunistic pirates who are using Helen's flight as an excuse to win the treasures of Troy.

Cast

* Rossana Podestà - Helen of Troy
* Jacques Sernas - Paris
* Cedric Hardwicke - Priam
* Stanley Baker - Achilles
* Niall MacGinnis - Menelaus
* Robert Douglas - Agamemnon
* Nora Swinburne - Hecuba
* Torin Thatcher - Odysseus
* Harry Andrews - Hector
* Ronald Lewis - Aeneas
* Brigitte Bardot - Andraste
* Marc Lawrence - Diomedes

* Maxwell Reed - Ajax
* Robert Brown - Polydorus
* Barbara Cavan - Cora
* Patricia Marmont - Andromache
* Guido Notari - Nestor
* Tonio Selwart - Alephous
* George Zoritch - Dancer
* Esmond Knight - High Priest
* Terence Labrosse - Patroclus
* Harry Semels - Patis
* Janette Scott - Cassandra
* Eduardo Ciannelli - Andros

External links

*imdb title|id=0049301|title=Helen of Troy