Phaedra

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Phaedra

1962,

1h 55m,

Drama

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Watchlist

20%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

37%

100+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

20%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

37%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

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.

Dwight MacDonald

Esquire Magazine

Aug 1, 2019

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

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Isabel Quigly

The Spectator

Jul 13, 2018

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.

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Phil Hall

Film Threat

Oct 3, 2011

2/5

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

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Jul 16, 2011

C+

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

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Jul 10, 2011

A

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

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Draco W

Jul 21, 2018

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.

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Harry M

Nov 10, 2017

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.

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Rey R

Oct 20, 2017

The performance of Mercouri is dreaded whereas that of Perpkins is himself.

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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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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
Producer: Jules Dassin
Screenwriter: Margarita Lymberaki
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
Runtime: 1h 55m

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