Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!

Ariella Broughton It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

bandw This story of a woman falling in love with the son of her husband from a previous marriage is an updating of an ancient story from Greek mythology to contemporary times. The premise is certainly worthy to be the basis for great tragedy, but this attempt falls a bit short.I first saw this movie in the early 1960s when I was in college and it made quite an impression on me. The fact that I remember the story and some scenes (particularly the love scene, which seems tame by modern standards) speaks well for it. But on seeing it again recently after almost fifty years its impact was much less. Maybe I originally identified with the young Alexis (Anthony Perkins) and envied his life of luxury and opportunity, but on second viewing I saw Perkins as miscast, being rather weak and ineffectual. I found that, as Phaedra, Melina Mercouri had not lost her smoldering sexiness for me. Could such a woman, used to moving among the rich and powerful in the Greek shipping industry, really fall so obsessively in love with such a callow youth of twenty-four? Alexis admitted that his affair with Phaedra was his first love affair--would such a sexually inexperienced young man be able to satisfy the worldly Phaedra? Could you picture Perkins taking over his father's shipping empire and doing all the necessary wheeling and dealing to make of go of that? I just could not buy Perkins in this role.Having said that, there are some great scenes. Both Phaedra and Alexis recognized the danger of their being together after their passionate lovemaking during Phaedra's trip to London. Both recognized the wisdom of having Alexis staying London and Phaedra in Greece. But Phaedra's husband Thanos (Raf Vallone in a good performance) wanted his estranged son to come to Greece and learn the business and he put serious pressure on Phaedra to coax him to come. A pivotal and intense scene has the conflicted Phaedra on the phone pleading with Alexis to come to Greece, knowing full well that she was inviting tragedy.The film quality on the DVD is quite good. The black and white photography is effective and occasionally striking. For example, the scene that has the crowd of women in their black cowls with their white faces starting at the camera while Phaedra barges through dressed in all white is inspired. As might be expected the score by Mikis Theodorakis adds much to the atmosphere.

bparaskevas I was introduced first to the music of Phaedra, thanks to a college love-interest who had the album. He was older than me, and I hung on to every word hoping I'd become the urbane sophisticate I thought him to be. Decades later I laugh at my foolishness, but never regretted getting to know and love the music from that album. I was lucky enough, also, to see the movie when it played at an outdoor theater, of all things, in the college town where we were students. Ah, how wonderful to see those characters on the big screen, and hear the music. I'd give just about anything to have a copy of that soundtrack. And like so many, I don't know why the movie and music are not available!

monty-64 Just saw PHAEDRA again on TCM. It holds up as one of the best films ever made. It's perfect in every possible way. The very best of Mercouri and Perkins, Vallone and Dassin. I worked with Jules Dassin on his last picture, CIRCLE OF TWO, not a very good film. At the time it was billed as "Jules Dassin's triumphant return to New York". Most of it was shot in Toronto. And there wasn't enough budget for the stellar cast of Richard Burton (and entourage) and Tatum O'Neal (with Ryan and entourage). but I met Melina. she told me that her servant Anna in the picture and she were best friends. What a woman. That was 1980. Jules Dassin, a real master - beautifully prepared in the European way. No rushing into production.

sweattl-1 Once in a while I try to find if Phaedra has been released on DVD to the general public because I would be thrilled to have it for my enjoyment at home. I've not been lucky enough to see it again since I saw it several times in the 60's at my local theatre. If anyone out there knows of the possibility of obtaining a copy of this movie, please let me know. I would also LOVE to have a copy of the wonderful soundtrack. Like many others who saw this movie, I've never been able to forget it; it's one of the truly best films ever! The computer said I couldn't submit my comment because it isn't long enough. I don't know what else to say except to repeat what so many others have said regarding the movie. I was young and "fell in love" with Anthony Perkins when I saw the movie. Obviously that was before I saw Psycho. Anyway, I also "fell in love" with Melina Mercouri; she played this role so powerfully and eloquently. Right now I can still hear the music playing in my head as I recall the scene of the bodies being taken down to the sea.