Filmed by the famed British actor/director Sir Tyrone Guthrie, this elegant version of Sophocles' important play adds a brilliant stroke--the actors wear masks just as the Greeks did in the playwright's day. The story of Oedipus' gradual discovery of his primal crime--killing his father and marrying his mother--has influenced many of the great plays, films and books of all time. When this landmark film production of one of the great dramas ever appeared, it was hailed from all corners: "Spectacular and awesome...this film is a jewel of great price!" raved The New York Times.
I saw clips of this movie in my History of Western Theatre class for comic relief. The moment when Oedipus realizes what he had done had us laughing histerically (espicially the part when the chorus member falls on the floor like a bug)
This production is over done and really bad, and could really ruin some ones impression of the masterwork of greek literature.
December 11, 2007I first saw this film (in a movie theater) in 1962 and had no idea what I was watching. Years later, as a high school and college English instructor, I knew lots about Greek tragedy and this version of Oedipus the King remains one of my favorite dramatic experiences. You can't find William Butler Yeats' translation in print anymore because the (ahem) "scholars" have decided it's not totally accurate. Ever read any of the "scholarly" translations of Greek tragedy? Those professors can't write poetry to save their lives. They make tragedy boring and stuffy. Yeats makes it breathe. And Tyrone Guthrie made tragedy "pop" in this thrilling 1957 production. In tune with Aristotelean requirements, there is a bare stage with a representation of Oedipus' palace. The actors and chorus members wear masks (very close to the spirit of original masks found by archaeologists), and they chant and move in dance-like cadences. At first, it may seem bizarre, but when you understand that you are being transported 2000 years into the past and watching drama being born out of religious ritual, you can sense the raw power of watching arrogant Oedipus fall into ruin. The performances are visceral and dangerous, the colors beautiful, the effect shattering. And you also get to see a boyish William Shatner before he became Captain Kirk (you'll see him in the brief introduction; once he puts on a mask you'll have no idea which one he is). Unlike the pretentious film auteurs of today who meander on and on, Sophocles packed his cautionary tale of human frailty into 90 taut minutes. I used this video for years in my Advanced Placement English classes, but I've also watched it many times just for entertainment.
September 23, 2007The actors in this video are wearing full head masks, and they shout their lines rapid-fire so it is nearly impossible to understand them. The stage is tiny and the actors move around the stage too much. At one point, one actor threw himself into the other actors and my students burst out laughing at them. I stopped the film and we went on into classroom discussion. This version is useless in the classroom. If you use video in the classroom, do not waste your money on this version.
September 13, 2007 |  | A new old performance of a Sophoclean master piece. |  |
This is an excellent movie, highly recomended, more so for people who are interested in greek theatre as well as Shakespearen theatre. An original interpretation of Sophocles' work which still perserves the tradition on the classical antiquity of using masks and the dramatism of Shakespearen theatre. It would be even better if subtitles where included in other languages for the people who speak no English. However the English actors' is flawless.
May 13, 2007| | | "...the seer can indeed see" | |
This is a 1957 recording of the stage production of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. It is performed with minimal props and some smoke. As the custom of ancient Greece the players ware masks. The masks are larger than life and do not covers the whole face allowing for some expression and clarity. Coordinating with the masks are certain colored robes; there is a gold mask for the king, silver mask for the queen, a white mask for the seer, corresponding colors for major players and the chorus.
The play is the story told over two thousand years ago of the destruction of one man so that his people might live. Oedipus will gradually discover that he fulfilled the prophecy and crime of killing his father and marrying his mother. The actual wording of the play may vary from the written version.
Now after the introduction and background, watch as the citizens approach and see the unfolding the of this tragedy.
Reading "Oedipus and Akhnaton" by Immanuel Velikovsky may shine a different light on this play.
August 2, 2004More reviews at Amazon.com ...
Daily Birthdays
(6 reviews)