Phèdre

I too remember my one and only viewing of Phaedra: 1961, London. The scene I remember most clearly is Melina in her robes, eating breakfast on the cliffs overlooking the road below. I have been using the word "diaphanous" ever since!

Does anybody have any idea how one gets the studio to re-release this wonderful film? I've tried some of the revival places like MOMA too but to no avail...

The truth is that the film has nothing to do with the classic tragedy of Eurypides, but it is own of the most romantic and tragic films of the 60's. It has own of the most erotic love scenes I ever seen, and one of the best musical score that I ever heard. Melina is more beautiful than ever, Anthony Perkins is excellent as the fragile stepson who is seduced by his father's wife(M.Mercouri.)Valone is superb as the Greek Tycoon. Someone must release again the VHS and the DVD and the CD, because it is a good movie, and it did not deserve the bad criticisms that it received when it was first released.

I first saw Phaedra almost 40 years ago and still check the Radio Times most

weeks in the hope that it will resurface! I too find it hard to understand why the film seems to have disappeared so completely. Does the critical response at the time of its first release still sour selectors minds?

The powerful Greek shipowner and constructor Thanos (Raf Vallone) proposes to marry Phaedra (Melina Mercouri) during the baptism of a ship with her name. Phaedra, who is the daughter of Thanos'greatest competitor, is a bored woman and has a son from her first marriage. Thanos gives an expensive ring to Phaedra and soon he learns that his estranged son from his first marriage, Alexis (Anthony Perkins), has left the University of Economics in London to dedicate to paint. Thanos asks Phaedra to travel to London to bring Alexis to meet him in Greece. When Phaedra meets Alexis, she falls in love with her stepson and seduces him. Their doomed love affair leads the family to a tragedy.

"Phaedra" is a melodrama directed by Jules Dassin with his mate and future wife Melina Mercouri in the lead role. The storyline is based on the tragic story of Phaedra from the Greek mythology and this tale of obsession could have been a soap opera in the hands of another director. Last but not the least, the performances, locations and soundtrack are great. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Profanação" ("Profanity")

I would also love to see this movie again. I enjoyed it immensely in 1963 and several times more during the Sixties. The BBC showed a copy in 1970 and the last sighting was in 1980 at the National Film Theatre in London, during a Jules Dassin season. The performances of Melina, Tony Perkins and Raf Vallone are incredible and there is the wonderful music of Theodorakis – thankfully still available. Phaedra, where are you?