Helen of Troy (1956 film)

Helen of Troy (1956 film) is a historical epic film directed by Robert Wise and produced by Warner Bros., based on Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid. The film features an ensemble cast, including Rossana Podestà as Helen of Troy, Stanley Baker as Achilles, Cedric Hardwicke as Priam, Jacques Sernas as Paris, and Niall MacGinnis as Menelaus. The movie was filmed on location in Italy and Yugoslavia, with a budget of $6 million, and was released in 1956 to moderate box office success, grossing $12 million worldwide, including in countries such as United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

Plot

The film tells the story of the Trojan War, a ten-year conflict between the city-states of Troy and Greece, sparked by the abduction of Helen of Troy by Paris, a prince of Troy. The story begins with the Judgment of Paris, where Paris is asked to decide which of the three goddesses, Athena, Aphrodite, or Hera, is the most beautiful, with Aphrodite promising him the hand of Helen of Troy in marriage. The film then follows the journey of Odysseus, Agamemnon, and Menelaus as they prepare for war against Troy, with the help of Achilles, a legendary warrior from Phthia. The movie also features other notable characters from Greek mythology, including Andromache, Cassandra, and Hector, and explores the relationships between them, such as the friendship between Achilles and Patroclus, and the romance between Paris and Helen of Troy. The film's plot is also influenced by the works of Euripides and Sophocles, and features references to other historical events, such as the Battle of Thermopylae and the Peloponnesian War.

Production

The film was produced by Warner Bros. and directed by Robert Wise, who had previously worked on films such as The Day the Earth Stood Still and The Desert Rats. The screenplay was written by John Twist and Hugh Gray, based on the epic poems of Homer and Virgil. The film's score was composed by Miklós Rózsa, who had previously worked on films such as Quo Vadis and Ivanhoe. The cinematography was handled by Harry Stradling Sr., who had previously worked on films such as A Streetcar Named Desire and The Pajama Game. The film was shot on location in Italy and Yugoslavia, with a budget of $6 million, and featured a large cast of actors, including Rossana Podestà, Stanley Baker, and Cedric Hardwicke, as well as notable actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, such as Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud.

Cast

The film features an ensemble cast, including Rossana Podestà as Helen of Troy, Stanley Baker as Achilles, Cedric Hardwicke as Priam, Jacques Sernas as Paris, and Niall MacGinnis as Menelaus. The cast also includes Robert Douglas as Agamemnon, Torin Thatcher as Odysseus, Harry Andrews as Hector, Janet Vaughan as Andromache, and Elena Zareschi as Cassandra. The film also features notable actors from the Royal Shakespeare Company, such as Laurence Olivier and John Gielgud, who appeared in smaller roles, and was influenced by the works of other notable playwrights, such as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe.

Release

The film was released in 1956 to moderate box office success, grossing $12 million worldwide, including in countries such as United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany. The film was released in CinemaScope and WarnerColor, and was accompanied by a marketing campaign that included posters, trailers, and promotional materials, featuring the film's stars, such as Rossana Podestà and Stanley Baker. The film was also screened at various film festivals, including the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival, and was nominated for several awards, including the Academy Award for Best Cinematography and the Golden Globe Award for Best Director.

Reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its epic scope and cinematography, while others criticized its pacing and character development, comparing it to other historical epics, such as Ben-Hur and Quo Vadis. The film holds a 50% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on reviews from critics such as Bosley Crowther and Andrew Sarris, who praised the film's visuals and performances, but criticized its storytelling and historical accuracy, referencing the works of Herodotus and Thucydides. Despite its mixed reception, the film has become a cult classic and is still widely regarded as one of the most ambitious and visually stunning films of the 1950s, influencing later films, such as Gladiator and Troy, and remains a notable example of the sword and sandal genre, which also includes films such as Samson and Delilah and The Ten Commandments.