Ilektra (1962/I)

Director:

Mihalis Kakogiannis

Writers:

Euripides (play)
Mihalis Kakogiannis (writer)

Release Date:

1 December 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A powerful rendering of the tragedy of Elektra by Euripides. The film begins with a summary treatment...

Plot Keywords:

Tragedy | Mythological | Hero | Greek | Based On Play

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 11 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Irene Papas	...	Elektra
Giannis Fertis	...	Orestis
Aleka Katselli	...	Klytaemnistra
Manos Katrakis	...	The Tutor
Notis Peryalis	...	Elektra's Husband
Fivos Razi	...	Aegisthus (as Phoebus Rhazis)
Takis Emmanuel	...	Pylades
Theano Ioannidou	...	Chorus Leader
Malaina Anousaki
Theodoros Dimitriou	...	Agamemnon (as Theodore Demetriou)
Elsie Pittas	...	Elektra as a Girl
Petros Ampelas	...	Orestes as a Boy
Elly Vozikiadou
Eleni Karpeta
Kitty Arseni

Also Known As:

Ηλέκτρα (Greece)
Electra (USA)

Runtime:

110 min | Germany:111 min

Country:

USA | Greece

Language:

Greek

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12

Company:

Finos Film

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Vradya epitheorisis: (#1.5)" (1984)

Wonderful!

I accidentally came across this film while looking through used DVDs at a local store. Having a passing interest in Greek myth, I bought it sight unseen. Far, far better than recent American and British attempts to retell (read remake) these great stories, this marvelous film stays fairly close to the original, telling a tale of betrayal and revenge. I've always loved the story of Orestes: damned if he doesn't avenge his father's murder, damned if he kills the chief assassin-his own mother. Elektra's story is woeful as well-driven by her own desire for vengeance, a vengeance she believes will never come, only seeing her own doom and the triumph of her father's murderers.

Wonderfully acted by Irene Pappas. I'm recommending it to all my friends.