atlasmb Tony Perkins has that young look that made him seem unfit for some more mature roles or those that sought to portray him as an icon of virility. In "Phaedra", that youthful look--and the chiseled perfection of a Greek sculpture--makes him rather suitable for this role as the innocent lover of his father's second wife, played by Melina Mercouri.The story is played with a necessary fatalism, full of dramatic pauses and unavoidable attraction. There is no free will here, as the characters are compelled to play their parts in this tragedy, condemned to suffer the consequences ascribed by the gods and the rules of men.As such, this film may be seen to present the two primary characters as little more than puppets, walking the path that destiny requires. Or was there a moment, however brief, when they embraced their destinies with open arms, knowledgeable of the consequences? Did they really have a choice, given their basic natures? This classic story asks these questions and, in this, the film is true. The photographic style, including the editing, makes the two feel like chess pieces occupying space, being moved by an unseen hand or some force of magnetism, drawn together inescapably. In the end, Phaedra accepts the will of the "gods", while Perkins' Alexis--like Dionysus or Icarus--struggles till the end, proclaiming his illusory freedom from the Fates.

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.

esteban1747 The plot is not new in its complications but it is so passionate that it produces a strong intensity given by the magnificent performances of Melina Mercouri and Anthony Perkins. Melina (Phaedra) is bold in her behavior, coquette and deeply thirsty for love in the character she plays. Perkins this time is a young man and not another Norman Bates, he played well the character of Thanos's son, mad and also bold in his desire for the forbidden woman. Jules Dassin and his collaborators were able to adapt a Greek mythology story to the plot of this film but in the conditions of modern life in Greece. The film although black and white gives an idea of Athens for the foreigners, port areas, dancing, and other customs. Regarding Thanos played by Raf Vallone, he looked as if he were real Aristoteles Onassis, the prominent Greek shipping magnate who, years after the assassination of John Kennedy, married Jacqueline Bouvier i.e. the Kennedy's widow. This film is excellent presumably made with low budget but with outstanding direction of Jules Dassin and acting of Melina Mercouri, Perkins and Vallone.

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!