Reviews: Helen of Troy - IMDb

'Helen of Troy' follows the story of Helen and the outbreak of the Trojan War. This is more of a love story between Helen and Paris, who is shipwrecked and ... MenuMoviesReleaseCalendarDVD&Blu-rayReleasesTop250MoviesMostPopularMoviesBrowseMoviesbyGenreTopBoxOfficeShowtimes&TicketsInTheatersComingSoonMovieNewsIndiaMovieSpotlightTVShowsWhat'sonTV&StreamingTop250TVShowsMostPopularTVShowsBrowseTVShowsbyGenreTVNewsIndiaTVSpotlightWatchWhattoWatchLatestTrailersIMDbOriginalsIMDbPicksIMDbPodcastsAwards&EventsOscarsBestPictureWinnersBestPictureWinnersEmmysSTARmeterAwardsSanDiegoComic-ConNewYorkComic-ConSundanceFilmFestivalTorontoInt'lFilmFestivalAwardsCentralFestivalCentralAllEventsCelebsBornTodayMostPopularCelebsMostPopularCelebsCelebrityNewsCommunityHelpCenterContributorZonePollsForIndustryProfessionalsAllAllTitlesTVEpisodesCelebsCompaniesKeywordsAdvancedSearchWatchlistSignInENFullysupportedEnglish(UnitedStates)PartiallysupportedFrançais(Canada)Français(France)Deutsch(Deutschland)हिंदी(भारत)Italiano(Italia)Português(Brasil)Español(España)Español(México) HelenofTroy (1956) Reviewthistitle 7/10 TheFaceThatLaunchedAThousandShips bkoganbing17March2012 IncomparingthisversionofHelenOfTroywiththemorerecentTroyit'squitethetossup.Bothdidn'tquiteliveuptoexpectations,thecastinginafewplacesdoesn'tquitework.Therewasalsodifferentemphasisplacedontheclassicalfiguresineachfilm.Thisversionalsousesacastofthousandsandinthecurrentversion,computergraphicsareusedtoshowthemassarmiesofbothsides.Ineverunderstoodwhy20thCenturyFoxneverthoughttofilmthiswithTyronePower,theroleofParisseemslikesuchagoodfitforhim.JacquesSernaswasadequate,butnotmorethanthat.RosannaPodestaisonemagnificentlookingHeleninarolethatasksnothingmorethanbeingthefirstcelebrityromanceinhistory.I'dbehardpressedtochoosebetweenPeterO'TooleinTroyandCedricHardwicke.EachsowellportraystheworldwearyandwarwearyPriamsowell.Hecubaisreducedtoacipherinthecurrentversion.ButNoraSwinburneisnotjustamagnificentqueen,butacaringmotherforherrambunctiousbroodofTrojanprincesandoneprincess.Myfavoriteashe'slikelytobeinanyfilmhe'sinisStanleyBaker.ThereisquiteadifferencebetweenhimandBradPitt.BradwasareluctantwarriorasinHomer'sepic.ButAchillesasBakerrealizeshimisjustawarriorwholikesbattlewiththezestofawarriorwhoknowsthegodshavegivenhimnearinvincibility.Bakerbringssomuchpassiontoanythinghedoes,heusuallyblowsmeawaywithanyperformance.NexttothestoriesoftheBible,Homer'sepicsareprobablythemostuniversallyknowntalesandeveryoneisacritic.FormethisHelenOfTroyisagoodifnotgreatretellingofthetale. 2outof2foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 5/10 Datedhistoricaladventure Leofwine_draca8August2015 I'veyettoseethestoryoftheTrojanwardonetruejusticeonthescreen;WolfgangPetersen'sTROYwasthemostrecentandmostlavishversionofthetale,fullofCGI-enhancedspectacle,andprobablymyfavouritetodate,butitwasfarfromaperfectfilm.HELENOFTROY,aRobertWise-directedretellingofthestory,isn'tbad,butit'safilmwhichhasdatedintheworstwaywithalotofstagyHollywoodactorspacingaroundanddeliveringtheirlinesinthemostold-fashionedwayimaginable.Thestoryisoneweallknowbynow:PariskidnapsHelenfromtheGreeksandtakesherbacktoTroy,leadingKingAgamemnontosetsailwithamassivearmytogetherback.HELENOFTROYfocusesoncharacterworkoveraction,althoughthereareahandfulofstunningscenesofmassivearmiesonthemarchandoneortwodecentbattlestoboot.Sadly,thescriptissubparforthemostpart,lackingthefunof,say,alaterItalianpeplumpicture.Thecastisalsoundistinguished.RossanaPodestaisyourtypicalHollywoodideaofbeauty,withafacefullofmakeupandlittleactingtalent,andtheotherromanticleadsarelessthanimpressive.StanleyBaker'sAchillesseemsdisdainfulofthewholething.Fansofthissortofthingmightenjoyitmore,butIneverreallygotintoHELENOFTROYthewayIwantedto. 2outof3foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink atrip Kirpianuscus26July2017 Warning:Spoilers JacquesSernasasaRomanimperialstatue.inspiredfightscenes.theheadofAthenarememberingaJapanesedemonmask.agoodversionofIliad.beautifulcinematography.smallroleofBrigitteBardot.itisnotfairtowriteinasenseorotheraboutthisinterestingfilm.becauseitisoneofthefirststepsforitsgenre.becauseitisadecentwork.andlittlemore.becausetheloveandthewarstoriesarecoherentandseductive.becauseitisatriparoundaworlddefiningbyHomer.so,maybenotagreatmovieforthepresenttaste.butawiseandmeritoriousadaptationofafundamentalliteraryworksofhumankind. 1outof1foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink 9/10 BewareofGreeksBearingGifts claudio_carvalho4October2009 WhilethegreedyGreeksplottoinvadeTroytostealthetreasuresoftheTrojans,PrinceParis(JackSernas)isassignedbyhiswisefatherandKingofTroytotraveltoSpartaandshowsthepeacefulintentionsofhispeople.Alonghisjourney,hefallsoffintheseaduringastormandisrescuedontheshorebytheQueenofSpartaHelen(RossanaPodestà).Whenherecovers,hebelievesthatsheisaslaveandtheyfallinloveforeachother.WhenhearrivesintheSpartanpalace,heisarrestedbyKingMenelaus(NiallMacGinnis)inhisquartersbutHelenhelpshimtoescape.TheytraveltogethertoTroyandgivetheexcusetheGreeksneedtostartthewarandputTroyundersiegeforyears.TheGreeksareunsuccessfulintheirintents,untiltheylistentothecunningUlysses(TorinThatcher)thatdecidestowithdrawtheonethousandGreekshipsfromtheTrojanwatersandofferawoodenHorseofTroyasagifttothewinners.Theunderrated"HelenofTroy"isanengagingromanticadventurewithawonderfulversionofHomer'sepicpoem"TheIliad".ThebeautyoftheLybianRossanaPodestàcomparedtoAphroditegivescredibilitytothepassionateloveofParis.ThegrandiosityofscenariosandcastthatincludesabrunetteBrigitteBardotandthemagnificentdirectionofRobertWisemakethisfeatureamust-see.Idonotunderstandtheunfairbadreviewsofthisgreatepic.Justasacuriosity,theepisode"RevengeoftheGods"of"TheTimeTunnel"usesuncreditedfootagesofthisfeature.Myvoteisnine.Title(Brazil):"HelenadeTróia"("HelenofTroy") 13outof18foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 6/10 IThink,ThereforeIambic. rmax30482316March2012 Warning:Spoilers You'dthinkthatbynowthestoryoftheTrojanWar,basedonHomer's"TheIliad",wouldhavebecomepartofourshareddatabase.Allusionshaveenteredourlistofcatchphrases."Thefacethatlaunchedathousandships"?"BewareofGreeksbearinggifts"?Computervirusesreferredtoas"Trojans"or"Trojanhorses"?"Achillesheel"?TheStanfordfootballteam?Condoms?ButIdon'tknow.Apollin2010beforeIndependenceDayfoundthatoneinfiveAmericansdidn'tknowwhichcountrywehadachievedindependenceFROM.I'dalwaysthoughtthatwaspartofoursharedvernacularculturetoo.Anyway,thehandsomeyoungParisfromTroygoesonapeacemissiontoGreece,wherehefoolishlyfallsinlovewithHelen--itwasherfacethatlaunchedallthoseships--andhestealsherfromherhusband,KingMenelaus,andrunsoffwithhertoTroy.ThisirritatesMenelaus.HeorganizesanexpeditionandbesiegesthecityofTroy,inwhatisnowTurkey.Lotsofbloodshedfollows.Thewarlastssomethingliketenyears.Finally,theGreekspretendtoretreatandleaveagiantwoodenhorseoutsidethegatesofTroy.TheTrojansthinkit'sapartinggiftanddragitinsidethewalls.Butit'shollow.ThesneakyGreekscomeoutaftertheTrojanshavegottendrunkandgonetobed,andthegatesareopened.Good-byeTrojans.Thisisagodlessmovie.ReferencesaremadetoAthena(uglyandpugnacious)andtoAphrodite(prettygoddessoflove,fawnedoverbyParis).Butwedon'tseetheinfluenceofthegodsdirectly.Youdon'tfindouthowAchillesgottobesonearlyinvulnerable.Itcomesclosetobeingoneofthosecheapswordandsandalepicsthatweresopopularinthe1950sbutitrisesabovethembecauseofitsbudgetandthewillingnessofthewriterstostickaLITTLEmorecloselytoHomer'soriginal.Thehundredsofextrasarerealpeople--realactorsratherthanpixelsactingasactors.Andtheinternationalcastmusthavecostalot.IguessParisismadetoomuchofahero,atleastinmyopinion.Evenin"TheIliad"hestruckmeasamoronforrunningoffwithapowerrival'swife,evenifshewasasgoodlookingasRosannaPodesta.Menelauswasevenmoreofamoronforstartingabloodywarovertheaffair.AndtheotherGreekleaderswereevenmoredumbforfollowinghim.Andit'snotasiftheGreekssolvedalltheirdomesticproblemsimmediatelyafterthevictoryeither.ThemoviepaintstheTrojansashonorableandpeaceloving--exceptforthatoneminorepisodeofkidnappingandadultery.TheGreeksareangry,disputatious,andwarmongering.ThearmortheGreekswearisuglierthanthatoftheTrojans.Achilles,thegreatestoftheGreekwarriors,issulkyanddressesindragtoavoidbeingdraftedintothewar.Thiswas1956,themiddleoftheColdWar,andIwonderifallthosebinaryoppositions--TheFreeWorldversusTheIronCurtain--influencedthewriters'constructionofthecombatants.Atanyrate,IalwayslikedtheTrojansbetteranyway.TheonlyGreekIadmiredwasUlysses.WhentheshipssetsailfromGreeceafterthekidnapping,thedirector,RobertWise,givesusshotsinquicksequenceofthreeofthemajorplaysandtheirexpressionstellusallweneedtoknowabouttheircharacterandmotives.Menelausscowlsgrimly,determinedtogethiswifeback.Achilleswearsasmirk,anticipatinglotsofslaughtercrownedwithvictory.AndUlysseswearsaself-containedsmile,dreamingofplunder.ItoughttobeaddedthatthemusicalscoreisbyMaxSteiner.AsfarasIknowit'shisonlyattemptatafullyblownorchestralepicscoreandhehandlesitprettywell.There'sthetriumphthemethatisrequiredforallhistoricalepics.There'sthemartialthemewhenweseethosehundredsofarmoredextrasmarchingtowardstheforbiddingwallsofTroy.Andthere'salovethemthatdominatesthemall,asIthinkthestoryofParisandHelendominatethemovie. 2outof2foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 6/10 Italian/American/BritishcoproductionaboutlovesbetweenParísandHelenthatledtoTroywar ma-cortes27April2018 SpectacularandHollywoodstylerenditíonbasedonTroywarwithsplendidcastandbreathtakingbattlescenes.WhenParís:JacquesSernasescapeswithHelen:RosanaPodestatheretakesplacetheTroywar.HelenisthebeautifulwifeofMenelao,SpartaKing,:NealMacGuinnis,whenshefallsforParís,sonofTroykingPriamo:CedricHardwicke,bothofthemescape.ThiseventleadtotheSiegeofTroy.DirectorRobertWisepickedtwonewItalianstars:SernasandPodestatoplaytheíntimateloversinthisimpressiveaswellasepictalebasedontheknownpoemwrittenbyHomero:Iliada.Dealingwithlove,battles,Goddess:AphroditaandAtenea,deathandthemotiveleduptoit.WhiletensionamongGreeksdividethecampgivinghopetheTrojan.AsGreekwarriorsundercommandofMenelaus,Agamenon,Ulysses,andAchilles:StanleyBakergettohideoutintheTrojanhorsewhentheytaketheWoodenBeastintotheTroycityandtheyaresuccessful.Thismonumentalandepicretellingcontainsamovinglovestory,Drama,tragicevents,andoverwhelmingbattleswithacastofthousands.Afterahardworkingfilmingtheresultswereonlyfairanddecent.Thepictureignorestruedeedsforlavishandhighbudgetedeffects,includingagreatnumberofextrasandalotofwarmachines.InthemovieshowsupnumeroushistoricalandmythologicalrolesasPriamo:SirCedricHardwicke,HecubawellplayedbyNoraSwinburne,AgamemmonperformedbyRobertDouglas,asMenelausinterpretedbyNealMacGuinnis,Ulysses:TorinThatcher,Hector:HarryAndrews,Achilles:StanleyBaker,Cassandra:JanetteScott,Ajax:MaxwellReed,Patroclus:TerenceLongdon,amongothers.ThiseventsaboutTroywarhavebeenadaptedonvariousfilms:SilentmovietitledThePrivatelifeofHelenofTroybyMichaelCurtiz1927withMariaCorda,LewisStone;Italianversión1962byGiorgioFerroniwithSteveReeves,JulietteMayniel,LidiaAlfonsi,MimmoPalmara;ItalianrecountingtitledFuryofAchillesbyMarinoGirolamiwithGordonMitchell,JacquesBergerac,GloriaMilland,EnnioGirolamiandTroybyWolfgangPetersen,withBradPitt,DianaKruger,RoseByrne,OrlandoBloom,BrianCox.AndaTVseries2003byJohnKentHarrisonwithMatthewMardsen,SiennaGuilery,RufusSewell,JoeMontana,DanielLaPine,JamesCallis,andKatieBlakeasCassandra. 6outof7foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink 5/10 Sub-DeMille moonspinner557July2007 GreekcoloniesgotowarafterQueenHelenofSpartadefectswitharobustTrojanprince.Rathertackycostumespectacle(directedbyRobertWise!)isskimpyonactionandadventure,highonsoapytheatrics.Thescantily-cladcastfeatureslacklusterRossanaPodestàasHelenandStanleyBakerasAchilles,neitherofwhommaketheslightestimpression.CedricHardwickepopsupinacolorfulsupportingpart,butmostnotableisBrigitteBardotinanearlyroleas"mousey"brunetteslave-girlAndraste.Ratherridiculoustime-fillerwhosedepictionofhistoryissuspect;itissuretoinfuriateanywould-bescholars,butthoselookingforCecilB.DeMille-styledhistrionicswillgetalaughortwo.**from**** 3outof7foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink Tributetoabadgirl dbdumonteil30July2009 Thisisanimpersonalmovie,comingfromsomeoneastalentedasRobertWise,whoseemslesscomfortableintheswordandsandalgenrethanheisinthemusicals("WestSideStory"),thefantasyandhorrormovies("Thehaunting"1963!)ormainlythefilmnoir("oddagainsttomorrow""IwantTolive""thesetup").HeisnothelpedbyanheterogeneouscastincludingItalianRossanaPodesta(WisefoundherinFernandez's"LaRed"(1954)inwhichsheplayedhalf-nakedmostofthetime:sothepartwastailormadeforher),FrenchJacquesSernas(andabrunetteBrigitteBardotinthepricelesspartofadevotedslave),EnglishStanleyBakerasAchilles,astraditionasit,asfarco-productionsareconcerned.Thatsaid,Wise'sTroyiscertainlysmarterthanthe2003versionwhichhadAchillesdieduringthestormingofthecity,justbecausestarBradPitneededalongerpart.ThejudgmentofPâris,whichwaspassedoverinthemodernversion,isalsoabsent,butthescreenwritersfoundaninterestingcounterpartwiththestatuesofthegoddesses.GenerallytheSpartianslooknasty,sinister-lookingwhereastheTroyansaregood-looking,loyal,braveandvirtuous.Bestperformance,IMHO,comesfromJanetteScottasCassandrawhoplayshergamewellinanunderwrittenpart.Lavishfilmsets,goodbattlesscenesandastoryclosertoHomerthanthe2003version. 3outof5foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink 4/10 She'llAlwaysHaveParis wes-connors1May2011 InancientGreece,handsomeTrojanprinceJacquesSernas(asParis)isshipwreckedinSparta,wherehemeetsbeautifully-figuredslavegirlRossanaPodesta(asHelen).Thetwoaremutuallyattracted,butsheisreallytheQueenofSparta.Naturally,thismeansWAR...ThisadulterationofHomer's"Iliad"isnicelycostumedanddecorated,butcomesacrossasoverblownandplodding.ThedirectionfromRobertWiseispointed,helpingmaketheproductionmoreobviousthanengaging.Narration,dubbing,andthesoundtrackmusickeepitdistant,althoughlookinggoodcertainlycountsforsomething...Itisinterestingtoseefuture"sexkitten"BrigitteBardotplayadark-hairedhandmaiden,andNiallMacGinnis(asMenelaus)doeswellinhissupportingrole.****HelenofTroy(1/26/56)RobertWise~RossanaPodesta,JacquesSernas,NiallMacGinnis,BrigitteBardot 2outof4foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink GoodBattleScenes dougdoepke14May2011 They'resureacoupleofprettypeopleeveniftheylacktheforcetofilloutafloridspectacle.Asthestar-crossedlovers,ParisandHelen,SernasandPodestadriveaplotthateventuallyinvolvesacastofthousandsandalltheeasternMediterranean.Asakid,Iwasimpressedbythemovieandstillam--well,notsomuchbythelong-windedleaduptothespectacularbattlescenes.Thedialogstillsoundsclunky.Idon'tknowwhyHollywoodthoughttheancientsspokesuchliteraryEnglish.Iguesstheydidn'twanttheactorstosoundliketheyjustgotoffthetrainfromDenver.Ontheotherhand,themanymassedscenesofwarringTrojansandSpartansstillimpress.It'saWarnerBros.productionproducedinItalywithamainlyBritishcast,andhalfofItalyhiredasextras.Howtheheck,Iwonder,canyoumanagesomanypeoplespeakingdifferentlanguagesforthebigscenes.ButInotethegreatYakimaCanuttof30'sWesternsfameandSergioLeoneofspaghettiWesternsweresecondunitdirectors,meaningtheyhandledthebattlescenes.Greatjob.Also,IreallylikethosesinistershotsoftheTrojanhorsethatIstillthinkofwhenIhearthephrase'Trojanhorse'.Thentoo,it'sinformativetoknowit'snotjustbiblicalpeoplewhogetpunishedfordrunkenorgies,likeinallthoseHollywoodbiblicalepics.Nowweknowthatheathenstoo,liketheGreeksandTrojans,payabigpriceforhavingallthatfun.Nothingissurerofimpendingdisasterinthesemoviesthandrunkenorgies.Anyway,thiswasoneofthosebigsplashyfilmsaimedatgettingpeopleawayfromtheirnew-fangledTV's.ItsuredidmeandI'mstillglad. 1outof1foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 4/10 RobertWise'softenforgottentakeonTheIliadstory. hitchcockthelegend2April2010 Nowoversixtyyearsold,thisalmostepicfilmpalesincomparisontoothermorenotableswordandsandalmovies.Thescaleofthefilmcannotbefaulted,hundredsofextras&hugelavishsetsareevident,whileinRobertWisethepieceisgivenawellregardeddirectortochartitscourse.However,theproblemsarealltooevident.Firstoffisthatthefilmisterriblypedestrianforthefirsthour,atepidscriptfailstoengageandattimesisunintentionallyfunny.Thentherearemajorcastissues.TakingtheleadsofParis&HelenareJacquesSernas&RossanaPodestàrespectively.Theylookthepart,bothofthemundeniablypretty,butneitherofthemcanactfortoffee.FilmedinRome,Italy,itbegsthequestiononifthecastingdirectorwalkedaroundLazioandpickedthetwoblondestpeopleavailablefortheroles!?...InsupportoftheBlondie'sareahostofusuallyfineperformers,CedricHardwicke,StanleyBaker,NiallMacGinnis,HarryAndrews,TorinThatcher&RobertDouglas,butthisisstillamixtureofactorseithertoooldfortheirroles,poorlywritten,orinthecaseofDouglas,anunderusedimportantcharacter(Agamemnon).Shiftingawayfromtheawfulbackprojectionwork,theactionsequencesatleastholdupascompetentconstruction.There'senoughhereinthesecondhourtopleasethesword&sandalfan,butifit'senoughtomakethisasaferecommendationtothepotentialfirsttimecrowd?wellIwouldn'tstakemylifeonityouknow!.It'sagenreIpersonallylove,soIwonderedwhyIhadn'theardaboutitlongbeforenow,afterviewingit,itbecameevidentwhy,it'sjustnotanygood.Agenerous4/10frommeforthesiegeofTroyactionconstruction,thestuntworkthroughoutandforBaker'smoodyshowasAchilles. 5outof7foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 7/10 AnInterestingInterpretationoftheTrojanWar Uriah4315November2014 AsmostpeopleprobablyknowfromreadingtheIliadbyHomer,"Helen"(RossanaPodesta)wasthemostbeautifulwomanintheworldandhappenedtobemarriedto"KingMenelaus"(NiallMacGinnis)ofSparta."Paris"(JacquesSernas)wasaTrojanprincewhogotshipwreckednearSpartaanduponseeingHelenfellinloveandthenmanagedtotakeherbacktoTroywithhim.SomeaccountssaythatHelenwaskidnappedbyParisbutotherssaysheleftofherownchoosing.InanycasethisabductionresultedinalloftheGreekcity-statesjoiningforcestobesiegethecityofTroyinordertoreturnHelenbacktoSparta.Now,asIstatedearlier,sincemostpeopleareprobablyfamiliarwiththestoryoftheTrojanWarIprobablydon'tneedtoelaborateanyfurther.Thatsaidalthoughthismovieisn'tcompletelytruetotheIliaditisaninterestinginterpretationoftheTrojanWarandsincethereareotherGreeksourceswithslightlydifferentvariationsIsupposethisversionisasacceptableasanythingelse.BethatasitmayIthoughtthecastingofbothHelenandParisweregoodchoicesandeachofthemplayedtheirpartsquitewell.Ialsolikedthecinematographywhichwasexcellentforitstime.Accordingly,IbelievethatviewerswhoappreciateepicadventuresofthistypewillthoroughlyenjoythisparticularmovieandIrateitasaboveaverage. 2outof2foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink Bewarethefacethatlaunchedathousandgifts... JoeytheBrit12October2005 Warning:Spoilers Thisisoneofthosehybridfilmsthatspoilssometerrificbattlescenesbyinsertingthembetweensomeexcruciatinglydullandleadenromanticinterludes.RoseannaPodestaandJacquesSernascreateaboutasmuchchemistryasoilandwater,notbecauseoftheterriblytritedialogueandheavilymeaningfullooksthescriptwritersforcethemtoshare,butbecausetheyjustneverlookliketheyreallyfancyeachother–letalonecareenoughforeachothertoembarkonaten-yearwarforthesakeoftheirlove.It'suptothemoreestablishedactorstoleaveanimpressiononthissprawlingepicthatactuallymanagestobequiteexcitingwhenitdropsthe'HelenlovesParis'plot.NiallMacGinnisasthegreedyandcalculatingMenaleasisastand-out,whileayoungStanleyBakertendstochewthesceneryasAchilles;hewasanactoroflimitedtalent,Baker,butatleasthedisplaysherealittleofthefirethatSernassobadlylacks.AyoungBrigitteBardotalsohasasmallpartasoneofHelen'shandmaidens,butshowsonlyglimpsesoftheprecocioussexualitythatwouldsooncatapulthertostardom.TheGreeksherearelargelyportrayedaswine-swillingrapists,declaringaspuriouswarofhonourwhentheyreallyjustwanttogettheirhandsontheTrojan'streasures.TheTrojansarethegoodguys,butthey'reprettydimwhenyouthinkaboutitandfartooquicktogetdownandboogiewhentheGreeksunaccountablysetsailforhome.Butthat'showithappenedaccordingtoHomer:thebadguyswon…RobertWiseexcelsintheactionsceneshere,whicharesuperblystagedandsurprisinglyviolentfortheera.OnlysomepoorbackprojectionduringthechaseafterHelenissnatchedbackfromtheGreeks,andsomeoccasionallypooruseoflightinglessentheimpact.Andyoudon'tneedabigCinemascopescreentocatchthatinfamousvaccinationscarofPodesta'seither–itshineslikeabeaconinalovescenesheshareswithSernas.Theseareminorquibbles,though–it'stheleadsandthestiltedromancewithwhichtheyaresaddledthatpreventsthisfrombeingoneoftheclassierofthemid-fiftiessword-and-sandalepics. 2outof3foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink 6/10 EventhehardiestofRobertWisefanstendtogivethisoneamiss. MOscarbradley4July2021 EventhehardiestofRobertWisefanstendtogivethisoneamiss,(whichisn'tsurprisingifyouhavetositthroughtheoverture),butitcertainlyisn'ttheworstofthewidescreenepicsthatthestudioschurnedoutinthefiftiesinanattempttodragaudiencesawayfromtheirtelevisionsets."HelenofTroy"wasanotherinternationalco-production,filmedatCinecittaandvariouslocationsinItalyanditcertainlylookedthepart,(thebattlescenesareparticularlyspectacular).Unfortunately,thescriptisamish-mashofbaddialogueandwell-knownphrases,(atonepointHelenactuallysays'BewareoftheGreeksbearinggifts'),mouthedinEnglishbyleadswhocouldn'treallyspeakthelanguage.RossanaPodestawhoplayedHelenissaidtohavelearnedherlinesphoneticallywhileJacquesSernas,(Paris),hasavoiceclearlynotemanatingfromtherestofhim.Thenthere'sayoungBrigitteBardotwhilevariousSpartansandTrojansincludeCedricHardwicke,NiallMacGinnis,TorinThatcher,HarryAndrews,RonaldLewisandStanleyBakerasAchillestheHeel.It'snotmuchofamoviebutasschoolboyadventureyarnsgoit'scertainlyentertainingandwillbrightenadullafternoonanyday. 1outof1foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 10/10 HomerupdatedtoCinemascopeinthe1950s clanciai11March2017 Surprisinglygood,manyfactorsaddingtoanexcellentCinemascopeversionoftheTrojanwar,aboveallthescript,whichisclearandconsistentlyrelevantandstickingtothesubject;andalthoughveryfarfromHomer,thisvariationoftheintrigueisimpressivelyintelligentanddefinitelylogical.ThefirsthalfofthefilmdealswiththeSpartanargument,(Homer'sepicdoesn'tstartuntil75minutesintothefilm,)Achilles(StanleyBaker)makinganimpressingentry,withBrigitteBardotasHelen'sslavegirlwhoisgivenforthenighttoParisbyMenelaosbutinsteadhelpshimescape-sheisonly22butstriking-yourecognizeherfigurebeforeyouseeherface.NiallMcGinnisisveryconvincingasthejealousMenelaoswhosejealousyHelenfindsitnecessarytoescape,whilemostsurprisingofallistheconvincingexcellenceofParisespeciallybutalsoHelen.JacquesSernas(totallyunknowntome)istheperfectParis,abeautifulyoungmanofgreatcharm,sympatheticintelligenceandaudaciousinsolence,andRossanaPodestà(alsounknowntome)isaverycredibleHelena,maskingherrealidentitytogetawaywithParisfromMenelaos.AmongtheTrojans,CedricHardwickemakesaveryplausiblePriam,heisgiventhemostfamousquoteoftheTrojanwar,takingHelenroundherchin:"Sothisisthefacethatlaunchedathousandships,"(ChristopherMarlowe),andalsoNoraSwinburneasHecuba,RonaldLewisasAeneasandJanetteScottasCassandra,aTrojanparalleltoBrigitteBardot.OnlyHectorisnotquiteconvincing,HarryAndrewsbeingthewrongtype,(EricBanaisthebettercompensationinthe2004WolfgangPetersonversion),andallthebattlescenesaredramaticallyviolentandbloodyenough.Theactionisswiftandneverdull,thedialogueiscomfortablyfluentalltheway,thestoryiswellbutnotexaggeratedlysugaredwithromanticism,andtoallthiscomesMaxSteiner'sgloriousmusic,culminatingintheorgyofthewoodenhorse.Ofcourse,youhavetomakeacomparisonwiththe2004"Troy"version.Noneisbetterthantheother.Bothhavetheirgreatcreditsandveryfewlacks.The2004istechnicallymoreexcellent,whileRobertWise'scontribution(intheshadowofCecilB.DeMille's"TheTenCommandments"ofthesameyear)ismorerealisticandhuman.TheTrojanadventureissuchagreatstorythatit'simpossibletomakeamessofit.AsfarasIknow,noonehaseverbeenunsuccessfulindealingwithit-thecharactersaretooindividuallyoutstanding,allofthem,nottonaturallyaddtoagreatshow.Butofallthefilmversions,IthinkRobertWise,withhisconciseandclevereditingofthestory,withitsflamboyantlyefficientstory-telling(it'slessthan2hours,)andexcitingvirtuosityconstitutinganexcellentepicforalltime,hasmadethebestofit. 2outof2foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink 5/10 Notthebestversion,butgoodenoughforme. The-Sarkologist16February2014 Warning:Spoilers WellIthoughtthatthisfilmwasokay,butbeingahelenophileItendtogetannoyedwhenthefilmdoesnotfollowthestoryclosely(orinthecaseoftheTrojanWar,doesn'tstarBradPitt)butstillthisfilmdidanokayjob,particularlysinceyouaredealingwithastorythatrealisticallyshouldbeatelevisionseries.Assuchyouaregoingtohavetocutpartsoutandattempttomakeotherscenesfitinbetterwiththemovie.WhatWisedidwiththisfilmwasturnitintoaromance,andnotthetypeofromancewhereboymeetsgirl,boylosesgirl,andboygetsgirlagain.No,thestoryoftheTrojanWarismuchmoretragicthanthatbecausewhenParislosesHelenitisbecauseheiskilledandsheisdraggedbacktoGreecetoonceagainbecomeaslavetoMenelaus.WhatisinterestingisthattheGreeklegendsreallyonlytellusthatPariskidnappedHelen,butwearethengiventheimpressionthatHelendidn'tactuallywanttoleave,thoughwemustrememberthatbackinthosedayswomengenerallydidn'thaveanyrights.Still,someoftheversionsofthemythhaveMenelausdraggingHelenbacktotheboatbythescruffofherneck.Theonethingthatthisfilmfailedtodo,thattheBradPittversionsuccessfullydidwastoemphasisethefactthatnobodyactuallywonthewar.Odysseuswassetwonderingtheoceansfortenyearsbeforehegothome;Menelausmetthesamefate,andwastrappedinEgyptforanumberofyears;andwhenAgamemnonreturnedhomeasoverlordofGreece,helifehasemperorlastedrightupuntilthepointthathiswifeandherloverkilledhim.However,inthisfilmprettymuchalloftheGreeksreturnedhomevictorious,howeverwetendtoalsobemoresympathetictowardstheTrojans.Theotherthingthatgotmygoataboutthisfilmwastheuseofsiegeequipment.BasicallythereasonthattheTrojanWarlastedtenyearswasbecausetheydidnothavesiegeequipment–itsimplyhadnotbeeninventedatthetime–soseeingsiegetowersandcatapultsbeingraisedagainstTroysortofputmeoffsomewhat. 1outof2foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 8/10 AboveaverageItalian"swordandsandal'epic jamesrupert201425January2019 DirectorRobertWisebringsoneofthemostfamoustalesofthwartedloveinthewesterncanontoCinemascopelifeinthisAmerican-Italianco-production.Thestory,familiartomany,issimple:TrojanPrinceParisandthelovelyHelenofSparta,wifeofKingMenelaus,fallinloveandfleetoTroy-animpregnablecoastalfortress-city.ThefuriousSpartanKingandawho'swhoofGreekheroes(includingAgamemnon,Achilles,andOdysseus)setsailinathousandshipstorecovertheerrantQueen,toavengetheaffronttoGreekhonour,andtolootthewalledcity'streasures.Thedecade-longsiegeendswhentheTrojansfamouslyfallforoneofthegreatesttricksinmilitaryhistory(realorotherwise).Allegedlytosavecosts,WarnerBrothersshotthefilminItalyandpassedovercostlyHollywoodtalentforEuropeanactors.JacquesSernasisproperlybuffandheroiclookingtoplayParistoRossanaPodestà'sHelen.WhetherPodestàisaconvincing'mostbeautifulwomenintheworld'isamatterofpersonaltaste,butforcomparisonsake,herhand-maid'Andraste'isplayedbya22year-oldBrigitteBardot,whomayhavebeenthemostbeautifulwomaninFranceatthetime.Epicssuchasthistendtobebig,loudandunsubtle,and'HelenofTroy'isnoexception.Thereislotsofneo-classicaltoughguyblustering,dramaticheroics,excitingspear-andsword-play,orgiasticcavorting,anddrunkenrapineandpillaging.Therearealsosomegreatchariotscenes(notsurprisingasthesomeoftheactionsequencesweredirectedbylegendarystuntmanYakimaCanutt).Theobligatorybattlesaresuitablywelldoneandepic,asaretheimagesthevastGreekfleet(admittedlysometimesthebeachedshipsareobviouslyapainting)andthegreatwallssurroundingthefortifiedcity.Whileperhapsanotchbelow"BenHur"(1959)or"Spartacus"(1960),Wise'stellingofoneofthehistory's(mythology's?)mostfabledwarsiscolourful,exciting,entertaining,andprobablyjustashistoricallyaccurateasHomer'sversionwas3000+/-yearsago. 2outof2foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink 8/10 Here'sthesinthatinspiredtime'sgreatesttreachery! Nazi_Fighter_David6February2000 Ofallthegreatstorieshandeddownthroughtheages,fewcanequalHomer'sIliad-atoweringepicofwarriorheroes,squabblinggods,andangerthatdestroyednations...ThisisthesourceforRobertWise'sfilm...AlltheelementsofamagnificentspectacleexistinHomer'swork-alavishanddecadentcourtlife,thetensionofthequarrelbetweenAchillesandAgamemnon,themostbeautifulwomaninGreece,andadramaofloveandseduction...Thousandsofweaponsareused:spears,bows,arrows,bodyarmor,helmets,shields,macesandshipsoftheperiodl200B.C.,plusatremendouswoodenhorse...Paris,onadiplomaticmissiontoSpartatoarrangepeacefultrade,iswashedupontheSpartanshoreafterbeingshipwreckedduringastorm...HeishelpedbythelovelyHelenwhoclaimstobeahandmaidentothequeen...Shetakesherleave,directinghimtothecourtofKingMenelaus...Parisisgreetedandhonoredina'cesti'combatwithAjax...Secretly,however,Menelausplotstokillhisguest...HelenwarnsParisofthedangertohislifeandurgeshimtorunaway...Herselfindangerforrevealingtheplot,shesuccumbstoParis'pleadingstofleewithhim...TheloversmaketheirwaytoTroy...Fromthatpointthespectacularelements-themassingoftheshipsandmen,andthebattlesoutsidethewallsofTroy,takeover...RossanaPodesta-anaturalbrunettegivenablondewigandtheclassicalGrecianlook-playsHelen,theindirectcauseoftheTrojanWar,butforParis,sheisthegoddessofloveandbeauty,"Aphrodite."JacquesSernasplaysParis...HisseductionofHelenandrefusaltoreturnher,startedtheTrojanWar...RobertDouglasisAgamemnon,thecommanderinchiefoftheGreekforces...HecallsonthekingsandprincestouniteinawarofrevengeagainsttheTrojans...Hewasaveryambitiousman,dreamingofTroy'streasures...StanleyBakerisAchilles,theunbeatablewarrior,thegreatestandmosttragicoftheGreekheroes...HarryAndrewsisHector,theeldestsonofkingPriam,andthehusbandofAndromache...HeisthechiefwarrioroftheTrojanarmy...NiallMacGinnisisthefuriousMenelaus,KingofSparta,whocallsonhisbrotherAgamemnontogatheranarmyandavengethemarkofshame...TorinThatcherisUlysses,kingofIthaca,themanofoutstandingwisdom...SirCedricHardwickeisthepowerlessbutkindlyKingofTroy...JanetteScottisCassandra,daughterofPriam,lovedbythegoddessAthena...Withagreatspiritofprophecyshewarnsherfathertoburnthewoodenhorse...RobertWisemakesabraveattempttomarrytheintimatewiththespectacular-adifficulttask-but"HelenofTroy"isanepicmovie,asuperiorentertainmentfilmedinCinemaScopeandTechnicolor.. 38outof45foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink Attractivecoatingontheoutside,butthefillingisn'ttremendous. Poseidon-313May2009 Warning:Spoilers Noted(andversatile)directorWiseamassedaconsiderableteamofbehindthescenespersonnelandanimpressivearrayofactorsforthislarge-scaleepicrenditionofthelegendarystoryofthetitlecharacter.Unfortunately,theproductionsufferssomewhatfromthecastingoftheleads,primarilystemmingfromthefactthatneitheronewasabletousehisorherownvoice.SernasplaysaprinceofTroywhojourneystoSpartatoattempttoestablishpeacebetweenthemandhisownpeople.Shipwreckedbeforehecanevengetthere,heisgreetedontheshorebyPodesta,tohimthemostbeautifulwomanhehaseverseen.Afterrecoveringfromhisclosecall,heheadstothepalacetospeaktokingMacGinnisandissorelymistreatedanddisbelieved.Hethendiscoversthathisobjectofaffectionis,inactuality,MacGinnis'queen!CircumstancesleadhimtospiritherbacktoTroywheresheisskepticallyreceivedbyhisunhappyfamily.MacGinnispullstogetheramassivearmyofmenfromvariousGreekstatesandproceedstoattackTroy.Whenthingslookalmostimpossible,oneofhismenoverseestheconstructionofthefamedTrojanHorse,whichmakesthingslookawfullybleakforSernasandPodestawhoare,bynow,deeplyinlove.Podestaiscurvaceousandattractive,butnotnecessarilywhatonemightexpectasthewomanwhosefacelauncheda1000ships.Havinglearnedherlinesphoneticallyjusttogetthroughtheshoot,shewasthendubbedbyanAmericanactress.This,alongwiththefactthatherplatinumwigsdon'treallycomplimentherdarkcoloring,preventsherfromreallyregisteringveryheavilyintherole.Sernas(whoiscaressedbythecameraalmosteverybitasmuchasPodestais,frequentlyshirtless)islikewisedubbedand,thoughhegivesitagoodshot,windsupnotbeingabletocraftacharacterthataudiencescouldreallycareagreatdealabout.(Someofthisstemsfromthefactthatthecharacterreallywasn'twrittenasheroicorparticularlylikableintheoriginalHomerstorytobeginwith!)Fortunately,ahostoffinecharacteractorsisonhandtohelpout.HardwickeplaysSernas'father,Swinburneishismother,AndrewsishisbrotherandanearlyunrecognizableScottishissoothsayingsister.MacGinnisisstronginhispartandisablymatchedbyThatcher,BakerandDouglasashisassociates.ReedappearsbrieflyasthehulkingAjax,whotakesonSernasinafairlysavagegrudgematch.AlsopoppinguptogoodeffectisanebullientBardotinanearlyroleasoneofPodesta'sservants.She,too,isdubbedbyanEnglish-speakingactress.Thereisalotgoingforthefilm,includingasplendidMaxSteinerscore,avastcollectionofextras,impressivesetsandmomentsofgenuinelygooddrama.Ontheflipside,thecostumesoftenleantowardsthepedestrian,thescriptlackszestandsomeofthemodelworkisatadpoor.ThisfilmincludesreferencestotheGreekGods,buteliminatesthemasactualcharactersanddoesnotattributeanyoftheirownactionstothemdirectly.Rather,thingstakeplaceasiftheyareoccurringwithouttheinterferenceordirectinfluenceoraidofthedeities.Thoughit'scertainlynotblatant,thereistheopportunitytoreadBakerandhischiefaidLongdon'srelationshipasmorethanplatonic.Fansofepicfilmsoughttoappreciatethepageantryandscopeofit,butmayfindthemselveswishingforalittlemoremeatinthestoryand,perhaps,moresignificantactingfromtheleads. 1outof3foundthishelpful. 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Permalink aHomer'un ptb-84February2005 Itisgoodfortheviewertoseethiscinemascopespectacularfrom1956afterseeingthenewTROYwithBradandEric.HELENOFTROYasdirectedbycraftsmanRobertWiseisverypleasinglymadeandwithexcellentactionandspectacle-especiallyinthewellpopulatedfierysiegescenes.NoCGIinthosedays,therereallywasacoupleofthousanddressedandarmedextrasrunningalloverthehugeset.ApparentlyRobertWiseisonrecordashavingsaidhetookthe$6millionassignmentbecausehehadn'tyetdirectedaspectacular....!Toldfromadifferentperspectivethanthe2004version,this50sviewisfromthepointofParisasopposedtoArchillesinthenewone.ItwouldbelikethenewonebeingtoldfromOrlandoBloom'sperspectiveratherthanfromBradPitt's.HELENOFTROYonDVDhasgoodextrasincludingtheTVspecialsmadewithGigYoungasapromoofthetime.ThehugesetcreatedinItalywasrecycledintoSODOMANDGOMORRAHgiventheorangepillarsandlayout.HELENOFTROYhasexcellentWarnercolourandbeautifulartdirection.ItisagoodfilmandwellworthseeingafteryouseeTROYasacompanion/chaser. 25outof28foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 6/10 "Admirationforthebeautyofamarbleimage" Steffi_P8December2009 ParamountandCecilB.DeMillekick-startedthe1949-66waveofancientworldepicswiththebiblicaltaleSamsonandDelilah,whileMGMandFoxmadetheirmarkwithgospelspin-offstoriesQuoVadisandTheRoberespectively.WarnerBrotherswereabitslowertojumponthebandwagon,andwhentheydidthefablestheychosewererefreshinglypagan.In1954theyproducedthedelightfullysillyLandofthePharaohs,andfolloweditupwiththis,oneofthebest-knownandmostenduringmythsofancientGreece.Pictureslikethishaveareputationforbeingsomewhatcornyandinsincere.AndHelenofTroyisashamelesspartofthattradition.Itisadmittedlyaneatandfast-movingretellingofthelegend,butitsdialoguerangesfromlaughabletobanal.Charactersmakewoodenstatementsthatwereobviouslysomeone'sideaofancientwisdom.Slavestalkbacktotheirmasterswithoutsomuchasatellingoff.Whatisparticularlyineptisthewaythewritersobviouslyfelttheyhadtogetinfamouslineslike"Thefacethatlaunchedathousandships"and"BewareofGreeksbearinggifts",sowehavetolistentothembendingthedialoguetowardstheseclichés,tothepointwheretheysoundutterlytrite–"Hmm,that'salotofshipsoutthere,atleastafewhundred…noI'dsayathousand.Andwhatlaunchedthem,eh?"Otherthanpoorwriting,anotherthingthattendedtomaketheseepicslackinginintimacywaspooruseofthenewCinemascopeaspectratio.ThiswasabigprobleminTheRobe,whichwastheearliestreleaseinthatformat,butHelenofTroy'sdirectorRobertWisehandlesthewiderimagewithcare.Whilehetakesfulladvantageoftheextraspaceforcrowdsandspectacles,forthemoreintimatesceneshebringstheperformersclosertothecamera,andmutesthebackgroundssoasnottooverwhelmthemoment.Healsomakesgreatuseoftinybitsoflightormovement,especiallytherecurringfiremotif,todrawourattentiontocertainbitsofthescreen,defyingthetendencyforindividualstogetlostinabigscreen.OneofthebestexamplesofWise'scontrolhereisthefirstsceneattheSpartanpalacewhereParisandAjaxhavetheirknuckledusterdual.It'sprettyclearthatJackSernasandMaxwellReedfightlike,well,likeacoupleofbadactors,butWiseinsteadfocusesusonthefervourofthecrowdtogiveusamoresavageimpressionofthebrawl.Hethenmovesintoclose-upsofNiallMacGinnisandRossanaPodestaagainstplainerbackgrounds,butstillwithalittlemovementintheframetomatchtheiremotions.Butallthissensitivedirectioncannotsaveusfromsomeappallingactingperformances.IcanseewhySernasandPodestawerecastintheleadroles.Theyarebothyoungandbeautiful,andtheirunfamiliarfacesgivethemafreshnessandinnocence.Buttheycan'tact,andthedubbingdoesn'thelp.It'snotallbadthough.NiallMacGinnisgivesatremendousperformance.HeboilsthecharacterofMenelausdowntonothingmorethanajealoushusband,andhisintensemannerdominatesthescreen.StanleyBakerisalsoreallygood,radiatingthoughtlessaggressionwithhiseverymove.Asfortherest,no-onereallystandsoutorsatisfies,evensuchworthynamesasCedricHardwickeandNoraSwinburne.TheWarnerBrothersepicsofthe50swerereallylittlemorethanB-picturewithA-budgets.Liketheequivalentproductionsatrivalstudios,theyfeaturedgargantuansets,hordesofextrasandbreathtakingspectacles,buttheyalsosufferedfromweakscriptsanddullcasts.Still,someofRobertWise'sbesteffortsuptothispointwereactualB-picturesthathehadtreatedwithcredibilityandmanagedtoekesomedepthandsentimentoutof.Itishisintelligenthandlingoftheelementsintheframeplusthehandfulofclassyperformancesthatraisethisonejustalittleaboveamediocrity.Asakindofpostscripttothiscomment,hereareafewmiscellaneouspointsofinterest.MaxSteiner'sscorehashisusualhabitofcommentinghystericallyoneverylineormovement,buttherearesomenicelittlemusicaltouchestothesceneoftheGreeksmarchingonTroythatareworthlisteningfor.Lateron,havealookatthosesiegetowers.Isn'titconvenientthatthetrapdoorsfitexactlybetweenthebattlementsoftheTrojanwalls?Theymusthavegotsomeonetogoroundwithatapemeasurebeforetheybuiltthem.Andfinally,listenoutforanearlyuseoftheWilhelmscreamsoundeffect,decadesbeforeitbecamehipandironic. 4outof7foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 7/10 "....manybravesoulsloos'dfrombreastsheroic." brogmiller13August2021 HerewehaveanepiceversolooselybaseduponHomer's'Iliad'withtheTrojanHorsetrickfromthe'Odyssey'throwninforgoodmeasure.ThemostnotablefeaturehereisthecontingentoffirstclassBritishactorswhobringtheirownmarvellous,stage-trainedvoiceswiththemsothatwearesparedthecurseofthedodgydubbingthatafflictssomanyfilmsofthistype.ThedubbingofFrenchmanJacquesSernasasParisbytweeGeoffreyTooneandItalianRosannaPodestaasHelenbyAmericanJoanCroydonisnotquitesosuccessfulbutthen,Isuppose,onecannothaveeverything!Ithaslongbeenestablishedthatthe'Iliad'itselfisnotbasedonhistoricalfact,whereasthelegendlaystheblamefortheTrojanWaronAchilles'wrath,Agamemnon'sintransigence,theGod'smalevolenceandthepassionofParisforHelen.Itcomesasnosurprisethatforfilmicpurposesithasbeendecidedtoconcentrateonthepassion!Althoughportrayedhereasheroic,PariswasfarfrombeingsoandwasmoreachildofVenus(oops,sorry,Aphrodite)thanhewasofMars;farbettersuitedtothebattlesofthebedchamber.JacquesSernaslookswonderfulofcoursebutIhavealwaysfoundhimtoberatherblandandhisperformanceheredoesnothingtochangemyview.HavingalreadyplayedNausicaainCamerini's'Ulysses',RosannaPodestaistheobviouschoiceforthe'beauteous'Helenandshecertainlyfitsthebill,callingtomindHomer's"Inhersweetcountenanceshine looksliketheGoddesses."SufficetosaytheproductionvaluesaresuperlativewithArtDirectionbyEdwardCarrere,stirringscorebyMaxSteinerandgorgeouscinematographybyHarryStradlingJnr.Thebattlescenesaremagnificentandasusualtheunsungheroesarethoseofthesecondunit,directedherebytheubiquitousYakimaCanutt,togetherwithSergioLeoneandthemaestroofactionsequencesRaoulWalsh,althoughheisuncredited.HomerpuristswillregardthisasaloadoftoshbutasSword-and-Sandalsmoviesgo,itisuptherewiththebest. 2outof3foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 8/10 RenewingtheaffairwithHelen tomsview6February2013 Warning:Spoilers Irecentlysaw"HelenofTroy"forthefirstsinceIwasten.ThatwaswhenIwasimprintedwiththismovieinmuchthesamewayasalatergenerationwasimprintedwith"StarWars".Fiftyyearslater,allthingsconsidered,themoviestillholdsupwell.ThestoryisculledfromHomer'sIliadwithembellishmentsfromanumberofscreenwriters.MaybeHomerwouldhaveappreciatedtheirhelpintighteningtheplotandmovingthingsalongwithoutsomanyinterruptionsfromthegods.JacquesSernasplaysParis,aprinceofTroy,whojourneystoSpartaonapeacemission.HefallsinlovewithHelen,QueenofSparta,playedbyRossanaPodestà,thewifeoftheSpartanking,Menelaus,brilliantlyplayedbyNiallMacGinnis.ParislearnsthattheSpartansmerelyawaitapretexttostartawar;heprovidesthemwithonewhenhetakesHelenwithhimbacktoTroy.Themovieisspectacular.ThestormingofTroyisepicmoviemakingatitsbestandthewoodenhorselivesuptoexpectations.Britishactorspredominate.TheirShakespearianbackgroundshelpedthemdelivertheirlineswithauthority.Unfortunatelythefilmmakersincludedacoupleofpassagesofsuperfluous,off-screennarration,andthis,addedtoatleasttworeferencestothefacethatlaunchedathousandships,givestheimpressionofapredictable,one-dimensionalscreenplay.EnglishwasnotthefirstlanguageofeitherJacquesSernasorRossanaPodestà;bothhadtroublewiththeirlines.Sernasultimatelyhadhisvoicedubbed,andPodestàlearnedherlinesbyrote.Thisgivestheirdialogueadetachedqualitythatisalittleodd.Sernasinparticularsoundsratherdisembodied–hisvoicedoesnotquitefit.Howeverheisconvincinglyathletic.Theactorsweartheirarmourwithpanacheevenifoncloserinspectionsomeoftheirarmsseemsopunythattheylookasthoughtheywouldhavetroubleunwrappinganafter-dinnermintletalonehurlingajavelinatthewallsofTroy.Thereareexceptions.StanleyBakergivesanedgyperformanceasAchilles,andHarryAndrewsprojectsacharacterofheroicproportions.Thesetwoarenotableinamoviewherehelmets,noseguardsandbeardstendtomakethecharactersindistinguishablefromoneanother.AlthoughMaxSteiner'sscoreflowssmoothly,hecouldn'thavespentmorethantenminutesresearchingthemusicoftheperiod.ThescoreistypicalSteinerofthemid-fiftieswithmusicalrootsnofartherbackthanRichardStrauss.TheduelbetweenAchillesandHectorstilldelivers,althoughitisrelativelybloodlessbytoday'sstandards.PlayedoutunderthewallsofTroyandwatchedbybotharmies,AchilleshammersHectorwiththeweightedendofhisspearbeforedraggingthebodybehindhischariot.OnefamousHollywoodproducerbelievedthatitwasthelastfiveminutesthatmadeamoviememorable."HelenofTroy"fulfilsthatcriterionperfectly.WithTroyinflames,Helenisbackinthehandsofherhusband,Menelaus,whoremarksthatsheneedstowashthebloodoftheslainParisoffherhands,"Icannot",shereplies,"it'smyblood."ThemovieendswithHelenlookingbacktowardsTroyastheshipreturnshertoSparta,herloveforParisstillstrong;atriumphofthespiritifnothingelse."HelenofTroy"isstilltotallyabsorbing,andprovidesauniquelookatabygoneage. 3outof4foundthishelpful. 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Permalink 8/10 ItsToweringWondersSpantheAgeofEpicHeyday marcin_kukuczka20March2011 AlthoughthemostglamorousandthemostexquisiteancientepicshavemostlybeenassociatedwithCecilBDeMillewho,afterD.W.Griffith,reignedintheHollywoodshowmanshipthroughouttheyears,herecomesthenameofRobertWise,arenowneddirector;yet,inexperiencedinthisverygenre.AftertheinnovativestyleofhisEXECUTIVESUITEinthemid1950s,hetakestimeandefforttofilm'allthestoriedwondersofHomer'simmortal'Iliad'andallthegloriedmomentsofitsinspiredromance,'asHELENOFTROYtrailerannounced...MrWise'seffortaimedatcreatingagenuineproductionandresultedinoneofHomer'sbestscreenadaptationsevermade.Forme,personally,itwasanadditionalpleasuretowatchthisfilmbecauseofacertainsentiment.IhaveheardaboutWise'sHELENOFTROYsincemychildhoodfrommyfatherwhohadseenitonthebigscreenasayoungboy.Therefore,itisoneofthefilmsthathasaplaceinourfamilytradition.Butletmeleavemyownsentimentaltargetsandgettotheobjectiveanalysisofthisgreatlysignificantproduction.Inthemid1950s,itwasnotdifficulttopredictthatfilmingthestoryofawomanwhose'facelaunchedathousandships'andwhose'temptationsplungedtheworldintotheconflict'wouldoccurasmashingsuccess.AfterthetriumphantreturnofepicswithLeRoy'sQUOVADIS?andKoster'sTHEROBE,themotionpicturewasinneedfornewthrillingstoriesofantiquity,theimmortalstoriesfilmedinTechnicolor,the'toweringwonders'thatcouldspantheperiod.Therefore,thefirstandthemostsignificant'wounder'ofthisfilmisthelovestoryofPrinceParis(JacquesSernas)andHelen(RossanaPodesta).Itoccurstobeatthecoreofviewers'attentionandrightlyso.Theirscenesshinewithmemorablechemistryandappeartobetrulyconvincing.ThehandsomeSernasandthebeautifulPodestaarestillanunderratedcinemapair.Notmuchhasbeensaidabouttheminfilmarticlesandweshouldregretthat.Notatopnotchcoupleinfamebutatopnotchcoupleinlove!Another'toweringwonder'ofthefilmaresomeclearreferencestouniversalcinemamerits.MrWisenicelycombinestheancientplotwiththemoderndepictionoftheeventsperfectlyadjustedtotheneedsoftheaudience.Thecoupleoccurstobeverymodern,weempathizewiththemandfollowtheirthoughtsasifthestorytookplaceinourtimes.Thatsubtleandup-to-datehandlingofthetopictogetherwiththedesirablerespecttowardsHomerandhistoricalmaterialisagreatmeritofthefilm.Althoughithasoftenbeenseenbysomecriticsas'Hollywoodignorancetowardshistory,'Ithinkthatthiscombinationwiththerightbalancemakesthisfilmvaluable.TherearecertainlimitsinthelibertiestakenandHELENOFTROYclearlyrespectsthem.Thesupportingcastofferusveryclearappearancessothatthecharacterscanremainvividlyinourmemories.Thatisafeaturenoteveryepicfilmcanboastof.Inmanyfilms,certaincharactersarebeingconfusedbecauseofsomeshortageintheuniquenessofconcreteportrayals.HELENOFTROYdoesnotcommitthat'sin.'StartingwithSirCedricHardwickewhobeautifullyportraysthegoodheartedandkindrulingPriam,throughyettocomesexsymbolBrigitteBardotasAndraste,StanleyBakerasthebravewarriorAchilles,NoraSwinburneassubtleanddelicateHecuba,HarryAndrewsasgoodheartedHectortoNiallMacGinnisascruelandwretchedMenelaus.Exceptfortheaforementionedcast,therealrevelationappearstobeJanetteScottintheroleofCassandra,akeyfigureinthemysteryofTroy'sdownfall.MsScottisexcellentasthepriestessofAthenaandaprophetesswhoforesawtheevents,theonewhoseheartwaswithTroyandwhosethoughtsdweltintheinevitabletragedy.Cassandra,thoughnotgivenmuchtimeonthescreen,remainsforeverinthememoryofaviewerafterseeingthisfilm.HerfaceisDESTINYandthisfaceisyouthfulJanetteScott's.Finally,themostsignificantwonderofHELENOFTROYisundoubtedlyitscolossalnature.Thankstosomescenesthatstilloccurimpressiveespeciallywhenbeingviewedonthebigscreen,itiscertainlyoneofthegrandspectacles.ThankstothecinematographybyHarryStradlingandmusicbyMaxSteiner,themomentsprovidetheepicwithglamorandmajesty.IherebyrefertothemonumentaldepictionofthesiegeofTroywithcrowdsofextras(morethan30,000),thelavishsetsbuiltintheCinecittaStudiosnearRome,theseastormthatbringsParistotheshoreofAphrodite,thelustfulbacchanaliascenewhentheTrojanhorsehasjustbeenbroughtwithinthecitywalls...Thebacchanaliamomentrequiresspecialattentionasaverydaringyetatastefuldepiction...'BewareofGreeksbearinggifts...'yet,'thenightsmilesatus...'Theentiredramaandillusionofthismomentissoawesome:dancinggirls,orgasm-liketunes,ancientmelodies,laughinggodofvineyards...dotheymakeusdwellinthefinalhourofTroy?Isitallrealorjustanillusion?Canwerecapturethespiritofthe'almost'victoriouscitizens?Canwelookforwardtothedawnthatwillnevercome?Averyniceepicfilm,amustseeforallfilmfreaksandbuffsofoldmotionpictures;indeedanotherproductionofthosegoldenyearswhenthecommercialgavewaytotheartistic,theheydayofmightandmajestythatyouwillneverforget. 2outof2foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink 4/10 AromanticportrayaloftheTrojanWar rebeljenn30December2005 'HelenofTroy'followsthestoryofHelenandtheoutbreakoftheTrojanWar.ThisismoreofalovestorybetweenHelenandParis,whoisshipwreckedandfallsinlovewithHelenwithoutknowingsheisqueen.Thefilmportraysthecoupleaslovesickandwantingnothingmorethantobetogether.(Otherfilmsandbookshavedifferentportrayalsofthecharacters,butinthisone,theyaresimplyhopelesslyinlove.)Thefilmisprettyslow-movinginsomeplaces,butthebattlesandthedetailtothesceneryaredoneprettywell.Therearealsosomegoodperformances.Ithoughtthattheslavegirldidaparticularlygoodjob,andshewasoneofthemostwell-likedcharacters.Overall,thisisagoodadaptionifyoucanlookbeyondtheslow-movingstoryinplacesandlookbeyondsomeofthecheesyromanceanddialogue.Inmyopinion,aperfectIliadfilmversionhasnotyetbeencreated,butthisoneisentertaininganddoeshavesomegoodbits. 2outof5foundthishelpful. Wasthisreviewhelpful?Signintovote. Permalink Anerrorhasoccured.Pleasetryagain. 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