Oedipus Rex (1957 film)
Oedipus Rex | |
---|---|
Directed by | Tyrone Guthrie |
Written by | William Butler Yeats adaptation of the play by Sophocles |
Based on | Oedipus Rex by Sophocles |
Produced by | Leonid Kipnis |
Starring |
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Distributed by | Motion Picture Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Oedipus Rex is a 1957 film, a film version of the Canadian Stratford Festival production of the William Butler Yeats adaptation of the play Oedipus Rex by Sophocles.[1][2]
The actors performed wearing masks designed by Tanya Moiseiwitsch,[3] as was the practice in Ancient Greek theatre.
Cast[]
- Douglas Campbell as Oedipus
- Eleanor Stuart as Jocasta
- Robert Goodier as Creon
- William Hutt as Chorus Leader
- Donald Davis as Tiresias
- Douglas Rain as Messenger
- Tony Van Bridge as Man From Corinth
- Eric House as Shepherd / Old Priest
- Roland Bull as Chorus
- Robert Christie as Chorus
- Ted Follows as Chorus
- David Gardner as Chorus
- Bruno Gerussi as Chorus
- Richard Howard as Chorus
- Roland Hewgill as Chorus
- Edward Holmes as Chorus
- James Manser as Chorus
- Louis Negin as Chorus
- Grant Reddick as Chorus
- William Shatner as Chorus
- Bruce Swerdfager as Chorus
- Neil Vipond as Chorus
- Gertrude Tyas as Nurse
- Naomi Cameron as Ismene
- Barbara Franklin as Antigone
Song[]
After the film was released comedic musician Tom Lehrer, noting that the film lacked a theme song "the people could hum", composed "Oedipus Rex", a satirical "theme song" for the film. The song is included on Lehrer's album An Evening Wasted With Tom Lehrer.
Reception[]
Theresa Loeb Cone of the Oakland Tribune praised the cast, costumes, cinematography and score, but felt that the film was "too pretentious for enjoyment".[3]
References[]
- ^ Crowther, Bosley (January 8, 1957). "Movie Review: Oedipus Rex (1957) Screen: 'Oedipus Rex'; Staging at Canadian Festival Is Filmed". The New York Times.
- ^ Wyndham Wise, ed. (January 2001). "Oedipus Rex". Take One's Essential Guide to Canadian Film. p. 155. ISBN 9780802083982.
- ^ a b Cone, Theresa Loeb (October 25, 1957). "Oedipus Rex Now at Tower". Oakland Tribune. p. 45.
External links[]
- Oedipus Rex at IMDb
Categories:
- 1957 films
- English-language films
- Canadian films
- Canadian films based on plays
- Films based on ancient Greek plays
- Films based on classical mythology
- Films based on works by Sophocles
- Incest in film
- Patricide in fiction
- Masks in theatre
- Works based on Oedipus Rex
- W. B. Yeats
- 1950s Canadian film stubs