HELEN OF TROY

US/Italy, 1955, 118 minutes, Colour.
Rosanna Podesta, Jacques Sernas, Cedric Hardwicke, Niall MacGinnis?, Stanley Baker, Nora Swinburne, Robert Douglas, Torin Thatcher, Harry Andrews, Janette Scott, Ronald Lewis, Brigitte Bardot.
Directed by Robert Wise.

Helen of Troy is a matinee version of the famous events of Greek history and mythology immortalised in the Iliad by Homer. This film was designed for the new Cinemascope process in the early '50s. It has an international cast led by an Italian Helen and a French Paris. The majority of the cast is English. However, Brigitte Bardot can be seen in a supporting role as Andraste.

The film has lavish Warner Bros production values, is directed by Robert Wise with a score by Max Steiner. However the film focuses mainly on displaying the events and characters rather than exploring them. The film might be compared with smaller budget, but more entertaining Greek mythology films like Jason and the Argonauts.


1. An enjoyable presentation of famous mythological events? Characters? The Trojan War?

2. Cinemascope photography, locations, decor and costumes, ancient atmosphere? The battle of Troy? The wooden horse? The editing and pace for the Trojan War? The musical score?

3. Audience familiarity with the characters and events? A popularising of these events?

4. The situation in Sparta: the negotiations between the Trojans and the Spartans, Paris's visit to Sparta, the encounter with Helen, her pretence that she was a slave, the clash with Menelaus? Helen's helping Paris to escape from prison? The return to Troy? The situation for a battle?

5. The Trojan situation: the court of Troy, the defence of Troy against the Greeks? Helen alien in the city? The arrival of the Greeks, the warriors, the battles, the clash of heroes? The device of the Trojan horse? The restoration of Helen to Menelaus?

6. The focus on Paris, as negotiator, the shipwreck, discovery by Helen, her pretence that she was a slave, his going to the palace, the tricks by Menelaus and the advisers, his imprisonment, his escape, the return to Troy, the reaction of the Greeks, the reaction of the Trojans, his family, the effects of the war, his death?

7. Helen and her beauty, as wife of Menelaus, discontented, the finding of Paris, love for him, her helping him from prison, her leaving Sparta and going to Troy, the reaction of the Trojans, her part in the war, the return to Menelaus?

8. Menelaus and the court of Sparta, his advisers? The imprisonment of Paris? The betrayal by Helen? The declaration of war? His brother Agamemnon and the warriors? Ulysses? The waging of the battle, the wooden horse, victory?

9. The traditional Greek heroes: Achilles and his skills, his heel? Agamemnon and his power? Ulysses? A sympathetic portrayal of the Greeks?

10. The Trojans: King Priam and his rule of Troy, the effect of the siege, the defeat of Troy? Hecubah and her daughters? Cassandra and her prophecies of doom? Aeneas, Hector and the Trojan warriors? The battles? The wooden horse? The defeat?

11. A popular ancient story of passion, betrayal, war? Its relevance to succeeding generations?