Michael Cacoyannis's adaptation of Euripides's play looks at a group of women seeing their city devastated. "The Trojan Women" isn't what would usually get considered a sword-and-sandal movie. Far from her often hammy performances, Katharine Hepburn plays the distraught Hecuba with profound intensity; as Hepburn admitted in a Photoplay interview: "My acting has always been a little flamboyant and rococo. But for this part, I've had to pare right down to the bare essentials." Also starring are Vanessa Redgrave as Andromache, Geneviève Bujold as Cassandra, Irene Papas as Helen, Patrick Magee (Mr. Alexander in "A Clockwork Orange") as Menelaus, and Brian Blessed (Boss Nass in "The Phantom Menace") as Talthybius.
The landscape is as much a character as any of the people. The dry setting evokes the feeling of loss among the characters. I would eventually like to see a stage production of Euripides's play, just to see what the different interpretations are. In the meantime, definitely see the movie.
The landscape is as much a character as any of the people. The dry setting evokes the feeling of loss among the characters. I would eventually like to see a stage production of Euripides's play, just to see what the different interpretations are. In the meantime, definitely see the movie.