1962 - ILEKTRA aka Electra

If every film were made as well as Ilektra, maybe the idea of sitting through classic Greek dramas written in this case by Euripides (480 BC to 406 BC) wouldn't have such an odious whiff of being force fed a "classic" play and a classic ancient Greek play in this instance.

The film was written and directed by Michael Cacoyannis a Greek theater and film director who brought a lot of storytelling skill to his best films particularly the Greek tragedies that he filmed, Iphigenia and The Trojan Women.

For this version of the Electra legend Cacoyannis had the talents of British cinematographer Walter Lassally who knew how to make a film look really good on a tight budget. The other major part of the success of this film is the actor Irene Papas.  I guess movie goers would probably remember her as part of the acting ensemble in The Guns of Navarone. Papas apparently felt that Cacoyannis was the only director who brought out the best in her acting.  In any case it's an excellent intense performance.

 

If you are a little burned out on Superhero movies and are looking for a good intelligent drama, this film might be worth viewing.  Be advised, subtitles are involved.

The running time is 110 minutes.