What Oedipus Rex movie was that?

August 2, 2006 7:37 PM

Years ago, I had an English teacher show our class a film version of Oedipus Rex. The prof explained that the director had taken pains to make the movie has period-accurate as possible, as far as the production design: costumes, sets, setting, etc. I think it was made in the early 70s or late 60s. What was this movie called, and/or who made it?
posted by everichon to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Oedipus the King?
posted by foxinthesnow at 8:05 PM on August 2, 2006

Here are some screenshots.
posted by foxinthesnow at 8:08 PM on August 2, 2006

Another possibility.
posted by bingo at 8:16 PM on August 2, 2006

Just in passing, any version of this play which seeks authenticity should cast a Caucasian with dark skin or dark makeup as Othello.

Othello is specifically stated as being a Moor, which is to say an Arab or a Berber.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 9:30 PM on August 2, 2006 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Could it have been this, by Pasolini? It feels really archaic. Don't know if the ancient-world parts are accurate, but it's certainly a great-looking movie.

My google-fu isn't strong enough to find many images, but this, even though it's too tiny to make out the masks they're all wearing, gives some of the feel of it.
posted by hap_hazard at 9:32 PM on August 2, 2006

Uh, how authentic could a version of Oedipus Rex be, if it included a character from a Shakespeare play written a thousand years later, SCDB?
posted by AmbroseChapel at 10:25 PM on August 2, 2006

Was it the version that included a bald narrator appearing at intervals to discuss the play, pronouncing his name Eeee-da-puths?
posted by plinth at 4:47 AM on August 3, 2006

Response by poster: I am stupid! I had been dismissing the Pasolini movie because descriptions tend to start with "Set in pre-War Bologna...". I forgot that it goes back and forth in time.
posted by everichon at 8:30 AM on August 3, 2006