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Oedipus Rex [VHS]

Silvana Mangano (Actor), Franco Citti (Actor), Pier Paolo Pasolini (Director, Writer) Format: VHS Tape
3.8 out of 5 stars 25 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Actors: Silvana Mangano, Franco Citti, Alida Valli, Carmelo Bene, Julian Beck
  • Directors: Pier Paolo Pasolini
  • Writers: Pier Paolo Pasolini
  • Producers: Alfredo Bini
  • Format: NTSC
  • Studio: WATER BEARER FILMS
  • Run Time: 104 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6301783131
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #923,246 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsYet another mediocre transfer from Waterbearer
By Scott Richardson on May 21, 2003
Format: DVD
Of the three Pasolini DVD's recently released by Waterbearer, Oedipus Rex is probably the best not only in its transfer, but in the film itself.
That being said, the transfer is still far from great. The matting is off, although nowhere near as badly as it is on Porcile. The colors are faded and the film is pitted and scratched, but again, nowhere as badly as on the Porcile disc. My main complaint is (as it was with Love Meetings) that the burned-in (not optional) subtitles are white, and are impossible to read in many parts of the washed-out transfer.
That being said, this is one of Pasolini's strongest films, and is definitely worth watching, whether you're a cinephile, a Pasolini fan, or a classical scholar. Casual viewers may be put off by Pasolini's style which, admittedly, is an acquired taste, but more open-minded viewers will be greatly rewarded. Again, it's doubtful that these films will see better editions any time soon, so if you're interested, there's no reason to wait around.
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5.0 out of 5 starsOpulent, riveting, strangely autobiographical OEDIPUS REX
By J. Clark on May 14, 2003
Format: DVD
Oedipus Rex (1967) is Pasolini's opulent and riveting adaptation of the ancient myth of Oedipus, a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother; simultaneously, it is a provocative reflection of the filmmaker himself. Although Sophocles' 2,500-year-old play forms the basis for the film's second half, Pasolini's prologue is startlingly autobiographical. He opens in early 20th century Fascist Italy, while using the myth's characters to recreate his parents' relationship and his own birth. He then takes us to a mythic ancient world, filmed primarily in Morocco, with vast desert landscapes and stunning native architecture (Thebes is a massive city made of adobe, which feels genuinely ancient and real). Pasolini brings a grandeur and epic sweep to his Oedipus Rex, despite its limited budget, even as he gives full weight to the intimate moments.
The film draws great power comes from the completely naturalistic performances, ranging from the leads to the minor characters (Pasolini plays a High Priest). Silvana Mangano (Mrs. Dino De Laurentiis) is outstanding as Jocasta, Oedipus's enigmatic mother/wife. Her stone-like face suggests intense erotic heat with the microscopic wrinkling of a lip. My major reservation with the film is Franco Citti as Oedipus. He appeared in seven films for Pasolini (including the title role in Accatone), and was usually exceptional, but here he brings a too-consistent harsh tone to his role. Of course, Citti's monolithic resolve, as both Oedipus the boy (who cheats to win a discus match) and king, may be Pasolini's point. Namely, since Oedipus refuses to grow, to come to an integrated understanding of who he is and what his society needs him to be, he destroys himself by willful blindness.Read more ›
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2.0 out of 5 starsNot believable
By Ballet Fan on January 8, 2014
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
This cinematic adaptation of "Oedipus Rex" is not as convincing as Pasolini's adaptation of "Medea" and much too long and drawn out. I found myself getting bored by it. For a much better film version see the Tyrone Guthrie production in traditional ancient Greek costume and masks. It follows the actual script much more closely.
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5.0 out of 5 starsAnother Pasolini's masterpiece
By A Customer on January 16, 2001
Format: VHS Tape
It's interesting to read these reviews as one must wonder how can someone see Mamma Roma and say that it's worthless. This is such a heart-breaking tragedy and it unfolds slowly. The cinamatography is great; you don't notice the camera at all. The performance of actors is excellent, although Pasolini admitted that Magnani was probably not the best choice for the role; but she offers superb performance. If you are into staff like "Elisabeth" or the like, don't even try this one; but if you like Italian cinema, this one is for you. Watch and judge for yourself.
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5.0 out of 5 starsSophocles' challenger
By Tanguero on October 26, 2001
Format: VHS Tape
The myth of Oedipus has been treated over and over again since antiquity and is best known from the Sophoclean version, which has ever since been considered the best existing. The title of the film reviewed, „Oedipus Rex", alludes to the title of the Sophoclean play that is usually cited in its Latin translation. Obviously, Pasolini challenges his great predecessor, as is confirmed in his film by numerous allusions to Sophocles and his great ancient rival Euripides, who also treated the Oedipus-myth more than once.
Now while Sophocles is the most sublime author you can conceive, always concerned with the question „how man should be" (as Aristotle cites him in his „Poetics"), Pasolini is known better for anything than for tragic decorum. Therefore he does not choose the „same weapons" as Sophocles, trying to overpower the excellence of his hero, but makes up a subtle picture of a vicious and fear-haunted soul.
His Oedipus cheats, is arrogant and blood-thirsty, traits of character, that had been deliberately excluded by Sophocles, but had been attributed to Oedipus in the „Phoenissae" of Euripides. Pasolini thoroughly elaborates these traits e.g. in the scene at the fork in the road. His Oedipus shows himself even more keen than the Euripidean hero to kill the noble old man he meets there. Certain innovations further undermine the Sophoclean concept that Oedipus is the wisest man in the world. Nevertheless, the Pasolinian King Oedipus is a sympathetic character, for his profound emotions, his care for his people and his natural ways.
The story is known to us as well as it was in antique times, but our expectations are quite different because of Freud's famous theories concerning the Oedipus-complex.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Ok

Published 1 month ago by adrian rosa
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

The film is perfection.

Published 3 months ago by D. Donohue
3.0 out of 5 starsStylistic interpretation.

Interesting interpretation. Stylistic. A bit disjointed at the end and the beginning. There's a mythical story in the main body of the movie and a modern beginning and ending.

Published 12 months ago by Frederick McDermott
1.0 out of 5 starsthis movie sucks

this movie sucks

Published 12 months ago by William Salazar
5.0 out of 5 starsIf not there are better places to start

Classic incomprehensible Pasolini. If you are familiar with his other work you will get a kick out of this. If not there are better places to start.

Published 13 months ago by w
3.0 out of 5 starsThree Stars

interesting story

Published 13 months ago by Brigs Melendrez
5.0 out of 5 starsLoved the desert setting, tribal elements, and dramatic intensity

Pasolini's Oedipus Rex works great for me. Loved the desert setting, tribal elements, and dramatic intensity. Read more

Published 13 months ago by rbrogan3
3.0 out of 5 starsDiscordant Drama

The story of Oedipus Rex comes to life pretty well in this version. But, keen-eared viewers beware. The choice of "suspenseful" music is a flute that's WAY too sharp for... Read more

Published on August 25, 2013 by Kara Young
2.0 out of 5 starsOedipus Rex

While it is beautifully filmed the grunting instead of dialogue got irritating. I bought it to show my students in my Literature class, but I couldn't get thru it, I figured they... Read more

Published on December 4, 2012 by HRJ
4.0 out of 5 starsPasolini gives his own twist to Sophocles

In an unspecified ancient land (not Greece but the exteriors were shot in Morocco), a seer tells a young man (Franco Citti) that he will kill his father and marry his mother. Read more

Published on June 30, 2012 by The CinemaScope Cat

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