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Antigone [VHS]

Irene Papas (Actor), Manos Katrakis (Actor), Yorgos Tzavellas (Director, Writer) Rated:
NR
Format: VHS Tape
4.2 out of 5 stars 25 customer reviews
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Antigone (English Subtitled) $2.00 $12.99
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Product Details

  • Actors: Irene Papas, Manos Katrakis, Maro Kodou, Nikos Kazis, Ilia Livykou
  • Directors: Yorgos Tzavellas
  • Writers: Yorgos Tzavellas, Sophocles
  • Producers: James Paris, Sperie Perakos
  • Format: Black & White, Subtitled, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English
  • Rated:
    NR
    Not Rated
  • Number of tapes: 1
  • Studio: Henstooth Video
  • VHS Release Date: May 5, 1998
  • Run Time: 93 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: 6302766885
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #510,002 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Antigone achieves greatness in following the dictates of her own conscience, sacrificing her life in defiance of King Creon's authority when he forbids her to bury her brother, Polyneices. The definitive filming of Sophocles' classic Greek tragedy.

Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsIrene Pappas performs Sophocles's "Antigone" in Greek
By Lawrance Bernabo HALL OF FAME on June 9, 2002
Format: VHS Tape
This 1961 version of Sophocle's tragic drama "Antigone" will not work as an introduction to Greek tragedy. The play is performed in Greek (with subtitles), so I would never recommend it as the first exposure any one has to the performance of an ancient play; there is a 1972 version with Genevieve Bujold that would better serve. However, this particular version does offer Irene Pappas, long considered one of the greatest of Greek actresses, in one of the greatest roles in the nation's history (the only thing better would be to see her perform "Medea"--or maybe Clytemnestra in the "Orestia"). Of course, when "Antigone" was first performed women were not allowed to be actresses; in fact, the only women allowed in the theater of Dionysus in Athens were prostitutes. Pappas is a shade too old for the role, but there is a sense in which performing these plays is more akin to opera than conventional theater. Besides, she plays up Antigone's stubborn streak in a way that gives entirely new shadings to much of the play.
Following the ending of "Oedipus the King," Oedipus was exiled from Thebes, blind and a beggar. We also learn from "Oedipus at Colonus" that his sons, Eteocles and Polyneices engaged in a civil war for the throne of Thebes. The two brothers kill each other and Creon (Manos Katrakis), brother of Jocasta, becomes king. He orders that Eteocles, who nobly defended his city, shall receive an honorable burial, but that Polyneices, for leading the Argive invaders, shall be left unburied. This leads Antigone (Pappas), sister to both of the slain brothers, to have to choose between obeying the rule of the state, the dictates of familial binds, and the will of the gods.
It is too easy to see the issues of this play, first performed in the 5th century B.C.Read more ›
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4.0 out of 5 starsGood film, but DVD suffers from poor transfer quality
By Ludix VINE VOICE on September 22, 2004
Format: DVD
Irene Pappas is terrific as Antigone, and Manos Katrakis very impressive as Creon (with occasional moments of overacting). Despite the presence of hundreds of extras, the costumes and settings look a bit cheesy by today's standards. But with a story this great, and acting to match, it seems nit-picky to complain.

Unfortunately, the DVD was made from a dirty print. No restoration appears to have been attempted, and the video compression quality is very poor. Even so, this disc is a must-see for lovers of classic Greek drama and fans of Irene Pappas.
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5.0 out of 5 starsWow!!
By Amazon Customer VINE VOICE on October 31, 2002
Format: VHS Tape Verified Purchase
Irene Pappas was the greatest!! I loved this Antigone. I imagine that everyone who would order this knows the story, so no need to go into it. The passion and range of Ms. Pappas is incredible. This is an extremely high quality presentation. Every lover of Greek theater should have this!
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4.0 out of 5 starsStill relevant
By Stefanie on November 8, 2013
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
Sticks to the play. Good acting. Great for classrooms who are reading Antigone. Wish they would remake this in English so they didn't have to read subtitles, but some of my students really felt the movie helped them to understand the play much better. It's a classic.
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4.0 out of 5 starsSophocles' Creon
By F. S. L'hoir VINE VOICE on April 14, 2010
Format: DVD Verified Purchase
I would rate this DVD three-and-one-half stars. As ever, Irene Papas is excellent as the protagonist, but unfortunately she is on the screen for so short a time that the film does not do her justice. Instead the tragedy focuses on the dead Jocasta's brother, Creon, who has become King of Thebes after the exile and death of Oedipus. One of the most interesting sections of the film is seeing the stychomythia--the fast exchange of single lines that heighten the emotional impact--between Creon and his son Haemon. The chorus has been reduced to a voice-over, with curly grey-bearded elders standing about only suggesting a chorus.

I found the production rather old-fashioned and heavy-handed in a Hollywoodish sort of way (if one can say that about a Greek production) in that there is an ongoing soundtrack that features blaring horns and reedy instruments that only detract from the drama. I'm afraid that "Antigone" simply does not compare to Cocoyannis' "Electra" in which Irene Papas is given the entire film to display her remarkable abilities as an actress of the first magnitude.
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4.0 out of 5 starsConsidering the age of the movie and the fact that they used true Greek soldiers as extra's it was great.
By Doris on December 2, 2014
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
It sticks very close to the book story. Remember, because it is very old, and has subtitles sometimes it loses your interest. Considering the age of the movie and the fact that they used true Greek soldiers as extra's it was great.
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5.0 out of 5 starsA Play that is always Modern.
By John Thompson on July 25, 2016
Format: DVD
One of the greatest plays ever written here performed by the magnificent Irene Papas and the great Manos Katrakis. The story (I almost want to write ''argument') unfolds in a straightforward manner so the intentions of all are clear as are the actions that follow. For me this a thrilling version of the play. I find the comments about the movie being done in Modern Greek and not English puzzling and beside the point. What you have here is a fantastic play performed by a group of actors who are participating in their own heritage. About the subtitles the critic Pauline Kael noted that the subtitles here are a 'demonstration that subtitling can be a branch of the fine craft of translation'. Years ago I saw Papas on stage in three of Euripides' plays. She was always riveting. This is a movie to treasure.
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5.0 out of 5 starsClassic Performance of Antigone
By Emilie on October 7, 2013
Format: Amazon Video Verified Purchase
This is an outstanding performance with authentic settings and costumes. I use it in my classes every semester.Irene Papas performance is magnificent.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsMust have for English class

Perfect - has subtitles in English and follows the script very closely!

Published 4 months ago by Jacquelyn Raila
4.0 out of 5 starsAntigone

A nice movie about the original play.

Published 5 months ago by Sonia Labby
4.0 out of 5 starsGood quality movie considering the orginal release date

Good quality movie considering the orginal release date. However, my students really wish that there is a translated versions.

Published 6 months ago by Felica Hamilton
5.0 out of 5 starsPerfect! I use this with my English II students

Fast service. Perfect! I use this with my English II students.

Published 8 months ago by B. King
3.0 out of 5 starsNot as enjoyable as I hoped

The acting was good and I usually prefer subtitles, but something about the soundtrack made it hard for me to listen to. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Callie Press
3.0 out of 5 starsInteresting

Very interesting yet sad.

Published 14 months ago by Tigger#7
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat acting, and easy to follow (especially compared to ...

Great acting, and easy to follow (especially compared to Shakespeare). Very moving - amazing considering it was written centuries ago, and that this production is old too. Read more

Published 15 months ago by B. Brown
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

A classic

Published 18 months ago by Steve de Laet, sdelaet@aol.com
5.0 out of 5 starsGreek Passoins

Greek drama is something that is often forgotten. Antigone shows the intensity of human feeling and the clash of personalities as a family fights within itself with intense... Read more

Published 24 months ago by H. B. Baldwin
5.0 out of 5 starsGreek Tragedy

Story of course cannot be surpassed. The acting riveting. Director and actors
clearly understand the psychological and dramatic workings of Greek tragedy

Published on February 3, 2014 by chirp

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