Rating: 
Summary: As good as I remember
Review: I loved "Helen of Troy" when I was a young girl in the 50's. Paris, Jacques Sernas, was the most gorgeous man I had ever seen. I wondered how I would feel about it after seeing "Troy" with Orlando Bloom playing a rather whimpy version of Paris. I felt no chemistry between Paris and Helen in this new version. I ordered the original and it still stands out as a classic and cannot be replaced with expensive special effects. "Helen of Troy" has a heart and the audience is compelled to hope that Helen and Paris can have a life together. In the new version, it didn't matter to me if they stayed together or not. I highly recommend "Helen of Troy" for the discerning movie viewer.
Rating:
Summary: Remembering the Memory
Review: I remember seeing this movie back in the fifties and being completely in awe of it. I read where Warner Bros. searched all over for the face that could launch a 1000 ships. I thought they succeeded with their choice of Rosanna Podesta. I remember seeing this movie many times and thinking it was as great as I remembered it. As I boy I sent a letter to Warner Bros. in Hollywood for a picture of Rosanna Podesta along with a lot of stamps for sending the picture back. I didn,t receive the picture then, but 7 years later I received a picture of Rosanna along with inscription in Italian " to my little boy". When I watched this movie again in latter life, I realize it wasn,t as great as I thought it to be but the memory still is.
Rating: 
Summary: Beware of Greeks Etc.
Review: I see that this 50s spectacle, "Helen of Troy", has attracted a number of favourable reviews--although a couple of these reviews seem to be as "epic' as the story in the film ! Very loosely based on Homer's "Iliad", and released on DVD no doubt to coincide with the new version of this tale in theatres,
"Troy", "Helen of Troy" remains an enjoyable experience. It has fine production values--sets, costumes, cinematography--and an experienced director in Robert Wise.
The plot is not too complicated, at least in this "Coles Notes" adaption of Homer's work. The Trojan prince, Paris, visits Greece on a peace mission and meets Helen, the wife of the Greek king, Menelaus. Paris and Helen fall for each other, and run off back to Troy. Of course, " this means war "--besides, the Greeks wanted war anyway ! The second half of the film is taken up with the siege of Troy, and there are some spectacular battle scenes here, with real people ! No digital effects in those days ! There is also a large, wooden horse--but you knew that, didn't you ?
The supporting cast is mostly British--Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Harry Andrews, Janette Scott, Niall McGuinness, Torin Thatcher, Ronald Lewis and, as a perpetually-glowering Achilles, Stanley Baker, are all solid and professional. The two leads, however, went to unknown non-Brits, and perhaps this is what interests me the most about "Helen of Troy". This must have been an expensive production--why did the lead roles not be given to big names ? The beautiful, curvaceous Italian actress, Rossana Podesta, is Helen--while not a great actress, it is not difficult to imagine grown men fighting over her ! As Paris, we have French actor, Jacques Sernas, billed of course as "Jack". While he has a striking appearance, his acting skills--at least in this film--appear to be zero. If I had Rossana Podesta throwing herself at me ( yes--I know--sweet dreams ! ), I think I would be a little more animated than Mr. Sernas. While he continued to enjoy a long career in European productions, it's easy to see why Hollywood did not come calling again ! Speaking of France, a young French actress plays Helen's handmaiden--within a year, Brigitte Bardot would become more famous than any actor in "Helen of Troy".
The colour, wide-screen DVD is gorgeous. There is also a trailer, and some black and white promotional material released at the time, featuring actor, Gig Young.
Overall, I would give "Helen of Troy" three and a half stars--it is not as grand as say " The Ten Commandments", also released in 1956--but if you like old-fashioned historical spectacles, where entertainment takes precedent over authenticity or literary merit, you will find this DVD an enjoyable addition to your collection.
Rating: 
Summary: The Iliad It's Not
Review: I should have known from the title that this was not going about the Trojan War. The movie is a hokey love story far removed from the original war epic of the Iliad. Paris seems to have taken over the character and physical prowess of Achilles, and all Greeks, including Achilles, are turned into unscrupulous cowards. Homer is turning in his grave. I suppose Hollywood felt that love stories sell better than war movies.
Rating: 
Summary: The Last Time I saw Paris...
Review: It's about time somebody decided to tell the story of the Trojan War from the TROJAN point of view! Here we have had all of these centuries of western civilization passsing by and the story has always been passed down with the focus on the Achaians...though Homer is enough of a good storyteller and poet to give the Trojans their noble due......but this film is about Helen...and Paris, the Trojan prince, who abducts her from her cruel chubby, red-haired hubby Menelaus (obviously from the film's point of view she could only have married him for his kingdom!)...and when this strikingly handsome blond-haired prince from Troy shows up, what can she do but fall for him... and "allow" herself to be whisked away on his ship for Troy. Naturally, Menelaus, his brother Agamemnon, and the other Achaian (Greek) kings and princes are not going to let the Trojans insult Menelaus (or let a good chance go by to get some Trojan plunder -- while settling an affair of "honor"). What is to like about this film?...hmm... Paris...the Achilles is not handsome and hardly appears to be the best of the Achaians...most of whom look like scruffy, over-weight types out for a lark...rather than the thoughtful, athletic, civilized "savages" that Homer depicts...no one except Helen and Paris live up to their aesthetic expectations...and you can say good-bye to finely tuned acting... But until another well-financed, skillfully written, and finely directed attempt comes along, this version is going to have to serve the ILIAD...except for the flashbacks to the war and Troy in the recent version of THE ODYSSEY. Watch this in tandem with the Armand Assante helmed version of THE ODYSSEY...and the Kirk Douglas helmed version of ULYSSES (1950s)... and then take a look at the horse-hair fringed helmets in this film...the Navy gets the tillers, but the Army gets the flashy helmets! It's a good thing the Romans knew who really won this one!
Rating:
Summary: One of the few Robert Wise Films I don't like.
Review: Robert Wise, a film maker who had more hits then misses when it comes to making good movies, really did not do the Trojan War justice in this 1956 film, as he basically turns the story into a B-movie type romance between Paris and Helen. In the movie, they love each other, but in Homer's poems, Helen was forcebily kidnapped by Paris and taken to Troy. In the movie, Menelaus is presented as a cruel and greedy man, but in the poems, he was a man of honor who only wanted his wife back. In fact, by the time we see them again in Homer's Odyssey, Helen and Menelaus are actually quite happy living together as husband and wife. Maybe one day, some film maker will give The Iliad and The Odyssey the big screen justice treatment in needs on film. So far, none of the earlier films have done that.
Rating:
Summary: for love or $$$$$$$???
Review: ROSANNA PODESTA still IS the definitive version of HELEN - from THAT moment when she emerges from the sea [Ursula Andress is pretty close in "Dr. No] to those endless, and flawless close-ups of her face .... so vaguely reminiscent of Tom Tryon's CROWNED HEADS - FEDORA [another tale] seems like she - as whispered and Jack [Jacques] Sernas entered the witness protection program after this movie - unforgettable. As PARIS - Mr. Sernas is not overtly buff, neither scrawny - just a perfect model of malehood. UNLIKE the current version which is somewhat an eye-candy fest - this one does not dwell on the physical - more or less tells us that the Trojan seige was more about almighty bullion and booty - not quite for the love of a woman. Other performances? As Hector - Harry Andrews is suitably the family man - thrust into this saga for the honor of the family, as is the all seeing and so vunerable Cassandra - cursed and blessed with vision ..... the Greeks ? Agamemnon, Ulysses, Menelaos, Ajax, etc ... suitably depraved and very cunning. ACHILLES? This version reveals a startling fact or two - possibly not used in the current - and this version is somewhat correct .... Stanley Baker - very apt as this hero! [So Vain, so Arrogant, and ultimately a fool...] COSTUMES? Very detailed and obviously the helmets etc. are hand-made - or hand engraved, quite special ~ although not quite period perfect - but that does not matter ... MAX STEINER's score is lush and extravagant ... we are treated to the Overture, etc ... very satisfying. Would be quite a feat to see a version of THE ORESTEIA - the House of Atreus [Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, Aegisthes ... and little Elektra!], or "What Happened to the Greeks AFTER the Trojan War". Just a perfect DVD with sufficient extras to please just about everybody .... OH YES, and a very young Brigitte Bardot plays Helen's handmaiden ..... quite well too!
Rating:
Summary: TREASURE FROM THE ARCHIVES!
Review: ROSANNA PODESTA ~ an example of perfect casting, perfect face, perfect body and just the required acting chops - brings quite a dimension - just the required dimension to the Beauty - as for that 'entrance' - WOW! JACK SERNAS - also picture perfect - not to brawny, not too boyish - classic! The story? well, that we know - boy meets girl - boy loves girl steals her away from the abusive husband - then the rest falls into place - kind of the original Romeo & Juliet. GREAT DVD - widescreen, stereo or is it dolby - nicely reconstructed, so's the color control and the EXTRAS on the DVD - good stuff! THE GREEKS? Also splendid casting! Showing the cunning and crafty side - almost not too honorable - but then the Gods were also involved in this fracas..... Worthy of mention? Stanley Baker as the vain and arrogant ACHILLES [with one or two secrets only the Greeks 'refer' to] Harry Andrews as the domestic and peaceful Hector - thrust into the fray to defend honor - and B.B. or Brigitte Bardot in a very nice 'turn' as Helen's handmaiden - we see the glint of the future career here! MAX STEINER's score is Grand and very apt. Lots of Grand Spectacle - before CGI! Quite a must for the collector.
Rating:
Summary: "Further thoughts"
Review: Shakespeare has a defeated Richard the Third declare he would give his kingdom for a horse. Here is the story of how the Greeks gave a horse, albeit a wooden one, and conquered a kingdom. "Helen of Troy" was made by Warner Bros. in the 1950s heyday of the screen epic movie,and it shows in the production values. The story tells of how Prince Paris of Troy undertakes a peace mission to warlike Sparta whose King Menelaus, husband to Helen, whilst feigning friendship is actually plotting, with his Greek allies, an attack on prosperous Troy. Paris is forced to flee for his life by the duplicitous King. His escape is aided by Helen, the two having experienced instant mutual attraction on first meeting (Paris being unware of who she really is). As Paris is bidding a cliff-top farewell to Helen they are discovered by Spartan soldiers hunting him. Helen is clearly implicated so Paris leaps to freedom with her in his arms. They flee to Troy on a friendly vessel waiting off the shore of Sparta. This triggers the Trojan War as Menelaus now has the perfect excuse.
Jacques Sernas plays Paris and the, then, little known Rossana Podesta plays Helen and both are physically fine in their roles. Although not native speakers both spoke their parts in English. Sernas did speak English but Rosssana Podesta did not and learned her lines by rote. However, it was decided to dub the voice of Jacques Sernas. His accented English did not fit well with the strong classical voices of the British supporting players. This has the effect of making him sound rather wooden and unemotional, but does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the movie. Like all movies of this type it loses something when seen away from the large screen but, for all that, it is an exciting story well told and visually impressive, especially the battle scenes.
Classical Greek scholars will notice the liberties that Hollywood took with the original tale by the blind Greek poet Homer. In this version Paris is portrayed as a strong, resolute and heroic figure and Helen as the unfortunate, unhappy, wife of the brutish King Menelaus. The movie commences with the original musical overture and the soundtrack has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1. The bonus material consists of three interesting "the making of" documentaries shown by Warner Bros. on the TV show they had at the time. In addition there is the original theatrical trailer. I first saw this movie in 1956 and liked it then and I still like it now. I have adjusted my star rating of this movie to reflect this.
Rating:
Summary: "Further thoughts"
Review: Shakespeare has a defeated Richard the Third declare he would give his kingdom for a horse. Here is the story of how the Greeks gave a horse, albeit a wooden one, and conquered a kingdom. "Helen of Troy" was made by Warner Bros. in the 1950s heyday of the screen epic movie,and it shows in the production values. The story tells of how Prince Paris of Troy undertakes a peace mission to warlike Sparta whose King Menelaus, husband to Helen, whilst feigning friendship is actually plotting, with his Greek allies, an attack on prosperous Troy. Paris is forced to flee for his life by the duplicitous King. His escape is aided by Helen, the two having experienced instant mutual attraction on first meeting (Paris being unware of who she really is). As Paris is bidding a cliff-top farewell to Helen they are discovered by Spartan soldiers hunting him. Helen is clearly implicated so Paris leaps to freedom with her in his arms. They flee to Troy on a friendly vessel waiting off the shore of Sparta. This triggers the Trojan War as Menelaus now has the perfect excuse.
Jacques Sernas plays Paris and the, then, little known Rossana Podesta plays Helen and both are physically fine in their roles. Although not native speakers both spoke their parts in English. Sernas did speak English but Rosssana Podesta did not and learned her lines by rote. However, it was decided to dub the voice of Jacques Sernas. His accented English did not fit well with the strong classical voices of the British supporting players. This has the effect of making him sound rather wooden and unemotional, but does not detract from the overall enjoyment of the movie. Like all movies of this type it loses something when seen away from the large screen but, for all that, it is an exciting story well told and visually impressive, especially the battle scenes.
Classical Greek scholars will notice the liberties that Hollywood took with the original tale by the blind Greek poet Homer. In this version Paris is portrayed as a strong, resolute and heroic figure and Helen as the unfortunate, unhappy, wife of the brutish King Menelaus. The movie commences with the original musical overture and the soundtrack has been remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1. The bonus material consists of three interesting "the making of" documentaries shown by Warner Bros. on the TV show they had at the time. In addition there is the original theatrical trailer. I first saw this movie in 1956 and liked it then and I still like it now. I have adjusted my star rating of this movie to reflect this.
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