If you say this film is based on characters created by Homer you would be absolutely right. Homer's characters are there but the story has little to do with his version of the Troyan war as narrated in The Iliad.
That aside, "Helen of Troy" stands as an enjoyable and entertaining ancient Greece adventure due mainly to spectacular battle scenes, wide open sceneries, lots of extras, adequate armours and costumes, carefully designed interior settings, a fine musical score and acceptable acting. You always have the feeling that producers didn't try to save money on this movie and director Robert was "Wise" enough to understand that long duration is not what makes an spectacular epic film.
The main couple, Paris (Jack Sernas)and Helen (Rossana Podesta), deliver standard performances and though both of them may have the "phisique du rol" for their characters, you come to understand why none of them quite reached stardom. Fortunately in this aspect, the rest of the cast brings a strong support to the doomed lovers.
Stanley Baker plays correctly a sort of mean and easy raging Achilles; Robert Douglas is at his best as ambitious king Agamemnon; Niall McGinnis is very convincing as the deceived husband Menelaus; Cedric Hardwicke is as good as usual as king Priam; Harry Andrews and Torin Tatcher are also good as Hector, the Troyan champion, and Ulysses the clever one. A very young Brigitte Bardot is also around in one of her first appearances on screen.
The single combat between Achilles and Hector is very well handled and a highlight in the picture.
In all, if you don't take "Helen of Troy" as a version of Homer's Iliad but just as an action/adventure/romance film in ancient times, you'll find it most enjoying and entertaining. A good one in my opinion.
That aside, "Helen of Troy" stands as an enjoyable and entertaining ancient Greece adventure due mainly to spectacular battle scenes, wide open sceneries, lots of extras, adequate armours and costumes, carefully designed interior settings, a fine musical score and acceptable acting. You always have the feeling that producers didn't try to save money on this movie and director Robert was "Wise" enough to understand that long duration is not what makes an spectacular epic film.
The main couple, Paris (Jack Sernas)and Helen (Rossana Podesta), deliver standard performances and though both of them may have the "phisique du rol" for their characters, you come to understand why none of them quite reached stardom. Fortunately in this aspect, the rest of the cast brings a strong support to the doomed lovers.
Stanley Baker plays correctly a sort of mean and easy raging Achilles; Robert Douglas is at his best as ambitious king Agamemnon; Niall McGinnis is very convincing as the deceived husband Menelaus; Cedric Hardwicke is as good as usual as king Priam; Harry Andrews and Torin Tatcher are also good as Hector, the Troyan champion, and Ulysses the clever one. A very young Brigitte Bardot is also around in one of her first appearances on screen.
The single combat between Achilles and Hector is very well handled and a highlight in the picture.
In all, if you don't take "Helen of Troy" as a version of Homer's Iliad but just as an action/adventure/romance film in ancient times, you'll find it most enjoying and entertaining. A good one in my opinion.