A Greek shipping magnate marries a younger woman, and sends her to London to bring his estranged son home. The young man begins a passionate affair with his stepmother, but is consumed with guilt for betraying his father. When she learns her husband's plans for his son, she reveals the truth, setting in motion a tragic confrontation. Drama, starring Melina Mercouri and Anthony Perkins
Phaedra (Melina Mercouri), the second wife of Greek shipping tycoon Thanos (Raf Vallone), falls for her husband's son Alexis (Anthony Perkins). They embark on a steamy affair in Paris, before continuing to the island of Hydra where all is revealed to Thanos. This overheated updating of a classical Greek tragedy by Mercouri's producer/writer/director husband Jules Dassin, doubtless seriously intended, is risibly awful. The cast is unattractive, with Mercouri emoting all over the place, and Perkins a twitching wreck whose guilty passion for his stepmother is equalled only by his passion for his car. The embarrassing sight of Perkins caressing the vehicle with near sexual fervour is something to behold.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Phaedra | Melina Mercouri |
| Alexis | Anthony Perkins |
| Thanos | Raf Vallone |
| Ercy | Elizabeth Ercy |
| Anna | Olympia Papadouka |
| Christo | Jules Dassin |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Jules Dassin |
