(2012-04-30 22:54:31)

Beware of Greeks Etc.

This review is from: Helen of Troy (DVD) 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.

(2012-04-30 13:27:04)

Helen of Troy

As I recall, seeing this movie in 1957 or so, it had beautiful music. I was particularly enchanted with the harp. Nearly 50 years latter, I still remember the music score as one of the most lyrical I have ever heard. The BBC production "In Search of the Trojan War" by Michael Woods also carried on this granduer of music though it was not the same, it is nevertheless something to emulate in any future production. Helen K. Koslosky

ccmiller1492

(2012-04-29 14:41:00)

Of the many versions, still the best...

Having a great interest in ancient history, I rushed to the theater tosee this in 1956 and was enchanted with the wonderful depiction of theworld's greatest love story. Robert Wise lived up to his surname bymeticulous attention to detail. Most of the cast were British, soLithuanian actor Jacques Sernas, Italian Rossana Podesta, and FrenchBrigitte Bardot's voices were carefully dubbed to avoid annoying andinexplicable variance in pronunciation which could have been a majorflaw as in other films such as "The Vikings" and "Spartacus".This was a believable,realistic treatment with authentic period setsactually modeled after the palace at Knossos. Although the god'spresences were not visually intruded, their influence was definitelyfelt through the convictions of the characters. In the opening scenewhen Prince Paris (Sernas) is blessed before taking ship on an embassyto Greece, he blithely alludes to his preference for the love goddessAphrodite and thereby insults war goddess Athena whose emblem is thehorse. The ominous sequence of events is thus subtly launched.When Paris is shipwrecked, we believe that it is the doing of Poseidon.And when Queen Helen of Sparta vacationing incognito at the seashorediscovers him cast up on the beach, we can understand his mistaking herfor the goddess Aphrodite rising from the waves and then forAphrodite's special gift to him. If she is the most beautiful mortalwoman, to Helen he is the most godlike of mortal men. The unhappyloveless queen is equally smitten. Their fates and the fate of theirnations are sealed.The film lavishly unfolds the inevitable war and the resultingdestruction of Troy. There isn't a single dead moment in the film,something of interest is always happening, the action carried forwardby an exceptionable music score. The guilt and sadness of the lovers,the suffering Trojans, the brawling Greeks are all strikinglyportrayed. Even the braggart Achilles is sympathetic when he mourns forhis lover Patroclus.The events leading up to the sacking of the city have never been betterfilmed. Contrast this convincing Greek-styled seemingly hand-hewnwooden horse carrying a shield with the emblem of Athena to the origamiversion in "The Trojan Horse", the rag and barrel dog-like travesty in"Troy" or the unbelievable extravagantly elaborate cast-metal object inthe TV miniseries and you can see this for yourself.When Helen is forcibly taken back by the Greeks her only solace is inknowing that her love for Paris will never die and indeed it hasn't:their legend is immortal.

(2012-04-28 16:49:08)

Homer's Iliad

Outstanding film of Homers tale about the Trojan War and the city of Troy's eventual fall to Greek cunning through the use of a giant wooden horse.The leads go to relative unknowns who do a credible job ,surrounded by a excellant supporting cast,the acting is uniformally good.This big budget film features tremendous action scenes and exceptional photography,this film should hold the interest of young and old alike.The incredibly beautiful Rossana Podesta is believabe as the "face that launched a thousand ships" .Look for Brigitte Bardot in a small role.

bkoganbing

(2012-04-27 23:49:41)

The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships

In comparing this version of Helen Of Troy with the more recent Troyit's quite the tossup. Both didn't quite live up to expectations, thecasting in a few places doesn't quite work. There was also differentemphasis placed on the classical figures in each film. This versionalso uses a cast of thousands and in the current version, computergraphics are used to show the mass armies of both sides.I never understood why 20th Century Fox never thought to film this withTyrone Power, the role of Paris seems like such a good fit for him.Jacques Sernas was adequate, but not more than that. Rosanna Podesta isone magnificent looking Helen in a role that asks nothing more thanbeing the first celebrity romance in history. I'd be hard pressed to choose between Peter O'Toole in Troy and CedricHardwicke. Each so well portrays the world weary and war weary Priam sowell. Hecuba is reduced to a cipher in the current version. But NoraSwinburne is not just a magnificent queen, but a caring mother for herrambunctious brood of Trojan princes and one princess.My favorite as he's likely to be in any film he's in is Stanley Baker.There is quite a difference between him and Brad Pitt. Brad was areluctant warrior as in Homer's epic. But Achilles as Baker realizeshim is just a warrior who likes battle with the zest of a warrior whoknows the gods have given him near invincibility. Baker brings so muchpassion to anything he does, he usually blows me away with anyperformance.Next to the stories of the Bible, Homer's epics are probably the mostuniversally known tales and everyone is a critic. For me this Helen OfTroy is a good if not great retelling of the tale.

ragosaal

(2012-04-27 16:08:26)

Good Entertainment in Ancient Greece

If you say this film is based on characters created by Homer you wouldbe absolutely right. Homer's characters are there but the story haslittle to do with his version of the Troyan war as narrated in TheIliad.That aside, "Helen of Troy" stands as an enjoyable and entertainingancient Greece adventure due mainly to spectacular battle scenes, wideopen sceneries, lots of extras, adequate armours and costumes,carefully designed interior settings, a fine musical score andacceptable acting. You always have the feeling that producers didn'ttry to save money on this movie and director Robert was "Wise" enoughto understand that long duration is not what makes an spectacular epicfilm.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 noneof them quite reached stardom. Fortunately in this aspect, the rest ofthe 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; NiallMcGinnis is very convincing as the deceived husband Menelaus; CedricHardwicke is as good as usual as king Priam; Harry Andrews and TorinTatcher are also good as Hector, the Troyan champion, and Ulysses theclever one. A very young Brigitte Bardot is also around in one of herfirst appearances on screen.The single combat between Achilles and Hector is very well handled anda highlight in the picture.In all, if you don't take "Helen of Troy" as a version of Homer's Iliadbut just as an action/adventure/romance film in ancient times, you'llfind it most enjoying and entertaining. A good one in my opinion.

(2012-04-23 06:19:53)

Good movie, poor adaptation

This review is from: Helen of Troy (Amazon Instant Video) After the 10 minute Max Steiner Overture we get a 3000 BC Aegean travelogue with focus on the happy people of King Priam's Troy. Right away the adaptation departs seriously from Homer. Paris is on a trade mission to the Greeks and is tossed overboard by a storm, washing up on Sparta where Helen is beach combing. In The Iliad according to Homer Paris was sent to Sparta to ask Menelaus to influence his brother Agamemnon for the return of Priam's sister who was taken captive during the previous sack of Troy by Heracles. This is mythology, not history, and there are a lot more details distorted for the sake of movie making. Max Steiner delivered a very heroic and noisy score to back up the epic grandeur and battles. The production is a lavish and beautifully photographed Technicolor epic typical of the period with a good looking cast and a lot of action. Not too bad.

(2012-04-23 00:35:03)

All the romance and adventure of "The Iliad" comes alive!

A very exciting and convincingly acted version of the Trojan War. An impossibly beautiful Paris and Helen are the epitome of romance as the doomed lovers trapped in the fall of Troy. Authentic period costumes and sets, and a rousing music score make this one of the best epics ever made, shouldn't be missed by history buffs. Homer would doubtless approve.

(2012-04-16 06:58:37)

Helen of Troy Good video

This review is from: Helen of Troy [VHS] (VHS Tape) My boy, who is 8, saw this movie on t.v. and loved it. I liked the unique twist of having the movie be from Helen's point of view. I thought some of the acting was over the top, but hey this was the time of the big Hollywood epic. I wholeheartedly recommend this movie. It is suitable for kids as the violence is not graphic.

emrage c

(2012-04-15 19:56:12)

a good telling of an old tale

being a fan of greek mythology,the trojan war was by far my favorite tale.i have yet to come across a movie that has told the tale the way it should be told.this is as close as it gets.trying to be fair to both sides of the conflict,it really tells the story correctly.achilles"as the man so bad he blows his own horn"is excellent as well as odysseus and menelaus.aeneas and priam are also well acted but paris is a little too heroic but it works out at the end so i can live with it.made 50 years ago it is still the best telling of the story made on screen.brad pitt is achilles through and through but that aside i will take this version everytime.

(2012-04-14 05:15:04)

With Guts!

The movie is thrilling enough that I can't wait to see the next scenes. I was in grade school when I first saw this movie and still desiring to watch it again. Helen of Troy remains an image in my mind thus I always compare female actors in any movie I see. I like most this movie together with Robinhood: Prince of Thieves. Not only that the props are very creative considering that this movie was made wayback 1955, but also the smooth performance of the actors.

pgeo2286

(2012-04-13 18:08:46)

Doesn't do the Illiad justice

No movie does the Illiad justice, and this one is included. I'm silly forhoping that Troy will do this, but I know it won't either. Despite mydisappointment with the movie, it is quite entertaining and doesn't do badforan epic movie. But as a Greek scholar, it upsets me that no movie has everbeen created that really depicts what the Illiad is all about- the wrathofAchilles. Oh well, thats up to me I guess.This movie gets:B-or 5 stars on this websites scaleIs it on DVD?

(2012-04-11 03:40:28)

As good as I remember

This review is from: Helen of Troy (DVD) 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 descerning movie viewer.

JohnRouseMerriottChard

(2012-04-10 13:21:25)

Robert Wise's often forgotten take on The Iliad story.

Now over fifty years old, this almost epic film pales in comparison toother more notable sword and sandal movies. The scale of the filmcannot be faulted, hundreds of extras & huge lavish sets are evident,while the piece is given a well regarded director in Robert Wise tochart its course.However, the problems with it are many. First off is that the film isterribly pedestrian for the first hour, a tepid script fails to engageand at times is unintentionally funny. Then there are major castissues. Taking the leads of Paris & Helen are Jacques Sernas & RossanaPodestГѓВ  respectively. They look the part, both of them undeniablypretty, but neither of them can act for toffee. Filmed in Rome, Italy,it begs the question on if the casting director walked around Lazio andpicked the two blondest people available for the roles! In support ofthe Blondie's are a host of usually fine performers, Cedric Hardwicke,Stanley Baker, Niall MacGinnis, Harry Andrews, Torin Thatcher & RobertDouglas. A mixture of actors either too old for their roles, poorlywritten, or in the case of Douglas, an underused important character(Agamemnon).Shifting away from the awful back projection work, the action sequencesfair much better. There's enough here in the second hour to please thesword & sandal fan. But if it's enough to make this a saferecommendation to the potential first time crowd? Well I wouldn't stakemy life on it you know! It's a genre I personally love, so I wonderedwhy I hadn't heard about it long before now? After viewing it it becameevident why, it's just not any good. A generous 4/10 from me for thesiege of Troy action construction, the stunt work throughout and forBaker's moody show as Achilles.

Greg Couture

(2012-04-10 11:33:17)

Warnercolor - NOT Technicolor

Come on, IMDb'ers! Get your stuff right. Warner Brothers was the studioand they usually forced their producer/directors around this period to usetheir own proprietary single-strip color process, rather than Technicolor,which by 1956 had already abandoned its own more expensive to use andcumbersome to handle three-strip process. Somehow Robert Wise and histechnicians managed to get more variety and warmer tones while usingWarnercolor in this film than what was usually achieved stateside on W.B.'sBurbank sound stages and on various U.S. locations. Maybe it was, asFranco Zeffirelli is fond of calling it, "the golden-ah light" of Italy. Anyway this film is quite an eye-filling visual achievement. And MaxSteiner's score is one of his better ones, pumping up the spectacle aspectquite effectively.A couple of trivia notes: The Walls of Troy set accidentally caught firebefore the company was finished with it, but Wise and his technicians wereon the spot and managed to get some usable footage out of that disaster. (Idon't know if they had to reconstruct it or rewrite some scenes that wereoriginally supposed to have taken place on its ramparts.) And TIME magazinein its review complained that Signorina Podesta's vaccination scar (and Ithink that of Monsieur Sernas as well) is clearly visible in a love scene. Without computers to fix such gaffes back then, and probably not noticingthat little "oops!" until examining footage in a U.S. screening room whenthe company returned home for editing, the studio probably figured they'djust let it pass. But forty-foot wide CinemaScope screens were quitemerciless when it came to audiences' perceptions of the obvious.

(2012-04-09 20:39:01)

Long before there was "Troy," there was "Helen of Troy"

After watching the current big budget film "Troy" and complaining bitterly about what the screenplay did to Homer, Euripides, and other ancient writers it seemed time to finally check out the 1956 Hollywood version of "Helen of Troy," which stared Rossana PodestГѓВ  in the title role and Jack Sernas as Paris. PodestГѓВ  was an Italian sex siren her had to learn her lines by rote in English and who was picked over established stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Rhonda Fleming, Ava Gardner and Yvonne DeCarlo for the part of Helen. Of course, it is hard to say she is the most beautiful woman in the film let alone the world since Brigitte Bardot is playing Andraste.The script by Hugh Gray, N. Richard Nash, and John Twist, does a good job of including the goddesses Aphrodite and Athena without having them literally appear. The idea of the pact among the princes of Greece to decide who would win Helen's hand and the promise to defend anyone who violated the pact is ignored. Helen's father, the king of Sparta, just married her off to Menelaus (Niall MacGinnis), who, along with his brother, Agamemnon (Robert Douglas), is interested in attacking Troy to take its riches. The kings of Greece have gathered in Sparta to plan the attack when Paris comes along, falls in love with Helen, and steals her away to Troy. Once there, nobody is happy to see this development. King Praimus (Cedric Hardwicke) and Hector (Harry Andrews) are upset over the fact the Greeks are going to come to attack Troy and the priestess Kassandra (Janette Scott) is crying gloom and doom, but, of course, nobody is listening to her. The people even come to throw things at Paris and his woman but he sways them with a short speech. Of course, nothing is going to stop the Greeks, because Helen is just an excuse for conquering the rich city that controls the Dardanelles (the importance of which is explained in the prologue), and we are treated to the spectacle of 30,000 men fighting it out on the plains of Troy in glorious Warnercolor.In terms of Homer's "Iliad," the wrath of Achilles (Stanley Baker) has to do with the fact that he flat out does not like Agamemnon, which is made clear the first time we see them together in Sparta. At some point he starts pouting in his tent. The death of Patroclus (Terence Longdon) still sets into motion the chain of deaths that defined the end of the Trojan War, but the context is different and reinforces the idea that the Trojans are the good guys. The extension of that is that our young lovers deserve to live happily ever after. But will the screenplay violate the classical story that far? Wily Odysseus (Torin Thatcher) comes up with the stratagem of a rather impressive looking Trojan Horse and the end game of the ten year war is played out.Like "Troy," this version also avoids the worst part of "The Trojan Women" by Euripides, allowing Andromache (Patricia Marmont) to flee with Aeneas (Ronald Lewis) instead of having her endure her baby boy being tossed off the walls of Troy (which reminds me: for future reference, finish looting a city before you start burning it). But once again Hollywood proves that when it comes to adapting Homer and the rest of the story of the Trojan War they always think they can improve on the original. Yet despite the spectacle there are no transcendent moments in this film, let along the dramatic highpoints of the epic poem by Homer. The battle sequences are certainly spectacular and much better than the individual combat sequences, so it is hard not to favor the marching formations of the thousands of extras with their spears and shields over the CGI tens of thousands we saw in "Troy." Director Robert Wise gives the action a sense of classical splendor while Max Steiner's rousing score standing out a lot more than the dialogue. There is an interesting feel to that dialogue and the performance of actors, most of whom are British and classically trained. They are not doing Shakespeare, but they give the drama a certain weight. There is no real passion between Helen and Paris, but at least he has the virtue this time around of being a real prince of Troy, capable of going toe to toe with Ajax (Maxwell Reed). The DVD contains the original trailer, with its hyperbolic titles, and a trio of black & white featurettes by Gig Young for some sort of 1950s television movie show in which he promotes "Helen of Troy." Ultimately this is a respectable version of the classical story and if it is not great at least it does not have any of those transcendantly bad moments found in so many of the European sandal-and-spear spectacles.

(2012-04-07 15:31:30)

"Further thoughts"

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.

ironside

(2012-04-07 08:20:53)

Here's the sin that inspired time's greatest treachery!

Of all the great stories handed down through the ages, few can equalHomer's Iliad - a towering epic of warrior heroes, squabbling gods, andanger that destroyed nations... This is the source for Robert Wise's film... All the elements of amagnificent spectacle exist in Homer's work - a lavish and decadentcourt life, the tension of the quarrel between Achilles and Agamemnon,the most beautiful woman in Greece, and a drama of love andseduction...Thousands of weapons are used: spears, bows, arrows, body armor,helmets, shields, maces and ships of the period l200 B.C., plus atremendous wooden horse...Paris, on a diplomatic mission to Sparta to arrange peaceful trade, iswashed up on the Spartan shore after being shipwrecked during astorm... He is helped by the lovely Helen who claims to be a handmaidento the queen... She takes her leave, directing him to the court of KingMenelaus... Paris is greeted and honored in a 'cesti' combat withAjax... Secretly, however, Menelaus plots to kill his guest...Helen warns Paris of the danger to his life and urges him to runaway... Herself in danger for revealing the plot, she succumbs toParis' pleadings to flee with him... The lovers make their way toTroy...From that point the spectacular elements - the massing of the ships andmen, and the battles outside the walls of Troy, take over...Rossana Podesta - a natural brunette given a blonde wig and theclassical Grecian look - plays Helen, the indirect cause of the TrojanWar, but for Paris, she is the goddess of love and beauty, "Aphrodite."Jacques Sernas plays Paris... His seduction of Helen and refusal toreturn her, started the Trojan War... Robert Douglas is Agamemnon, the commander in chief of the Greekforces... He calls on the kings and princes to unite in a war ofrevenge against the Trojans... He was a very ambitious man, dreaming ofTroy's treasures...Stanley Baker is Achilles, the unbeatable warrior, the greatest andmost tragic of the Greek heroes...Harry Andrews is Hector, the eldest son of king Priam, and the husbandof Andromache... He is the chief warrior of the Trojan army...Niall MacGinnis is the furious Menelaus, King of Sparta, who calls onhis brother Agamemnon to gather an army and avenge the mark of shame...Torin Thatcher is Ulysses, king of Ithaca, the man of outstandingwisdom...Sir Cedric Hardwicke is the powerless but kindly King of Troy...Janette Scott is Cassandra, daughter of Priam, loved by the goddessAthena... With a great spirit of prophecy she warns her father to burnthe wooden horse...Robert Wise makes a brave attempt to marry the intimate with thespectacular - a difficult task - but "Helen of Troy" is an epic movie,a superior entertainment filmed in CinemaScope and Technicolor..

(2012-04-06 10:31:28)

Remembering the Memory

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. P.S. The review above was for the VHS version. I purchased the DVD of this movie and once again -IT WAS GREAT!!! Rosanna Podesta was truly tremendously feminine and beautiful whilst still being a bit of young girl whom we all fell in love with in our youth.

(2012-04-05 20:41:02)

As good as I remember

This review is from: Helen of Troy (DVD) 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.