Introduction
Helen of Troy is a 2003 British-American television miniseries based upon Homer’s story of the Trojan War, as recounted in the epic poem, Iliad.
This TV miniseries also shares the name with a 1956 movie starring Stanley Baker.
It stars Sienna Guillory as Helen, Matthew Marsden as Paris, Rufus Sewell as Agamemnon, James Callis as Menelaus, John Rhys-Davies as Priam, Maryam d’Abo as Hecuba, as well as Stellan Skarsgård as Theseus.
Outline
It begins with the birth of Paris, as well as Cassandra’s prophecy that he would be the cause of Troy’s destruction. Worried, his father, king Priam leaves him on Mount Ida, where he is found and raised by the shepherd Agelaus. When he is an adult, Paris goes of on a friendly fight with some other shepherds. One of them would kid around telling him about his goat named Stubos that got away again and he chases it to a cave where the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite appear. Hera offered him power while Athena offers her victory yet he chooses Aphrodite, who promises him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
Meanwhile, in Sparta, Helen sees Paris’s judgement in a pool of water and happily accepts his choice of her love. She later meets the Mycenaean King, Agamemnon, who has come to claim her sister, Clytemnestra, as his bride, but is also immediately taken by Helen’s attractiveness. During the wedding feast, after she noticed that everyone seems to be staring at her including Agamemnon and Menelaus, his brother, she is kidnapped by two Athenians. Helen learns the truth of her mother’s death from Theseus, one of the men who kidnapped her, then they took her to Athens, where she falls for him, before her brother Pollux raids Athens and kills him in order to save her. As he is dying, Theseus stabs Pollux. In Sparta, Helen’s father Tyndareus rages at his daughter, blaming her for losing his heir. He presents her to the many suitors who seek her hand, bidding them to do as they wish.
The suitors draw lots after swearing an oath suggested by clever Odysseus that if anyone disrespect her husband’s claims to her, they should unite and wage war against him. Odysseus rules himself and Agamemnon out of the lot, since they are both married. They agree to the oath and Agamemnon’s brother Menelaus wins. Agamemnon is visibly jealous.
Meanwhile, Paris’ favourite bull is taken for the Trojan tribute games. Paris insists on competing, despite his father’s protests. After winning in every competition and being recognised by his sister Cassandra, Paris is welcomed by an overjoyed to Troy. Cassandra, a seer, as well as his elder brother Hector are upset at their father’s decision.
Paris is sent to Sparta to draw out a peace treaty with Sparta, Menelaus alone, which angers Agamemnon. His treaty is refused and both Menelaus and Agamemnon plot to have him murdered. While there, however, he encounters and recognises Helen, while Menelaus is showing off his new bride by having her walk naked through one of his feasts. Paris later prevents her from committing suicide. He then gains her love and she helps him flee. Together they sail to Troy.
When Menelaus finds this out, he demands that his brother launch war on Troy and the former suitors are gathered to fulfil their oath. But the winds are not in their favour and after a month, it is revealed that the goddess Artemis wants Agamemnon to sacrifice his daughter in return for favourable winds. He carries out the deed, despite a heavy heart.
Helen and Paris arrive at Troy with the Greek army at their heels. The Greeks send an embassy of Menelaus and Odysseus to demand Helen’s return. Priam is at first reluctant to allow Helen to remain at Troy until he talks to her alone where she admits her love for Paris. Priam refuses, thus the Greeks plan an attack.
In the morning, the battle is joined on the beach of Troy, with Hector nearly killed by Agamemnon. The battle ends with the Trojan army’s crushing defeat and the Greeks camping on the beach.
Trivia
- The series was entirely shot on location in the islands of Malta.
- The film is placed in the early classical period rather than the correct late Bronze Age: the Greeks are shown with Iron Age classical hoplite dress and arms.
- Made on a relatively low budget, Helen of Troy was released at a time when interest in the subject was high due to the soon-to-be-released Troy (2004).
Production & Filming Details
- Director(s): John Ken Harrison.
- Producer(s): Ted Kurdyla.
- Writer(s): Ronni Kern.
- Music: Joel Goldsmith.
- Cinematography: Edward J. Pai.
- Editor(s): Michael D. Ornstein.
- Production: Kurdyla Entertainment, Fuel Entertainment, and USA Cable Entertainment.
- Distributor(s): Universal Home Entertainment.
- Release Date: 20 April 2003.
- Running Time: 177 minutes (total running time).
- Country: UK and US.
- Language: English.
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