Oedipus Rex

"Pasolini’s Terrifying… Compassionate… Magnificent…"

1967 1h 45m IT

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 373

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In pre-war Italy, a young couple have a baby boy. The father, however, is jealous of his son - and the scene moves to antiquity, where the baby is taken into the desert to be killed. He is rescued, given the name Oedipus, and brought up by the King and Queen of Corinth as their son. One day an oracle informs Oedipus that he is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. Horrified, he flees Corinth and his supposed parents - only to get into a fight and kill an older man on the road…

“Pasolini’s Terrifying… Compassionate… Magnificent…”

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Where to watch · US

Criterion ChannelSubscription

Cast

Franco Citti
Oedipus
Silvana Mangano
Jocasta, Queen of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young mother)
Alida Valli
Merope, Queen of Corinth
Carmelo Bene
Creon
Julian Beck
Tiresias
Luciano Bartoli
Laius, King of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young father)
Francesco Leonetti
Servo di Laio
Ahmed Belhachmi
Polybus, King of Corinth

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Writers: Pier Paolo Pasolini
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

59 years old — a genuine piece of film history.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, shot by Giuseppe Ruzzolini. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Nino Baragli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Franco Citti and Silvana Mangano and Alida Valli carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Pasolini’s Terrifying… Compassionate… Magnificent…".

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0061613 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Pier Paolo Pasolini directs. Giuseppe Ruzzolini behind the camera. Nino Baragli cuts. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

159 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
2Directed by Pier Paolo Pasolini, shot by Giuseppe Ruzzolini. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Editor Nino Baragli shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
4Franco Citti and Silvana Mangano and Alida Valli carry the top of the cast.
5Marketing tagline: "Pasolini’s Terrifying… Compassionate… Magnificent…".
6IMDB entry: tt0061613 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.