Final part of Pier Paolo Pasolini's "Mythical Cycle" also including Edipo Re (1967), Teorema (1968) and Porcile (1969).
According to Richard Burton's diaries, Maria Callas very much wanted him to play Jason. Callas was despondent after her long-time lover, shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, had dumped her for Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and while Burton was sympathetic, he declined the role, thinking it "thankless".
The scenes set around Medea's house in Corinth were filmed outside the ancient city walls of Aleppo in Syria.
Graziella Chiarcossi's debut.