FAQ

Phaedra is based on the ancient Greek story of Hippolytus as written by Greek tragedist Euripides [c.480BC - 406BC], in which Phaedra, daughter of Minos and wife of Theseus, falls in love with Theseus' son Hippolytus. The tale was adapted into a contemporary story by Greek writer Margarita Lymberaki.

Phaedra was filmed in both Greek and English.

The S.S. Phaedra is shipwrecked in a storm off the coast of Norway. As Thanos (Raf Vallone) awaits the list of the nonsurvivors, Phaedra (Melina Mercouri) takes this time to tell him that she has been in love with Alexis (Anthony Perkins) since they were in Paris together. Enraged, Thanos slaps Alexis' face until his cheeks are bloody and then kicks him out. Alexis goes into the garage to clean his wounds. Phaedra comes in and starts kissing him. Alexis tells Phaedra that he wants her to die, jumps in his Aston Martin, and begins driving wildly along the cliff roads while singing along with Bach and screaming about Phaedra, until he swerves to avoid hitting a truck headon and goes crashing over the cliff. Phaedra returns to her bedroom, showers, puts on a nightgown, and downs a bottle of sleeping pills while helped by her faithful attendant Anna (Olympia Papadouka). As Thanos finally reads the list of the dead crewmen, four men carry in Alexis' body and Phaedra lies in her bed...dead.