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Helen of Troy

 Helen of Troy
type
TVTItem
 Helen of Troy
label
Helen of Troy
 Helen of Troy
page
HelenOfTroy
 Helen of Troy
comment
Helen of Troy is the name of two films and one television miniseries. All three are adaptations of Homer's The Iliad.The first film, from 1924, is a German-made film, the original title being "Helena." It was directed by Manfred Noa and featured many actors who never made it big in the film industry. Until recently it was believed to be a lost film and was rediscovered. It has since been remastered and is considered one of the jewels of German cinema.The second film, from 1956, is an American-made picture directed by Robert Wise, with a cast that includes Rossana Podesta as Helen, Jacques Sernas as Paris, Cedric Hardwicke as Priam, Stanley Baker as Achilles, and Brigitte Bardot as Andraste. Though critics were less than kind, the film was a box-office hit and has since become the go-to example for films set in The Trojan War, even to the point that footage from this film is shown in documentaries. It has had quite the influence on the later theatrical film adaptation, 2004's Troy.The television miniseries from 2003 came out a full year before the aforementioned Troy. It features such actors as Sienna Guillory as Helen, Matthew Marsden as Paris, James Callis as the narrator Menalaus himself, Rufus Sewell as Agamemnon and Maryam d'Abo as Queen Hecuba. It includes such episodes from the mythology as Theseus' abduction of Helen, the Judgement of Paris and even the Oath of Tydareus.
 Helen of Troy
fetched
2023-06-21T19:28:46Z
 Helen of Troy
parsed
2023-06-21T19:28:47Z
 Helen of Troy
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Dropped link to AdaptationalDyeJob: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Helen of Troy
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AdaptationalDyeJob
 Helen of Troy
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Helen of Troy / int_121b3725
type
Age Lift
 Helen of Troy / int_121b3725
comment
Age Lift: Inverted with Iphigenia, who is depicted as a young child, instead of twelve at the youngest as in the myth. This is justified in that her mythological age is a case of Writers Cannot Do Math. Helen was said to be twelve when Theseus abducted her near the end of his reign and according to Castor of Rhodes that ended in 1205 BC, meaning Helen and her siblings Clytemnestra (Iphigenia's mother), Castor and Polydeuces would have been born in 1217 BC. The traditional date for the beginning of the Trojan War was 1194 BC, putting Iphigenia's date of birth in 1206 if she was twelve, a year before Theseus' abduction of Helen, which was before Helen was married to Menelaus and Clytemnestra was given to Agamemnon. As mentioned above, Helen was twelve when Theseus abducted her. Here she is at least an adult given that Sienna Guillory plays her the entire series.
 Helen of Troy / int_121b3725
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Helen of Troy / int_121b3725
 Helen of Troy / int_1501e2dd
type
Hero Antagonist
 Helen of Troy / int_1501e2dd
comment
Hero Antagonist: Menelaus comes across as this in both the Wise film and the miniseries.
 Helen of Troy / int_1501e2dd
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Helen of Troy / int_1501e2dd
 Helen of Troy / int_1daa7fce
type
In the Back
 Helen of Troy / int_1daa7fce
comment
In the Back: Paris gets this from an an unnamed soldier during his duel with Menelaus.
 Helen of Troy / int_1daa7fce
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_1daa7fce
 Helen of Troy / int_20f689e9
type
Adaptational Villainy
 Helen of Troy / int_20f689e9
comment
Adaptational Villainy: Yes, just like the later film Troy, Menelaus gets hit with this trope. Despite this however, he does come across as being sympathetic. With the exception of Menelaus and Achilles, all of the Greek Kings are basically pirates who want to loot Troy for its treasures. Agamemnon and Achilles both get hit by this pretty hard in the miniseries. Agamemnon makes his Troy counterpart look like a Disney villain and Achilles is a glory obsessed brute.
 Helen of Troy / int_20f689e9
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Helen of Troy / int_20f689e9
 Helen of Troy / int_21ac3809
type
Ancient Grome
 Helen of Troy / int_21ac3809
comment
Ancient Grome: Polydeuces is called by his Roman name "Pollux"
 Helen of Troy / int_21ac3809
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_21ac3809
 Helen of Troy / int_259d5879
type
Anachronism Stew
 Helen of Troy / int_259d5879
comment
Anachronism Stew: Chinese men in Fu Manchu type clothing, Byzantium being mentioned, the Iron Age styled weapons and armour, etc.
 Helen of Troy / int_259d5879
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1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_259d5879
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Helen of Troy / int_259d5879
 Helen of Troy / int_27a42ebc
type
Spiritual Successor
 Helen of Troy / int_27a42ebc
comment
Spiritual Successor: The Trojan Horse which got its own successor with Fury Of Achilles. Ironicaly, this film is also a spiritual successor to a film called Ulysses, which is an adaptation of The Odyssey and also feature Rosana Podesta not as Helen but as Nausicaa. The film Troy can be considered a successor to the miniseries.
 Helen of Troy / int_27a42ebc
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_27a42ebc
 Helen of Troy / int_28114487
type
Bald of Evil
 Helen of Troy / int_28114487
comment
Bald of Evil: For some unfathomable reason, Achilles is bald despite the fact in mythology he is quite clearly stated as having blond hair.
 Helen of Troy / int_28114487
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1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_28114487
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Helen of Troy / int_28114487
 Helen of Troy / int_33d5b7f2
type
Adapted Out
 Helen of Troy / int_33d5b7f2
comment
Adapted Out: Patroclus does not appear.
 Helen of Troy / int_33d5b7f2
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Helen of Troy / int_33d5b7f2
 Helen of Troy / int_3f45f1e6
type
Adaptational Heroism
 Helen of Troy / int_3f45f1e6
comment
Adaptational Heroism: It's not that Clytemnestra is totally unsympathetic in the mythology but here her only motivation to kill Agamemnon is revenge for sacrifice of Iphigenia and probably also rape of Helen. There is no indication of her having an affair. Also, she kills only Agamemnon but not Cassandra.
 Helen of Troy / int_3f45f1e6
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_3f45f1e6
 Helen of Troy / int_4a852458
type
Big Good
 Helen of Troy / int_4a852458
comment
Big Good: Priam for Troy.
 Helen of Troy / int_4a852458
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_4a852458
 Helen of Troy / int_56515a39
type
Artistic License – History
 Helen of Troy / int_56515a39
comment
Artistic License – History: For some unknown reason, Troy was modeled off of Knossos on Crete rather than the actual Troy in Anatolia.
 Helen of Troy / int_56515a39
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1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_56515a39
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Helen of Troy / int_56515a39
 Helen of Troy / int_6ec4232f
type
Casting Gag
 Helen of Troy / int_6ec4232f
comment
Casting Gag: Priam is played by Cedric Hardwicke. In The Ten Commandments which came out that same year Priam of Troy is mentioned at the beginning of Act II. Who played Seti I in that movie? Hardwicke.
 Helen of Troy / int_6ec4232f
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1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_6ec4232f
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Helen of Troy / int_6ec4232f
 Helen of Troy / int_7335ffa9
type
Grey-and-Gray Morality
 Helen of Troy / int_7335ffa9
comment
Grey-and-Gray Morality: Despite portraying the Trojans as heroes and the Greeks as villains this does end up happening. While many of the Trojans are indeed good hearted people, Helen does come across as a bitch at some points. Just as Agamemnon, Ulysses and the Greeks are portrayed as pirates Menelaus and Achilles come across as being better off. Menelaus is indeed a sympathetic character who genuinely seemed to love Helen and was very much hurt when he realized that she loved Paris while Achilles is shown to have a strong relationship with his friend Patroclus leading to him seeking revenge for Patroclus' death.
 Helen of Troy / int_7335ffa9
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_7335ffa9
 Helen of Troy / int_735b4101
type
Colour-Coded for Your Convenience
 Helen of Troy / int_735b4101
comment
Colour-Coded for Your Convenience: The Greek warriors wear black armour, Trojan warriors bluish-grey.
 Helen of Troy / int_735b4101
featureApplicability
1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_735b4101
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Helen of Troy / int_735b4101
 Helen of Troy / int_736d791f
type
Adaptational Badass
 Helen of Troy / int_736d791f
comment
Adaptational Badass: Paris to the point that he beats Ajax in a cestus fight (boxing match), kills both Patroclus and Achilles and beats Menelaus in a duel.
 Helen of Troy / int_736d791f
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Helen of Troy / int_736d791f
 Helen of Troy / int_796a7bfc
type
Twice-Told Tale
 Helen of Troy / int_796a7bfc
comment
Twice-Told Tale: It tells The Iliad from the Trojans point of view. In fact, there is only a few scenes that features the only the Greeks making this trope all too apparent.
 Helen of Troy / int_796a7bfc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_796a7bfc
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Helen of Troy / int_796a7bfc
 Helen of Troy / int_7c4f6612
type
Comic-Book Adaptation
 Helen of Troy / int_7c4f6612
comment
Comic-Book Adaptation: It received one by Dell, it is notable for sparing Paris. Three guesses what David Benioff read while he was writing the script for Troy.
 Helen of Troy / int_7c4f6612
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 Helen of Troy / int_7c4f6612
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Helen of Troy / int_7c4f6612
 Helen of Troy / int_7d1ee5b2
type
Trojan Horse
 Helen of Troy / int_7d1ee5b2
comment
Trojan Horse
 Helen of Troy / int_7d1ee5b2
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Helen of Troy / int_7d1ee5b2
 Helen of Troy / int_859bbabc
type
The Cassandra
 Helen of Troy / int_859bbabc
comment
The Cassandra: She appears in both the 1956 film and the miniseries.
 Helen of Troy / int_859bbabc
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 Helen of Troy / int_859bbabc
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Helen of Troy / int_859bbabc
 Helen of Troy / int_8c52888c
type
What a Drag
 Helen of Troy / int_8c52888c
comment
What a Drag: Achilles briefly drags Hector behind his chariot before Paris kills him.
 Helen of Troy / int_8c52888c
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 Helen of Troy / int_8c52888c
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Helen of Troy / int_8c52888c
 Helen of Troy / int_90769dd0
type
Evil Genius
 Helen of Troy / int_90769dd0
comment
Evil Genius: Due to Adaptational Villainy Ulysses comes out as this.
 Helen of Troy / int_90769dd0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_90769dd0
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Helen of Troy / int_90769dd0
 Helen of Troy / int_970c790a
type
Big Bad
 Helen of Troy / int_970c790a
comment
Big Bad: Averted. Menelaus is meant to be this but he comes across as being so sympathetic that he seems to be more more a Hero Antagonist. Agamemnon is the main villain of the miniseries however, no aversion.
 Helen of Troy / int_970c790a
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Helen of Troy / int_970c790a
 Helen of Troy / int_aa96059e
type
Disabled in the Adaptation
 Helen of Troy / int_aa96059e
comment
Disabled in the Adaptation: Calchas has deformed arms that haven't grown with the rest of his body.
 Helen of Troy / int_aa96059e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_aa96059e
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Helen of Troy / int_aa96059e
 Helen of Troy / int_ac2094ca
type
Red Shirt
 Helen of Troy / int_ac2094ca
comment
Red Shirt: The only reason Polydorus exists. Even in the Iliad he is only there so Achilles can kill him.
 Helen of Troy / int_ac2094ca
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1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_ac2094ca
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Helen of Troy / int_ac2094ca
 Helen of Troy / int_b333f02e
type
Achilles in His Tent
 Helen of Troy / int_b333f02e
comment
Achilles in His Tent: Present in the 1956 film, absent in the miniseries. Achilles comes out of his tent when Paris kills Patroclus instead of Hector as in the original tale.
 Helen of Troy / int_b333f02e
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Helen of Troy / int_b333f02e
 Helen of Troy / int_b5b4b077
type
The Ace
 Helen of Troy / int_b5b4b077
comment
The Ace: As mentioned above Paris becomes this.
 Helen of Troy / int_b5b4b077
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_b5b4b077
 Helen of Troy / int_b7c53a22
type
Blood Knight
 Helen of Troy / int_b7c53a22
comment
Blood Knight: Achilles, Ajax, the Spartans, Polydorus
 Helen of Troy / int_b7c53a22
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_b7c53a22
 Helen of Troy / int_b8e3f20a
type
Demoted to Extra
 Helen of Troy / int_b8e3f20a
comment
Demoted to Extra: Ajax only appears in one scene as Agamemnon's wrestling partner.
 Helen of Troy / int_b8e3f20a
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1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_b8e3f20a
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Helen of Troy / int_b8e3f20a
 Helen of Troy / int_cf92fea8
type
Cassandra Truth
 Helen of Troy / int_cf92fea8
comment
Cassandra Truth: She appears so it's only natural.
 Helen of Troy / int_cf92fea8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_cf92fea8
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Helen of Troy / int_cf92fea8
 Helen of Troy / int_d001c42c
type
Anti-Villain
 Helen of Troy / int_d001c42c
comment
Anti-Villain: Menelaus comes across as being heartbroken when he realizes that Helen loves Paris and even more so when he is informed of her having left with Paris since by all appearances, it seems as if he has taken her by force.
 Helen of Troy / int_d001c42c
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Helen of Troy / int_d001c42c
 Helen of Troy / int_d500b978
type
Adaptational Wimp
 Helen of Troy / int_d500b978
comment
Adaptational Wimp: In the Iliad, Agamemnon is such a fearsome warrior that even Hector says he would rather face Achilles than the King of Mycenae. In the 1956 film however, Agamemnon declares that he does not want to fight Hector, making a reversal of his original portrayal.
 Helen of Troy / int_d500b978
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Helen of Troy / int_d500b978
 Helen of Troy / int_d6618014
type
Last Request
 Helen of Troy / int_d6618014
comment
Last Request: After the Greeks infiltrate Troy with the Trojan Horse and King Priam realizes he's surrounded by them, he asks them to, "Spare my Queen." They kill him and don't honor his request, as they quickly kill Queen Hecuba too.
 Helen of Troy / int_d6618014
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Helen of Troy / int_d6618014
 Helen of Troy / int_d7639dba
type
Achilles' Heel
 Helen of Troy / int_d7639dba
comment
Achilles' Heel: Mentioned by Ajax early on, later comes into play when an arrow from Paris goes into Achilles' heel.
 Helen of Troy / int_d7639dba
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1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_d7639dba
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Helen of Troy / int_d7639dba
 Helen of Troy / int_da1c8191
type
Writers Cannot Do Math
 Helen of Troy / int_da1c8191
comment
Inverted with Iphigenia, who is depicted as a young child, instead of twelve at the youngest as in the myth. This is justified in that her mythological age is a case of Writers Cannot Do Math. Helen was said to be twelve when Theseus abducted her near the end of his reign and according to Castor of Rhodes that ended in 1205 BC, meaning Helen and her siblings Clytemnestra (Iphigenia's mother), Castor and Polydeuces would have been born in 1217 BC. The traditional date for the beginning of the Trojan War was 1194 BC, putting Iphigenia's date of birth in 1206 if she was twelve, a year before Theseus' abduction of Helen, which was before Helen was married to Menelaus and Clytemnestra was given to Agamemnon.
 Helen of Troy / int_da1c8191
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1.0
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Helen of Troy / int_da1c8191
 Helen of Troy / int_e4965307
type
Composite Character
 Helen of Troy / int_e4965307
comment
Composite Character: In the film Paris seems to have been combined with his younger brother Deiphobus. In the myths, after Paris was killed by Philoctetes before the Trojan Horse appeared on the scene, Helen was given to Deiphobus as his wife. In the sacking of Troy, Menelaus kills Deiphobus.
 Helen of Troy / int_e4965307
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Helen of Troy / int_e4965307
 Helen of Troy / int_eba6a077
type
Cain and Abel
 Helen of Troy / int_eba6a077
comment
Cain and Abel: Early on Hector shows intentions to kill Paris to prevent Troy's fall.
 Helen of Troy / int_eba6a077
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Helen of Troy / int_eba6a077
 Helen of Troy / int_f0508c08
type
Decomposite Character
 Helen of Troy / int_f0508c08
comment
Decomposite Character: Due to Ajax being Demoted to Extra, many of his qualities are transferred to Achilles.
 Helen of Troy / int_f0508c08
featureApplicability
1.0
 Helen of Troy / int_f0508c08
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Helen of Troy / int_f0508c08
 Helen of Troy / int_f0864fd9
type
Combat by Champion
 Helen of Troy / int_f0864fd9
comment
Combat by Champion: Achilles vs. Hector. Anyone who knows the Iliad will know how this turns out. In the miniseries, the duel between Menelaus and Paris appears and nearly comes out accurately. After that duel, Hector challenges Agamemnon only for Achilles to challenge him and we all know what happens.
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Helen of Troy / int_f0864fd9
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ItemName
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Helen of Troy

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 HelenofTroy
sameAs
Helen of Troy
 Helen of Troy
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Demythification / int_2dd271bd
 Helen of Troy
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Epic Movie / int_2dd271bd
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Fight Scene Failure / int_2dd271bd
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Flynning / int_2dd271bd
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Sword and Sandal / int_2dd271bd
 Helen of Troy
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The Place / int_2dd271bd