COLOR. With MARIE BELL, based on the play by RACINE. "To see Marie Bell in Phedre is a unique opportunity to experience fully what is French Genius." - Andre Malraux. According to Greek legend, Theseus returned from war with the Minoans on Crete to become king of Athens and took Phedre, the daughter of the vanquished King Minos to be his wife. Phedre fell in love with the Kings son, Hippolyte, but he did not return the love, preferring one his own age. Phedre caused her husband, the King, to be wrongly jealous of his son and prayed to Neptune to destroy him. When Hippolyte was in fact killed after fighting a sea monster, Phedre killed herself in remorse. Starting with this basic legend, Jean Racine, the dramatist considered "the most French of French writers," adapted the story for the stage in 1677. His pure Alexandrine verse, realistically portraying the characters, has led to a continuing appreciation of his works. Marie Bell, thought of so highly by the contemporary French author and statesman Malraux, possesses a classic background in keeping with the purity of the legend and tradition of the French adaptation. A member of the Com die Franaise since 1928, she began her film career in 1924 and was a remarkably well-preserved 68 years old when she undertook the portrayal of this tragic figure. Her decoration for valor in the French Underground during the war was the Legion of Honor, awarded by General DeGaulle himself. Phedre therefore, comes with a French pedigree as authentic as the Eiffel Tower. A powerful film of human emotion in the style of a classic Greek tragedy. Cinema for the intellect indeed. In French with English subtitles. 93 minutes  NO REGIONAL CODING - PLAYS WORLDWIDE on any NTSC compatible player or computer. We are licensed to publish by Video Yesteryear. GENERIC CASE - NO ARTWORK