| Helen of Troy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Ronni Kern |
| Directed by | John Kent Harrison |
| Starring | Sienna Guillory Matthew Marsden John Rhys-Davies Emilia Fox Rufus Sewell Stellan Skarsgård |
| Theme music composer | Joel Goldsmith |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Ted Kurdyla |
| Production company | Fuel Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | USA Network |
| Release | April 20, 2003 |
Helen of Troy is a 2003 British-American television miniseries based upon Homer's story of the Trojan War, as recounted in the epic poem, the Iliad. The series was entirely shot on location in Malta.
Plot
The film begins with the birth of Paris, and Cassandra's prophecy that he would be the cause of Troy's destruction. Paris' father, King Priam, leaves him on Mount Ida, where he is raised by the shepherd Agelaus. When he is grown (in what is known as the Judgement of Paris), he encounters the goddesses Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite, who ask him to judge which of them is the most beautiful. Hera offers him power and Athena offers him victory, but he chooses Aphrodite, who promises him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world.
In Sparta, Helen of Troy meets Agamemnon, who has come to claim her sister Clytemnestra as his bride but is attracted to Helen. Helen is kidnapped by two Athenians, including Theseus. Her brother Pollux raids Athens to rescue her but Theseus kills him. In a rage, Helen's father Tyndareus presents her to the many suitors who seek her hand. Various men compete and she is married to Menelaus. The other suitors swear an oath to wage war against anyone who disrespects her husband's claim to her.
Paris is sent to Sparta to draw out a peace treaty with Menelaus, which angers Agamemnon. The treaty is refused and Menelaus and Agamemnon plot to have him murdered. Paris meets Helen; he gains her love and the two flee to Troy. Menelaus demands that his brother wage war on Troy and the former suitors are gathered to fulfill their oath. When the Greeks arrive to demand the return of Helen, Priam refuses. The Greeks attack and occupy Troy.
The war rages on. Agamemnon agrees to end it if, in a single duel, Menelaus wins over Paris. Agamemnon poisons Menelaus' javelin. Paris is cut but Menelaus stops the fight and the two men make peace. Hector challenges Agamemnon to a duel to the death; Achilles takes up the challenge and kills Hector. To try to save Paris, Helen attempts to surrender to Agamemnon, but Paris intervenes. Achilles charges at him, but Paris shoots Achilles in the heel. Paris is saved by Trojan soldiers but Agamemnon stabs him and he dies in Helen's arms.
During Paris' funeral, the Greeks appear to sail away, leaving the huge wooden Trojan Horse on the beach. It is taken into the city, but there are Greek soldiers inside the horse. When the town is asleep, the Greeks kill Priam and Hecuba. Agamemnon seats himself on Troy's throne, declaring himself emperor of the Aegean and ruler of the world. Agamemnon has Helen brought to him and rapes her. The next morning, as the Greek soldiers sack the city, Clytemnestra arrives, rescuing her sister and killing her husband.
Helen wanders through the ruined city. At the spot where Paris died, she sees his apparition. She begs him to take her with him to the afterlife but he says that she must wait for her time. A compassionate Menelaus takes her back to Sparta, where they will reign as king and queen. Troy, once the richest kingdom of all, is left in ruins.
Cast
- Sienna Guillory as Helen
- Matthew Marsden as Paris
- Rufus Sewell as Agamemnon
- James Callis as Menelaus
- Daniel Lapaine as Hector
- John Rhys-Davies as King Priam of Troy
- Stellan Skarsgård as Theseus
- Maryam d'Abo as Queen Hecuba
- Emilia Fox as Cassandra, Princess of Troy
- Nigel Whitmey as Odysseus
- Joe Montana as Achilles
- Katie Blake as Clytemnestra
- Craig Kelly as Pollux
Awards
- Visual Effects Society - winner - Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Televised Program, Music Video, or Commercial
- Visual Effects Society - nominee - Outstanding Visual Effects in a Television Miniseries, Movie, or Special
- Primetime Emmy Awards - nominee - Outstanding Makeup for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
- Art Directors Guild - nominee - Excellence in Production Design
- Motion Picture Sound Editors - nominee - Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing in Television Long Form
- Online Film & Television Association - nominee - Best Miniseries
- Online Film & Television Association - nominee - Best Production Design in a Motion Picture or Miniseries
- Satellite Awards - nominee - Best Miniseries