''The Private Life of Helen of Troy'' is a 1927 American

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, w ...

about

Helen of Troy Helen of Troy, Helen, Helena, (Ancient Greek: Ἑλένη ''Helénē'', ) also known as beautiful Helen, Helen of Argos, or Helen of Sparta, was a figure in Greek mythology said to have been the most beautiful woman in the world. She was believe ...

based on the 1925 novel of the same name by John Erskine, and adapted to screen by

Gerald Duffy Gerald C. Duffy (1896 – June 25, 1928) was a screenwriter of the silent film era, as well as a journalist, and short story writer and copyeditor. He is best known for his many contributions to Redbook magazine, which he edited, as well as be ...

. The film was directed by

Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)María Corda María Corda (born Mária Antónia Farkas; hu, Korda Mária; 4 May 1898 – 15 February 1976) was a Hungarian actress and a star of the silent film era in Germany and Austria. Biography She began her acting career in the theatres of Budap ...

as Helen, Lewis Stone as Menelaus, and

Ricardo Cortez Ricardo Cortez (born Jacob Kranze or Jacob Krantz; September 19, 1900 – April 28, 1977) was an American actor and film director. He was also credited as Jack Crane early in his acting career. Early years Ricardo Cortez was born Jacob K ...

as Paris. Coming at the end of the silent film era, it was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

in 1929, the year of the Awards' inception, in the category of Best Title Writing. Duffy died on June 25, 1928, and was the first person to be posthumously nominated for an Academy Award. That same year, the first "

talkie A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

", ''

The Jazz Singer ''The Jazz Singer'' is a 1927 American musical drama film directed by Alan Crosland. It is the first feature-length motion picture with both synchronized recorded music score as well as lip-synchronous singing and speech (in several isolate ...

'', received an honorary award for introducing sound to film, and the category for which ''The Private Life of Helen of Troy'' was nominated was dropped by the second Academy Awards. Two sections from the beginning and end, running about 27–30 minutes in total, are reportedly all that survive of ''The Private Life of Helen of Troy''; they are preserved by the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

.The Library of Congress American Silent Feature Film Survival Catalog:''The Private Life of Helen of Troy''
/ref>

Cast

María Corda María Corda (born Mária Antónia Farkas; hu, Korda Mária; 4 May 1898 – 15 February 1976) was a Hungarian actress and a star of the silent film era in Germany and Austria. Biography She began her acting career in the theatres of Budap ...

- Helen * Lewis Stone - Menelaus *

- Paris *

George Fawcett George Fawcett (August 25, 1860 – June 6, 1939) was an American stage and film actor of the silent era. Biography Born in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1860, Fawcett graduated from the University of Virginia. His initial inclination was to ...

- Eteoneus *

Alice White Alice White (born Alva White; August 25, 1904Katz, Ephraim (1979). ''The Film Encyclopedia: The Most Comprehensive Encyclopedia of World Cinema in a Single Volume''. Perigee Books. , pg. 1228. – February 19, 1983) was an American film ac ...

- Adraste *

Bill Elliott William Clyde Elliott (born October 8, 1955), also known as Awesome Bill from Dawsonville, Million Dollar Bill, or Wild Bill is an American former professional stock car racing driver. He competes full time in the Camping World Superstar Racin ...

- Telemachus * Tom O'Brien - Ulysses *

Bert Sprotte Bert Sprotte (9 December 1870 – 30 December 1949) was a German actor. He appeared in more than 70 American films between 1918 and 1938. He was born in Chemnitz, Saxony, and died in Los Angeles, California. Selected filmography * '' Selfi ...

- Achilles *Mario Carillo - Ajax *

Charles Puffy Charles Puffy (born Károly Hochstadt; 3 November 1884 – 1942 or 1943) was a Hungarian film actor. Biography Hochstadt appeared in more than 130 films between 1914 and 1938. He was the only slapstick star in Hungary's silent film era, appear ...

- Malapokitoratoreadetos *

George Kotsonaros George Kotsonaros ( el, Γεώργιος Κωτσονάρος; October 16, 1892 in Nafplio, Greece – July 13, 1933 in Eutaw, Alabama) was a Greek-born professional wrestler and film actor. He acted mostly in silent pictures. His original name ...

- Hector *Emilio Gorgato - Sarpedon *Constantine Romanoff - Aeneas *Alice Adair - Aphrodite *Helen Fairweather - Athena

References

External links

* * 1927 films 1920s historical comedy films American historical comedy films American silent feature films American black-and-white films Films directed by Alexander Korda Films based on American novels Trojan War films First National Pictures films Cultural depictions of Helen of Troy Films with screenplays by Gerald Duffy 1920s American films Silent American comedy films Silent war films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub

Cast

See also

References

External links