The Many Films of

Troilus and Cressida

 

 

Unfortunately for you and me, there simply have not been very many films made of "Troilus and Cressida" to help us out in enjoying the exciting story.

Even more unfortunately, they are all made-for-T.V.-movies.

Here are the ones in existence:

 

"Troilus and Cressida" (1954)

Directed by George Rylands

A British T.V. movie

The Cast included:

John Fraser (I).................... Troilus
Simon Lack......................... Paris
Frank Pettingell................... Panedarus
William Squire.................... Hector
Geoffery Toone................... Achilles
Mary Watson...................... Cressida
Richard Wordsworth........... Theristes

Since George Rylands has only one other directing credit (another made-for-TV-movie called "The Ages of Man"), this may not be the one you go out and try to find first.

 

 

 

"Troilus and Cressida" (1966)

Directed by Michael Croft, Bernard Hepton and Paul Hill

Another British T.V. movie

The Cast included:

Timothy Block.................... Hector
Dennis Marks(II)............... Achilles
Andrew Murray.................. Troilus
Mary Payne........................ Helen
Derek Seaton................... Ulysses
David Stockton................... Pandarus
Charlotte Womersley.......... Cressida

I'm not too sure why this film required 3 directors, but atleast we know Bernard Hepton from his performance as Mr. Woodhouse in A&E's film version of "Emma," by Jane Austen. Hepton has made quite a career as an accomplished British actor. Michael Croft however, has only one other directing credit, and Paul Hill has none.

 

 

 

"Troilus and Cressida" (1981)

Directed by Jonathan Miller (I)

Yet another British T.V. movie

The Cast included:

Tony Steedmn..................... Aeneas
Suzanne Burden.................. Cressida
Max Harvey........................ Alexander
Peter Walmsley................... Servant to Troilus
Vernon Dobtcheff............... Agamemnon
Geoffery Chater.................. Nestor
Benjamin Whitrow.............. Ulysses
Bernard Brown................... Menelaus
Anthony Pedley.................. Ajax
The Incredible Orlando....... Thersites
Kenneth Haigh.................... Achilles
Simon Cutter....................... Patroclus
Esmond Knight................... Priam
John Shrapnel..................... Hector
Elayne Sharling................... Cassandra
David Firth.......................... Paris
Paul Moriarty...................... Diomedes
David Kinsey...................... Servan to Paris
Ann Pennington (II)............ Helen
Peter Whitbread.................. Calchas
Merelina Kendall................ Andromache
Cornelius Garrett................ Margarelon
Tony Portacio..................... Helenus
Peter J. Cassell.................... Deiphobus

So this one stands out as atleast being a BBC Television Shakespeare production. It's also the only option in color. What's more is that Jonathan Miller has many other film directing credits, mostly BBC Television Shakespeare and T.V. movies. Miller has also had his own regular T.V. series in the U.K and was an original member of the comedy stage show called "Beyond the Fringe," along with Dudley Moore, Peter Cook and Alan Bennet, which was turned into a T.V. film in 1964.

All in all, this seems to be the most promising version.

 

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