Oedipus Rex (1967): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Oedipus Rex is a 1967 drama starring Franco Citti as Oedipus, Alida Valli and Ahmed Belhachmi. It runs 1 hour 44 minutes and earned $2,364 worldwide.
Italian What Is Oedipus Rex About?
The premise of Oedipus Rex without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Pasolini renders the classic tragedy with stark, lyrical intensity. Set against pre‑war Italy, a jealous father abandons his newborn son, who is rescued and raised as Oedipus by the king and queen of Corinth. An oracle foretells that he will kill his father and marry his mother; horrified, he flees, only to unknowingly slay his real father on the road, fulfilling the doomed prophecy.
Oedipus Rex Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- incest
- child abandonment
- patricide
- parricide
- mother son sex
- murder
- father
- oracle
- desert
- italy
- queen
- king
+38 more Show fewer
- son murders father
- foreign language adaptation
- legend
- epilogue
- destiny
- catharsis
- fate
- reference to vladimir lenin
- mother son incest
- guilt
- investigation
- murder of father
- plague
- sphinx
- chariot
- surrogate mother
- surrogate father
- suspicion
- prologue
- father son relationship
- oedipal complex
- tragedy
- castle
- ancient greece
- morocco
- anachronism
- bicycle
- mythology
- abandoned baby
- suicide
- blindness
- hanging
- prophecy
- death of father
- death of mother
- based on play
- independent film
- character name in title
Oedipus Rex Cast & Characters
Franco Citti leads the cast as Oedipus, with Alida Valli as Merope, Queen of Corinth and Ahmed Belhachmi as Polybus, King of Corinth.
- Franco Citti as Oedipus
-
Alida Valli as Merope, Queen of Corinth - Ahmed Belhachmi as Polybus, King of Corinth
- Luciano Bartoli as Laius, King of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young father)
Also Starring in Oedipus Rex
· 10 more- Silvana Mangano Jocasta, Queen of Thebes (and unnamed Italian young mother)
- Carmelo Bene Creon
- Julian Beck Tiresias
- Ninetto Davoli Angelo
- Giovanni Ivan Scratuglia Sacerdote
- Laura Betti Jocasta's Maid (uncredited)
- Pier Paolo Pasolini High Priest (uncredited)
- Isabel Ruth Jocasta's Maid with a Lamb (uncredited)
- Francesco Leonetti Servo di Laio
- Giandomenico Davoli Pastore di Polibo
Oedipus Rex Plot Summary
What happens in Oedipus Rex from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A son is born to a young couple in pre-war Italy. The child opens his eyes for the first time to see his loving mother and suckles at her breast. The father is overwhelmed by jealousy, fearing the infant will take away his wife’s love and cast him into the void. In a grim act, the father abandons the baby in the desert, and the film’s setting shifts to the ancient world of Greece. The child is rescued and raised as the son of King Polybus Ahmed Belhachmi and Queen Merope Alida Valli of Corinth, growing up convinced they are his true parents, and he is named Oedipus Franco Citti.
Full summary
The whole story of Oedipus Rex, scene by scene
Oedipus Rex Box Office
Oedipus Rex grossed $2,364 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$2.4K
- International
- $2.2K
Oedipus Rex Trailers & Videos
The teaser of Oedipus Rex.
How Well Do You Know Oedipus Rex?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of the queen Oedipus marries, not knowing she is his mother?
Oedipus Rex Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Oedipe roi” and “Edipo Rey”.
- Also known as
-
- Oedipe roi
- Edipo Rey
- Edipo, el hijo de la fortuna
- Edipo, el hijo de la fortuna (Edipo Rey)
- Kung Oidipus
- Ødipus Rex
- Царь Эдип
- Œdipe roi
- 俄狄浦斯王
- Edipo Re - Bett der Gewalt
- Oidipus král
- Rei Édipo
+6 more Show fewer
- Едип цар
- 에디푸스 왕
- Цар Едіп, ოიდიპოსი
- Édipo Rei
- Kral Oidipus
- アポロンの地獄
Seen Oedipus Rex?
Movies Like Oedipus Rex
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Oedipus Rex, Oedipus the King and Oedipus Mayor.
Oedipus Rex FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Oedipus Rex, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Oedipus Rex?
Oedipus Rex runs 1 hour 44 minutes (104 minutes).
When was Oedipus Rex released?
Oedipus Rex was released on September 3, 1967.
Who is in the cast of Oedipus Rex?
Oedipus Rex stars Franco Citti as Oedipus, Alida Valli as Merope, Queen of Corinth and Ahmed Belhachmi as Polybus, King of Corinth, among 14 credited actors.
How much did Oedipus Rex make at the box office?
Oedipus Rex grossed $2,364 worldwide.
Does Oedipus Rex have a post-credit scene?
No. Oedipus Rex has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Oedipus Rex in?
The original language of Oedipus Rex is Italian.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
