Circa 1196 B.C. , in a decade in which a tribe of Achaeans from Greece commanded by Agamenon engagement war a prosperous and thriving city nearly the mouth of Hellespont , called Ilium of Troy . It was a big city with high walls and four gates , being destroyed by a violent war . The details on this war stayed in legend throughout Dark Ages of Micenic civilization . Four centuries later , they were immortalized by an illustrious Greek poet named Homer on his plays titled ¨Iliad¨ and ¨Odyssey¨. Later on , Euripides wrote powerful tragedies about these events , in which details appealing characters and dramatic happenings , focusing the women who remain after the fall of Troy and regarding the king Agamenon .The motion picture revolves around the Trojan survivor women , one time army is vanquished and relies heavily on four declamatory monologues starred by four greatest and unquestionable actresses . Awesome Katharine Hepburn as Queen Hecuba , widow of Priamo , King of Troy ; their daughter the virginal-nutty Cassandra , a prophetess-princess , well played by Genevieve Bujold who arises emotion of the tale ; magnificent Vanessa Redgrave as Andromaca , Hector's wife , who carries the armor dressed by her deceased husband ; and extraordinary Irene Papas as Helen , continuously asking her pardon and innocence on the facts who caused the oldest story of love and war . Besides , minor performances by Brian Blessed as a Greek messenger and Patrick McGee as Menelaus . The sacked city was filmed in Spain on the Sierra of Atienza , Guadalajara with not many scenarios.The film belongs to a trilogy faithfully based on playwright Euripides , a fine rendering directed by Michael Cacoyannis , including the musician Mikis Theodorakis and starred by Irene Papas , the grandest Greek actress . As ¨Ifginea¨ concerning the sacrifice by Agamenon of his daughter Ifginea because the winds to sail to Troy refuse to blow ; as ¨Elektra¨ in which Clymnestra and her lover Aesgisthes kill her husband Agamenon after his return from Troy and confrontation between mother Clymnestra , her daughter Elektra and brother Orestes . Rating : Notable, well worth watching for the acting of the four female actresses.

It's already a stretch to take a play by Euripides and translate it into a 1970's movie, but add in extremely overdone performances by Katherine Hepburn and Vanessa Redgrave and it only gets worse. I spent my time watching this movie either asleep or laughing at the ridiculous behavior on screen. The majority of the film is made up of rabid women who run around swinging torches and screaming constantly. Sound unrealistic? That's what you get from Hepburn and Redgrave. The film itself was also badly made. Clearly its makers thought they were making it a passionate and dramatic film, but their awful use of angles only made the movie look worse. When I wasn't laughing my head off at how bad "Trojan Women" was, I was asleep. The entire film takes place in the same setting, another reason why an ancient Greek play should not be made into a movie. It simply cannot hold viewers' attention. I would only recommend this movie if you are a die-hard fan of the classics or if you don't mind melodramatic and unrealistic behavior on screen.

Mr. Rodriquez comment "your outlook on the horrors of war will never be the same" is so true. The only movie that explains it best is Trojan Women. As a victim of WWII the movie is the only thing that truly explains the horrible experience. Once you are a victim of War and no one helps, you continue to be a victim. One is left alone without the familiar support system like family, language and ethnic group. Under all the humiliation and tragedies, you keep saying to yourself "this is so unfair cause I did nothing to deserve this, I merely was born. Whoever came up with the idea: All is fair in love and WAR, must have been a sadistic and selfish human being. Please watch Trojan Women because it is a must for ending wars.

Just a note to echo another's comments about the fine performance of that excellent, if underrated, character actor Brian Blessed. His performance of the messenger Tathybius is sensitive and powerful. From significant featured roles, such as the emperor Augustus in the TV series, "I, Claudius," to minor but essential roles such as Kenneth Branagh's invaluable sidekick in "Henry V," Blessed has been a tower of strength in setting after setting.