Setting the standard for his later light-hearted biopics The Private Life of Henry VIII and Rembrandt, producer-director Alexander Korda steadfastly refuses to take any of The Private Life of Helen of Troy seriously. Maria Corda, wife of the director, plays the title character as a fetchingly underdressed coquette, oblivious to all the political turmoil she's causing when she allows the handsome Paris (Ricardo Cortez) to kidnap her. Meanwhile, poor King Menelaus (Lewis Stone), Helen's husband, stands by in stoic silence, just as he's done on previous occasions when his wife succumbed to the charms of various sexy suitors (one of whom is played by future cowboy star "Wild Bill" Elliot). Finally galvanized into action, Menelaus reclaims his bride, who seems none the worse for wear for her experiences.
Costume
Maria Corda's strategically draped ancient-world flapper chic
Direction
Korda's winking refusal to epic-ify Greek tragedy
Director
Alexander Korda
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Most of this film is lost; only fragments survive in archives, making it a ghost of 1927's sauciest mythological satire.
Korda essentially invented the 'private life' biopic franchise here, later perfecting it with Charles Laughton's Henry VIII.
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