Mythology of Greece and Rome

Year Published: 1960

Complete Record: The myths of ancient Greece and Rome were stories about gods and man invented in an attempt to explain natural phenomena and man’s behavior. They often taught a moral lesson. In this film the stories of Aires and Persephone, Apollo and Daphne, Pegasus and Bellerophon are retold. The characters and stories of Greek and Roman mythology form an important part of our literary and cultural heritage. Persephone: Demeter, mother of Persephone, stands in a white dress and yellow wrap. Double exposure of wheat dissolves over Demeter as she turns away from the camera. The wheat dissolves into an orange hanging on a tree. Demeter’s superimposed image appears, cupping the fruit. The oranges dissolve into a yellow chrysanthemum. Demeter is still superimposed in the frame. The scene dissolves to Demeter holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums, running her fingers delicately over them. The scene dissolves to Persephone. Demeter hands her the bouquet. Persephone smells them and smiles at her mother. The scene dissolves to the Under World, and Hades’ throne. Close up of Hades as he sits on this throne wearing a crown. Cartoonish scene of the Under World with a lake leading into craggy terrain in the distance. Dissolve to a shot through a wooded area at the sky at dusk. A figure appears through the trees. It’s Hades. Persephone walks blissfully tough the woods, smelling a flower. Persephone notices Hades up the path, and stops, looking concerned. She begins to back away. Hades advances on her, grabbing her wrist before she can get away, causing her to drop the flower. Dissolve shot of the flower falling over and over. Dissolve shot of Hades and Persephone wrestling and she takes her to the Under World. Dissolve of the Under World and Hades throne room. Hades and Persephone appear at the top of the stairs. She sits on a bench, and he walk out of frame. Close up of Persephone crying. Persephone sits and cries. The spirits of the Under World begin to come out. One advances towards Persephone. Hades reappears brandishing a scepter, which he uses to send the spirit away. A seascape at sunset. Demeter walks along the rocky beach with a torch looking for her daughter. Dissolve back to Persephone as she cries. Hades reaches out to comfort her, and she recoils at his touch. Wide shot of the two of them at the top of the steps. Persephone runs out of frame. Time-lapse of the world going from perpetual spring to winter. Dissolve of Demeter looking sad and lonely, longing for her daughter’s company. Dissolve back to the Under World, and a dissolve to a close-up of a pomegranate. Persephone sees the pomegranate and walks over to it. The fruit is the only real color in the scene, so it stands out. Persephone plucks the pomegranate from its branch, and slowly breaks it open to reveal its red seeds. Dissolve to a close-up of the seeds glistening in the light. Persephone slowly chooses one and eats it. The winter sky turns red like the pomegranate. Dissolve back to the Under World. Hermes walks up to a seated Persephone and offers her his hand. She smiles and takes it. He begins to lead her off frame, but she beats him to it, and pulls him after her. Dissolve to Persephone being led by Hermes, the messenger, back out of the Under World, only to have their path blocked by Hades. Persephone lowers her head in defeat. She turns her head to look at a pomegranate, the reason she can’t leave. Dissolve to a close up of Persephone, looking depressed on her throne, holding a scepter and wearing a crown. Long shot of her alone on her throne. A barren, wintery landscaper with Demeter standing alone in the wind. Dissolve to a close up of Demeter. Camera zooms in past Demeter’s shoulder to hone in on a lone figure of a woman creasing a hill in the background. Persephone calls to her mother, who looks shocked, and turns her head towards the sound. Persephone waves and begins to run to her shocked and happy mother. They meet and embrace, and the word around them blooms and becomes alive again.