Sophocles often won the leading prize at the Dionysia, the principal dramatic festival of Athens; but Oedipus the King was a runner-up, winner of the second prize. Posterity, however, considers the play second to none. The play tells the beginning of the Oedipus saga, setting the stage and creating the characters who will continue the story to its conclusion in Antigone. With Michael Pennington, John Gielgud, and Claire Bloom.

Films on Demand is distributed by Films Media Group for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.\\Part of the Films on Demand collection. Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Films Media Group on May 12, 2005. Title from distributor's description.

Gathering at the Palace (4:01) -- Thebans' Plea to Oedipus (4:28) -- Oedipus Addresses the Thebans (4:50) -- Prayer of the Council (6:05) -- Oedipus Addresses the Council (4:27) -- Tiresias the Astrologer (3:56) -- Oedipus is Guilty (3:31) -- Curse of Tiresias (3:42) -- Pride of Oedipus (3:16) -- Creon Protests (3:18) -- Oedipus Faces Creon (4:41) -- Jocasta Responds (3:05) -- Jocasta's Pronouncement (2:31) -- Oedipus' Realization (2:48) -- Oedipus' Confession (3:58) -- Jocasta's Denial (3:59) -- Jocasta's Plea (2:06) -- Good News for Oedipus (3:03) -- Oedipus Fears His Mother (5:04) -- Jocasta's Horror (2:06) -- Oedipus' Determination (4:34) -- Shepherd's Story (4:58) -- Ruin of Oedipus (3:13) -- Horrors in the Palace (4:43) -- Blind Oedipus (3:23) -- Madness and Pain (3:31) -- Devastation and Degradation (4:57) -- Creon Takes Charge (2:27) -- Oedipus Begs for Banishment (3:15) -- Oedipus and His Daughters (3:34) -- No Longer King (5:53) -- testing (0:05) -- Tiresias (0:36) -- Creon's Sample (0:14) -- epode (9:27).