Zorba the Greek (film)
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| Zorba the Greek | |
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 original movie poster |
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| Directed by | Michael Cacoyannis |
| Produced by | Michael Cacoyannis Anthony Quinn |
| Written by | Michael Cacoyannis, Nikos Kazantzakis (Novel) |
| Starring | Anthony Quinn Alan Bates Irene Papas Lila Kedrova Sotiris Moustakas Anna Kyriakou |
| Music by | Mikis Theodorakis |
| Release date(s) | 1964 |
| Running time | 142 min. |
| Language | English, Greek |
| IMDb profile | |
Zorba the Greek (originally titled Alexis Zorbas) is a 1964 film based on the novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. The film was directed by Michael Cacoyannis and the title character was played by Anthony Quinn. The supporting cast included Alan Bates as a visiting Englishman. The theme, "Sirtaki" by Mikis Theodorakis, has become famous and popular as a song and as a dance (especially at parties).
The movie was shot on location on the Greek island of Crete. Specific places featured include the town of Chania, the Apokoronas region and the Akrotiri peninsula. The famous scene, in which Quinn's character dances the Sirtaki, was shot on the beach of the village of Stavros.
The movie won three Academy Awards. Lila Kedrova won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, Vassilis Fotopoulos won the Oscar for Best Art Direction in black-and-white set decoration, and Walter Lassally won the Oscar for Best Cinematography in black-and-white. Lassally's Oscar is shown in Tavern Christiana in Stavros.
Quinn received the nomination for best actor in a leading role and Michael Cacoyannis received three nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Writing, and Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium.
Actor Sotiris Moustakas was almost nominated for Best Supporting Actor but was rejected due to his limited screen time. In Greece the actor is praised for his performance as the town fool.
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[edit] Plot
Basil (Alan Bates), a young English writer, meets a free-spirited Greek peasant named Zorba (Anthony Quinn) on the island of Crete. While Zorba pursues a relationship with aging French courtesan Madame Hortense (Lila Kedrova, who won an Oscar for her role), Basil attempts to court a young widow. Along the way, he learns valuable life lessons from the earthy Zorba, who has an unquenchable joie de vivre.
[edit] Related works
- Billy and Zorba, a short film made in Scotland in 1999 about a man who believes he is Zorba the Greek.
- Zorba, a 1968 Broadway musical based on the film.
[edit] See also
- "Zorbas," the theme songs of the movie by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis
- Alexis Zorbas, ballet by Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis written in 1988, and premiered in Arena di Verona in Verona, Italy
[edit] External links
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