Alexis Zorbas (1964)

Director:

Mihalis Kakogiannis

Writers:

Nikos Kazantzakis (novel)
Mihalis Kakogiannis (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 December 1964 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

Life. Lust. Love. Zorba.

Plot:

An uptight English writer traveling to Crete on a matter of business finds his life changed forever when he meets the gregarious Alexis Zorba.

Plot Keywords:

Greek | Greece | Sun | Mining | Friendship

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

Anthony Quinn	...	Alexis Zorba
Alan Bates	...	Basil
Irene Papas	...	Widow
Lila Kedrova	...	Madame Hortense
Sotiris Moustakas	...	Mimithos
Anna Kyriakou	...	Soul
Eleni Anousaki	...	Lola
Yorgo Voyagis	...	Pavlo (as George Voyadjis)
Takis Emmanuel	...	Manolakas
Giorgos Foundas	...	Mavrandoni (as George Foundas)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Pia Lindström	...	Peasant Girl (scenes deleted)
George P. Cosmatos	...	Acne Faced Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Mihalis Kakogiannis		(as Michael Cacoyannis)

Writing credits
Nikos Kazantzakis		(novel)
Mihalis Kakogiannis		(screenplay) (as Michael Cacoyannis)

Produced by
Mihalis Kakogiannis	....	producer (as Michael Cacoyannis)
Anthony Quinn	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mikis Theodorakis

Cinematography by
Walter Lassally		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mihalis Kakogiannis		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Vassilis Photopoulos

Makeup Department
Alex Archambault	....	hair stylist
Monique Archambault	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Yannis Petropoulakis	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Franco Cirino	....	first assistant director
George P. Cosmatos	....	assistant director (as George Cosmatos)
Panagis Roussos	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Mikes Damalas	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
George Antonakis	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Anna Stavropoulou	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Johnny Dwyre	....	assistant editor

Other crew
May Capsaski	....	continuity
Vassilis Mariolis	....	location manager
Anis Nohra	....	production coordinator: International Film Service, Rome
Giorgos Provias	....	choreographer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• International Classics (1964) (USA) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Finos Film  technical facilities

Also Known As:

Zorba the Greek (Philippines: English title) (USA)
Alexis Zorbas (Greece)
Zorbas o Ellinas (Greece) (video title)

Runtime:

142 min

Country:

USA | UK | Greece

Language:

English | Greek

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (alternate rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Crete, Greece

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Anthony Quinn had a broken foot during filming, and thus couldn't perform the dance on the beach as scripted, which called for much leaping around. Instead, he did a slow shuffle. Director Mihalis Kakogiannisasked Anthony Quinn what the dance was, and Anthony Quinn made up a name and claimed it was traditional.

Quotes:

Madame Hortense: I too fought breasts to breasts.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jerichow (2008)

not easy to cinematize but they really did it!

A young Englishman is writing on a manuscript about the Buddha. He meets Alexis Zorba who greatly influences his outlook on life. The narrator, whose name is not revealed, hires Zorba to superintend the workmen in his lignite mine in Crete. Zorba the Greek is a book and a movie by nature on the contrast between the Apollonian and the Dionysian outlook on life. Apollo/the boss(Alan Bates) represents the spirit of order and rationality, while Dionysus/Zorba(Anthony Quinn) represents the spirit of ecstatic, spontaneous will to life. Anthony Quinn's performance is really great. I have read the book about a month ago and I guess I couldn't visualize the Zorba image in my mind that well. His looks,one-liners,his dancing sirtaki on the beach,his harmony with Madame Hortense(Lila Kedrova)just looks so nice.It is really surprising that Lila Kedrova got "Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress" while Anthony Quinn just got the nomination for best actor in a leading role.(Such a pity that he didn't get it.) Well that work of art is not so great as "Jesus Re-crucified" or "The Last Temptation of Christ " but is a still great Kazanthakis art.And the adapted movie is a really good one coz given that the whole book is based on a contrast introduced by Friedrich Nietzsche and it is not supposed to be easy to cinematize a philosophical book.Great Quinn! Great movie!(But I Don't THINK LILA KEDROVA DESERVES THAT AWARD) If you have ever read Kazanthakis you should absolutely see this movie!