Zorba the Greek (1964)
In Zorba the Greek, it’s the same old adage of foreigners who are uncouth, sloppy, dumb, violent, and ruled by lust. It’s the familiar case of young, uptight person learning how to really live by an earthy, coarse mentor. So why is this movie, which is actually quite revolting, so famous and beloved?
Alan Bates serves as the young, uptight person who doesn’t really know how to live, and since he’s so young and handsome, the audience has no problem putting themselves in his place—that’s really the point in these types of stories, for the audience to learn the mentor’s lessons, not the character. He goes to Greece and is somewhat enchanted, somewhat repelled by the different culture. It’s surprising that the people of Crete actually agreed to act in this movie, since they’re portrayed as despicable human beings. In one scene, the entire village comes together to stone a woman to death. In another, they invade a dying woman’s house to steal her things. Director Michael Cacoyannis purposely catches closeups of wizened faces, missing teeth, sweat, and dirt. It would feel offensive, creating a “foreign people are slobs” atmosphere on purpose, but since all the filmmakers were Greek, it falls into the unspoken rule that they’re allowed to treat their own any way they please.
Zorba is Anthony Quinn’s most famous role, the tour-de-force everyone references and tries to emulate, even if they don’t really know who Anthony Quinn is. The warmth, wisdom, freedom, love, acceptance, and of course, the dance, are all classic Anthony Quinn traits, and therefore Zorba traits. The Academy, in its infinite wisdom, awarded Tony Oscars for roles he never should have even been nominated for, and when he gave a tour-de-force performance, he was often snubbed (see Hot Spell, Requiem for a Heavyweight, or The Secret of Santa Vittoria). Zorba the Greek is the type of movie you watch and say, “Of course he won the Oscar for this!” and in fact, some people think he did win for it. He’s a giant, but he’s flawed. In one speech, he talks about how he’s raped women and pillaged villages in his youth. In another, he giggles and dances and it’s impossible to think badly of him. Anthony Quinn was quite possibly the most charming actor Hollywood ever produced, oozing out a completely natural, non-conceited charm and making every audience member wish they could be his friend within seconds. Even though he’s ignorant, foolhardy, grungy, overbearing, and successfully comes across as not remembering the last time he bathed, he’s just magnetic. Everyone else in the movie diminished next to him, and when Alan Bates finally decides to embrace life (this shouldn’t be a spoiler, since that’s the point of the story), no one really cares. Ironically, the famous Zorba dance was created on accident because Tony had a broken foot at the time of the filming.
This highly successful film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and took home three, although for the life of me, I can’t understand why Lila Kedrova was even nominated, let alone won. Ironically, the incredibly famous music, by Mikis Theodorakis, that’s spoofed and repeated as often as the “Zorba dance” was not nominated for an Oscar. If you’ve never seen this classic, rent it this weekend. Pick out a nice bottle of wine and put together a little picnic of cheeses, meats, bread, and of course, olives. The movie was filmed on location, and you’ll feel like you’re really there – although after watching it, you probably won’t ever want to take a vacation among the Cretons.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When they're on the ferry boat to Crete, the camera tilts up and down repeatedly, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to upsetting violence, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "130pardy Part" for posting!
More Anthony Quinn movies here!
Alan Bates serves as the young, uptight person who doesn’t really know how to live, and since he’s so young and handsome, the audience has no problem putting themselves in his place—that’s really the point in these types of stories, for the audience to learn the mentor’s lessons, not the character. He goes to Greece and is somewhat enchanted, somewhat repelled by the different culture. It’s surprising that the people of Crete actually agreed to act in this movie, since they’re portrayed as despicable human beings. In one scene, the entire village comes together to stone a woman to death. In another, they invade a dying woman’s house to steal her things. Director Michael Cacoyannis purposely catches closeups of wizened faces, missing teeth, sweat, and dirt. It would feel offensive, creating a “foreign people are slobs” atmosphere on purpose, but since all the filmmakers were Greek, it falls into the unspoken rule that they’re allowed to treat their own any way they please.
Zorba is Anthony Quinn’s most famous role, the tour-de-force everyone references and tries to emulate, even if they don’t really know who Anthony Quinn is. The warmth, wisdom, freedom, love, acceptance, and of course, the dance, are all classic Anthony Quinn traits, and therefore Zorba traits. The Academy, in its infinite wisdom, awarded Tony Oscars for roles he never should have even been nominated for, and when he gave a tour-de-force performance, he was often snubbed (see Hot Spell, Requiem for a Heavyweight, or The Secret of Santa Vittoria). Zorba the Greek is the type of movie you watch and say, “Of course he won the Oscar for this!” and in fact, some people think he did win for it. He’s a giant, but he’s flawed. In one speech, he talks about how he’s raped women and pillaged villages in his youth. In another, he giggles and dances and it’s impossible to think badly of him. Anthony Quinn was quite possibly the most charming actor Hollywood ever produced, oozing out a completely natural, non-conceited charm and making every audience member wish they could be his friend within seconds. Even though he’s ignorant, foolhardy, grungy, overbearing, and successfully comes across as not remembering the last time he bathed, he’s just magnetic. Everyone else in the movie diminished next to him, and when Alan Bates finally decides to embrace life (this shouldn’t be a spoiler, since that’s the point of the story), no one really cares. Ironically, the famous Zorba dance was created on accident because Tony had a broken foot at the time of the filming.
This highly successful film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and took home three, although for the life of me, I can’t understand why Lila Kedrova was even nominated, let alone won. Ironically, the incredibly famous music, by Mikis Theodorakis, that’s spoofed and repeated as often as the “Zorba dance” was not nominated for an Oscar. If you’ve never seen this classic, rent it this weekend. Pick out a nice bottle of wine and put together a little picnic of cheeses, meats, bread, and of course, olives. The movie was filmed on location, and you’ll feel like you’re really there – although after watching it, you probably won’t ever want to take a vacation among the Cretons.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. When they're on the ferry boat to Crete, the camera tilts up and down repeatedly, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to upsetting violence, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "130pardy Part" for posting!
More Anthony Quinn movies here!