Description

“I have never been ashamed of my soul as much as in front of Zorba,” Kazantzakis writes of his partner and companion. The true man whom the author renamed from George to Alexis Zorba, created him on paper as a fictional person and transformed his exuberant from vital momentum character, giving him the monumental dimensions of a hero.

The film Alexis Zorbas (Zorba the Greek) is a 1964 British-Greek film directed by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, Irene Pappas and Sotiris Moustakas. It is based on the book by Nikos Kazantzakis Life and State by Alexis Zorba.

The first to be inspired to make a film about Kazantzakis’ book were the American actor Fredrik March and his wife – also an actress – Florans Eldridge. During a visit to Greece in 1953 they told reporters that they had suggested to Elia Kazan that they make a film based on Alexis Zorba Kazantzakis. In 1954 it was rumored that the film would be shot starring Bart Lancaster. In the mid-1950s, Jules Dassin attempted unsuccessfully to direct the book starring Soviet actor Nikolai Cherkasov.
“Anthony Quinn, one-piece, huge and unshaven, is a perfect Zorba,” Freddy German wrote in Images in a report from the filming of the film. In Chania and the surrounding areas, the story of “Alexis Zorba” unfolded in the spring of 1964, as inspired by Nikos Kazantzakis and carried to the screen by Michalis Cacoyannis. One of the most popular literary heroes, Zorba was identified cinematically with Anthony Quinn.
The arrival in Athens of the protagonist and other famous actors made Crete and in particular the filming industry at the center of international cinematic interest.
Alan Bates performed the author, Irene Pappa the attractive and aggressive widow and George Fountas the Mavrantonis. Simone Signoré was chosen for the role of Madame Hortense at the beginning. He came to Crete with momentum and mood but as soon as he had to add years with special makeup he panicked and left. Lucky was her replacement Lila Kendrova who the following year was awarded an Oscar for her performance. “The revelation of the film is the Cretan extras”, claimed Michael Cacoyannis who called Alexis Zorba “anarchist comedy”.
• Director: Michalis Cacoyannis
• Starring: Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, Irene Pappa, Lila Kendrova, Giorgos Fountas, Sotiris Moustakas, Eleni Anousaki, Giorgos Vogiatzis, Takis Emmanouil, Anna Kyriakou.
• Production: Michalis Cacoyannis
• Script: : Michalis Cacoyannis
• Photo: Walter Lassali
• Editing: Michalis Cacoyannis
• Music: Manos Hadjidakis
• Duration: 142 ́
• Genre:Social
• First release: 14/12/1964
• Sound Quality: Dolbydigital 5.1
• Image: Black and white
• Language: Greek, English
• Subtitles: Greek, English

The film was awarded three Oscars:
Academy Award for Best Actress to Lila Kendrova.
Oscar for artistic direction (for black and white film) to Vassilis Fotopoulos.
Oscar for photography (for black and white film) to Walter Lasali.

Dimensions : 18.5 Χ 13cm