Never on Sunday
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Movie Reviews of Never on Sunday
Movie Review: HAPPINESS IS.......
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those rare b&w films that I think, wow, if it had been in color...but nevermind that. "Never On Sunday" is fine the way it is. A simple, intoxicating tale of an American writer named Homer (director Jules Dassin) who comes to the Greek isle of Piraeus to write and study the Greek culture. He is amazed at the laid back, carefree lifestyle he sees and the seemingly amoral ways of the local shipbuilders and fishermen. To them, drinking, partying and prostitution isn't bad---it's a fact of life, a necessity. They worship the local independent prostitute Illia (Melina Mercouri) who makes them all happy. She never sets prices and chooses only the ones she likes. She's as wonderful, exuberant and exotic as the Greek isles themselves. Homer cannot believe she's actually a (gasp) hooker and sets out to do the Pygmalian thing with her---educate her and "free" her from her lifestyle. But she is clearly happy with her life and sees nothing wrong with it. Homer has his job cut out for him. But the local bad guy Mr.No Face, who owns the local apartment row and overcharges the prostitutes who live there, wants Illia's business which she refuses to give. He cuts a deal with Homer---two weeks to educate her and get her out of business or else. But of course nothing goes exactly right. "Never On Sunday" is sexy, happy and romantic. The bouzouki music is infectious and won an Oscar in 1960 for film score. Everybody drinks ouzo and dances and sings and vies for Illia's favors. The location filmed cinematography is beautiful. The story is lyrical, like the music, and bittersweet. Dassin is wonderful as Homer, a ga-ga eyed intellectual naif with only the best intentions. But it's Mercouri as Illia who IS "Never on Sunday". She is spectacular as the earthy, wise, good-hearted earthmother/... who can teach intellectuals a thing or two about life. She knows the Greek Tragedies and can tell their stories at the drop of a hat---HER versions: "all these bad things happened and then everyone was happy and went to the seashore". But that's Illia and that's "Never On Sunday". A joyous, harmless slice of happiness you can watch again and again. The DVD print is crystal clear and sharp and the sound perfect for all the bouzouki music you'll be humming for days afterward. The spirit of this film is "ENJOY". So, please do. It's lovely.Movie Review: "But never ever on a Sunday a Sunday a Sunday, cause that's my day of rest"
Summary: 5 Stars
Melina Mercouri stars as Ilya, a Greek prostitute who charms everyone she meets. Ilya is the fabled "hooker with a heart of gold" who enjoys her work and has throngs of customers who respect and adore her. Yes, it sounds like a (twisted) fairy tale, but Melina is so good in this role that it succeeds surprisingly well. The plot is thrown into action when she meets Homer, a dense American tourist played by the film's director (and later Mercouri's live-in love), Jules Dassin. Homer is smitten with Ilya but believes that she can be so much more; plus, he kind of wants Ilya for himself. So he embarks on a plan to make her into a lady. Yes, the movie cribs shamelessly from "Pygmalion," but it adds enough sauciness to make us forget that movie quickly. Ilya's transformation is rapid and not too drastic, helping keep the film breezy and brief. Will Ilya end up a cultured bride for Homer or continue her ways as a free-spirited prostitute?
The film score was wildly popular at the time, with the familiar instrumental title song winning the Oscar for composer Manos Hatzidakis. The song makes use of the unique sounding bouzouki, which is similar to a mandolin. Mecouri also sings a version of the song in the movie, and it later was remade by numerous 60s stars, including Connie Francis and Petula Clark. You'll be humming the song for days after watching "Never on Sunday."
However, the true star is the leading lady. Mercouri was nominated for an Oscar for her role; she lost to Elizabeth Taylor (who also played a hooker in the atrocious "Butterfield 8") but became an international star in the process. She made movies and starred in plays for the next two decades before ending up in politics; she was eventually voted into the Hellenic Parliament and became Greece's Minister for Culture. Although she made relatively few movies during her career, her work in "Never on Sunday" is memorable enough to cement her place in cinema history.
Movie Review: An All Time Classic With A Great Score
Summary: 5 Stars
When the Carol Burnett show was on television, she had a skit about foreign films where the stories were mistranslated. When she did the take off on NEVER ON SUNDAY, Burnett's Illia did all that Mercouri's Illia did in the movie, but the lines matched those of a young school teacher collecting money for supplies rather than those of a prostitute. The skit piqued my interest in this film and could hardly wait a while until I saw it on video, since I was probably only ten when the Carol Burnett skit first aired.Perhaps what gives the movie its appeal is the fact that Illia, a gorgeous Greek prostitute is not the stereotype of a prostitute. She is not a miserable waif in need of salvation. She is a free spirit who cannot, or perhaps better stated, will not be tamed. The role is played masterfully by Melina Mercouri who won an award at Cannes for her performance. Homer, the American writer who wants her for himself is played by Jules Dassin. The film is set in a small Greek fishing village after World War II amend the locals give the film a great deal of flavor. There is plenty of Bouzouki music and Illia sings a rather seductive version of the well known theme song.
The DVD has a trailer for the original film. In some ways the commercial for this film is humorous since it has very little to do with the actual plot, but I suppose since this film was so risqué in its day, the trailer had to be vague.
Since the film is in black and white, it has a historic flair, but the tale itself is timeless, which makes this a true all time classic.
Movie Review: ARISTOPHANES ......
Summary: 5 Stars
WOULD APPLAUD HEARTILY ... and IF he were around today, he'd probably write about her [pity though that in ancient times - she'd be played by a man !] Tough act this would be to follow since the Mercurial Mercouri holds the patent ~ and what a patent! A Greek slant on "My Fair lady" [Pygmalion} and perhaps just perhaps Miss Mercouri is perhaps too intellectual for this role? Nah! She's in splendid form! So's the rest of the talented cast. Great soundtrack too.It's the old tale of the foreigner [a smitten American tourist] trying to 'reform' a local 'lady' who is quite multitalented in her own way - along the way quite a few noses are bent, glasses are broken [a great running gag in the taverna] and hearts are broken and mended.
Shocking for its period [1960] just THAT towel draped around her neck and no visible sign of anything else??
ENJOY this one - a rare find!
Movie Review: Ayyyy....OPA!!!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Purchased this and Zorba the Greek to help remind me of my time living in Crete. They both represent the joy and exuberence with which the Greeks and Cretans live. In Never On Sunday, the pragmatic Homer tries to "better" Illia by having her conform to post-Greco-Roman empire Western ideals. What he fails to realize, is that the pure beauty and essence of truth is what makes Illia tick to begin with. She represents a desire and quest for things "epicurian and sensual", but without the baggage of our modern societal morals. It is this living in the moment, without pretense and without malice that captures the spirit of Greece. Homer finally gets it, and is better for it. Eferesto poli ti Illia!