Zorba the Greek
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Movie Reviews of Zorba the Greek
Movie Review: A man needs a little madness, or else... he never dares cut the rope and be free
Summary: 5 Stars
"Zorba the Greek" is one of those magical, bittersweet movies that reminds you what living should really be about. Not existing, but LIVING.
Anthony Quinn created a vibrant, lovable personality that leaps off the screen in every scene, and he rules the movie as its trickster god. Though "Zorba" reminds viewers that life can be unfair and bitter, it can also be full of joy, love, fun and simple pleasures. It's hard not to have some happy tears when this film finally ends.
Stuffy, prissy, uptight Basil (Alan Bates) is journeying to Crete to take care of his inheritance, some land and mines. On the way, he meets the scruffy, earthy Alexis Zorba (Anthony Quinn), who volunteers to be Basil's all-round sidekick ("I like you... take me with you!"). Basil can't exactly say no, especially since he is as different as can be from the native Cretans. In fact, he sticks out like a sore thumb all the time.
But Zorba has more than music and soup to offer. His gusto for life is all about women, wine and general joie de vivre, but he also hides secret pains in his past. And he introduces Basil to a beautiful, tragic young widow, an aging prostitute with a sad past, and the beauties of Crete itself. With Zorba to guide him, Basil finds out how to really live.
The setting is the stark, primal beauty of Crete -- lots of dusty, stony roads, mountains full of gnarly trees and cruelly beautiful landscapes. It's reflected in the heartless behavior that small communities sometimes have (such as the poor widow), but it's also a backdrop against which the simple pleasures of life (through Zorba) can shine the brightest.
Director/writer Michael Cacoyannis got two Oscar nominations for this movie, and it's not hard to see why. He made the dialogue quirky in a realistic way ("What kind of man are you? Don't you even like DOLPHINS?"), and let the story unfold in a natural, sometimes bittersweet way. The only problem is the way in which all the main women in the story end up.
Zorba is one of those really magical movie characters -- he laughs, drinks, weeps, dances, and worries about his crazy brain. He's an impish figure like a trickster god with no real harm in him. Even a collapsing mine shaft can't keep him down -- he just walks out and curses the mountain ("I'll eat your guts!"). Alan Bates is the ideal counterpart, as a repressed, bookish little Englishmen who starts to realize that propriety is overrated.
"Life is trouble. Only death is not," sums up "Zorba the Greek," an enchanting look at how to enjoy your life. It's a memorable, lovable little movie, and a deserving classic.
Movie Review: A quixotic tale
Summary: 5 Stars
"Zorba the Greek" in many ways is similar to Miguel de Cervantes' "Don Quixote". Alexis Zorba (Anthony Quinn) like Sancho Panza is the loyal guardian to his rationale, yet repressed Anglo-Greek 'Boss' (Alan Bates). Madame Hortense, the old French consort (Oscar winner Lila Kedrova) whom he proposes marriage is likened to Dulcina. He defends a widow (Irene Papas) when villagers attack her to exact family honour for the suicide of a son and would-be suitor, although she is ultimately murdered. As the movie progresses, we witness Alan Bates' character, Basil, gradually adopting more and more of the loveable rascal's traits, just as Sancho Panza began to emulate Don Quixote's chivalry and quest for adventure.
I agree the music and dancing is infectious. The scenery and casting extras on the island of Crete also lend credibility to Zorba's whimsical desire to tame their austerity and harshness, although he doesn't always succeed. Still -- and I can't emphasise this enough -- you cannot help but love this guy's audacity, his craziness to continually scheme and to rise above every adversity, hardship thrown at him. Zorba takes life by the horns and tries to live it on his terms.
Zorba's bacchanal lifestyle and outlook may seem overly provocative. Yet, he is certainly the most humane and civilised of characters when compared to the villagers on the island. In this respect, Nikos Kazantzakis, the author of "Zorba The Greek", lets it be known we should be less analytical, less dogmatic towards circumstances that befall us in life. Rather, we should learn to be more compassionate towards others; we should discover the beauty of singing and dancing with life...enjoying its pleasures and mysteries as it reveals itself little by little, day after day.
Notable features on this 20th Century Fox DVD include:
* An alternative (and I might add cheesy) beginning to the film with Anthony Quinn in a toga, resting on a cloud, pretending to be Zeus or God
* Stills of Quinn et al arriving in Greece for the filming and the Paris premier of "Zorba The Greek"
* Running commentary from director Michael Cacoyannis synced to the film
* A biography on Quinn
* Standard chapter, language and subtitle options
Movie Review: the joyful spirit, deep injustices, and eternal hope of S Europe
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a beautiful and extremely raw film about an impoverished Crete, from the point of view of a sensitive literary man and his charge, the irrepressible Zorba. I saw this when very young with my father; his point was that it is about learning to dance to the miracle of life, but for me it sparked a fascination with Europe, at once so similar yet so different.
It starts with a charming local (Quinn) hussling the unworldly writer, Bates. This is a character that Quinn plays to perfect pitch, funny and full of life yet aggressive in his pursuit of his mark. He accompanies him to Crete, where the writer inherited some land, including a decrepit mine that he wants to reanimate. Zorba introduces him to the subtleties of village life in what is one of the most charming and believable portrayals of the virtues of ancient tradition. I was swept into it as a child and now as an adult, though having lived in Europe for decades I am far more jaded than I was. The landscape is dotted with the most vivid characters, from naive, wine-loving priests and rapacious villagers to pathetic spinsters or coveted widows. It is poignant without Hollywood sentimentality.
The underside quickly reveals itself, in particular with a brutal murder as public retribution, which is both unjust and displays the helplessness of the protagonists. It is tragedy of a type that AMericans would find hard to understand. The writer watches with the deep regret of a new lover. Another awful scene is the looting of a woman's house while she is on her death bed, a lonely creature whom Zorba befriended out of sympathy.
But the main plot line is Zorba as he teaches the writer about life. Their relationship, with all its frustrations, is fresh and completely believable, an original literary gem. The writer learns to laugh, to approach others for love, and to dance. I found myself flooded with memories of my father, who loved to watch the dance but felt inhibited by fundamentalist religious teachings from his childhood. He understood the vitality of spirit, the love of the moment and even spectacular failure, that Zorba embodies. It was a great gift to me and everyone can experience it in this moving film.
Movie Review: "God Bless And The Devil Too"
Summary: 5 Stars
The rain beats down on a dark, dreary Greek harbor town as a young, well educated English writer (Alan Bates) climbs about a weathered freighter sailing for Crete. Basil (Bates) is making his first voyage to his ancestoral home, he has inherited some property and a mine that he hopes to re-open.
Shortly after boarding Basil is approached by an enigmatic, grizzled looking Greek named Zorba (Anthony Quinn). With intense, flashing eyes and the intimidating smile of a madman Zorba looks into the face of the bewildered Englishman and boldly states, "I like you, take me with you." Surprisingly Basil agrees, thus beginning a most unconventional friendship and a journey of self-discovery the likes of which has seldom be captured on film.
From the first sighting of Zorba peeking through the rain drenched window on the ship you become distinctly aware of the presence of a unique and magical personality. A personality embodying the soul and wisdom of the ages. Priest, confessor, shaman, guru, enlightened master, friend and follow traveller. Reminiscent of the Greek God Pan, Zorba laughs, sings and dances through all the joys and tragedies of life viewing everything as a necessary part of the process of living. As Zorba tells his young friend and pupil, "Life is trouble, only death is not."
Zorba works his magic from beginning to end and will enchant the viewer long after he leaves us dancing with Basil on the barren sandy beaches of Crete against the backdrop of the beautiful Mediterranean.
Adapted from the novel of the same name by Nikos Kazantzakis and released in '64 'Zorba the Greek' truly captures the existential landscape of the 20th century and Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates deliver the performances of a lifetime. Add to the mixture the stark but inviting scenery of the island of Crete and an intoxicating soundtrack of traditional Greek music and you have one of the greatest motion pictures of all-time. Truly a masterpiece! OPA!!
Movie Review: IMPRESSIVE LOOKING TRANSFER OF OUTSTANDING CHARACTER STUDY
Summary: 5 Stars
"Zorba the Greek" is the three time Oscar winner that delves deeply into the rich cultural heritage of Greece and comes up a powerful, moving and emotional cropper. When timid English writer, Basil (Alan Bates) hires the enigmatic, fiery and lustful Zorba (Anthony Quinn) to work a mine he's inherited in Crete, a clash of cultural differences arises. Basil despises Zorba's fast and loose way with women but admires his work ethic and protective nature toward a widow who becomes the target of a group of jealous men whose advances the widow has thwarted. Based on the best selling novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, the film's screenplay and direction belong to Michael Cacoyannis who excels at capturing the flavor and passion of the Grecian masses. Through Zorba's example Basil comes to understand his own shortcomings in life and ultimately grows to engage the world around him. The addictive mandolin soundtrack became an instant best selling record of its day.
Part of Fox's Studio Series, "Zorba the Greek" has been impeccably mastered for DVD. The gray scale is exemplary with sharp contrasts, solid deep blacks and a minimal amount of film grain. Though some of the stock footage varies in quality with the rest of the picture, there is a startling lack of age related artifacts. Framed in its original 1:85:1 aspect ratio and enhanced for widescreen televisions, this is truly an outstanding example of DVD's capabilities. Digital anomalies are practically nonexistent and the overall quality of the image is very smooth and easy on the eyes. The soundtrack has been cleaned up and remixed to stereo. The original mono is also included. Extras include Anthony Quinn's Biography Special, a stills gallery, some news reel footage and theatrical trailers. This is definitely one to add to your growing library of classic films.