Zorba the Greek

A 1964 released drama about a joyful Greek named Zorba and the timid Englishman writer who receives an inheritance in the island of Crete. His perception of life changes when the gregarious Greek character shows him the pleasures of Greece. Starring Anthony Quinn perhaps in the best role of his career as Zorba the Greek, Alan Bates and Irene Papas The film obtained 7 nominations and won 3 Academy Awards.

In the Greek island of Crete, Basil (Alan Bates), a timid and shy writer meets Zorba (Anthony Quinn), an outspoken peasant with a huge love for life. When Zorba accepts the job that Basil offers him, to go work in his abandoned mine, Basil begins a learning path, changing from being a static observer of life to become a full participant of it. This classic film also features Greek actress Irene Papas as "The Widow" and Lila Kedrova whose interpretation of Madame Hortense gave her an Oscar. The film's fabulous soundtrack by Mikis Theodorakis "Zorbas the Greek", served as the background for the most famous scene of the movie, when Zorba shows Basil how to dance the Sirtaki, a Greek traditional dance. The song is well known in popular culture today.

"If ever the abundance of life force in man has been poured forth on the screen — and, goodness knows, many efforts to do so have been made over the years—it is done in the brilliant performance given by Anthony Quinn in the title role of the film that Michael Cacoyannis has made from Nikos Kazantzakis's classic novel, Zorba, the Greek."http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B04E1DE1F3FEE32A2575BC1A9649D946591D6CF

"Zorba the Greek' is quite a bad film. Amid the purifying scenery of Crete this tainted production slowly unfolds. The manner of execution is as fixed as an aria, and neither Quinn nor the director, Michael Cacoyannis, has invented so much as a fresh trill."http://www.alanbates.com/abarchive/film/zorba.html

• Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba

• Alan Bates as Basil

• Irene Papas as a Widow

• Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense

• Sotiris Moustakas as Mimithos