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Zorba the Greek (1964, Greece/UK)
(aka Alexis Zorba)
In triple-nominated (for writing, directing and producing)
Michael Cacoyannis' Best Picture-nominated inspirational drama:
- the hammy trademark role of boisterous, lusty, lively,
flamboyant itinerant Greek laborer and bon vivant Alexis Zorba
(Oscar-nominated Anthony Quinn)
- his relationship with writer's-blocked British-raised
Basil (Alan Bates) who traveled to the island of Crete to reopen
his father's closed mine
- Zorba's romance with the hotel's manager - lonely
ex-prostitute and porn actress Madame Hortense (Oscar-winning Lila
Kedrova)
- Zorba's admonition to Basil about the "greatest
sin": "If a woman calls a man to her bed and he will NOT
go!"
- Basil's yearning for a beautiful Widow (Irene Pappas)
- the tragic, disturbing scene in which the Widow was
stoned by a mob after the village idiot committed suicide
- Hortense's moving death in Zorba's arms from an unnamed
illness (possibly pneumonia)
- the memorable, joyous scene in which Zorba taught
Basil to dance the sirtiki on a beach
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