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Zorba the Greek Overview:

Zorba the Greek (1964) was a Adventure - Drama Film directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis and produced by Anthony Quinn and Mihalis Kakogiannis.

The film was based on the novel Life and Adventures of Alexis Zorbas (Zorba the Greek) written by Nikos Kazantzakis published in 1946 (1952 Eng).

Academy Awards 1964 --- Ceremony Number 37 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best ActorAnthony QuinnNominated
Best Supporting ActressLila KedrovaWon
Best Art DirectionVassilis FotopoulosWon
Best CinematographyWalter LassallyWon
Best DirectorMichael CacoyannisNominated
Best PictureMichael Cacoyannis, ProducerNominated
Best WritingMichael CacoyannisNominated
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Zorba the Greek BlogHub Articles:

Zorba the Greek (1964)

By Beatrice on Jun 8, 2018 From Flickers in Time

Zorba the Greek (Alexis Zorba) Directed by Michael Cacoyannis Written by Michael Cacoyannis from a novel by Nikos Kazantzakis 1964/Greece/USA Twentieth Century Fox Repeat viewing/Amazon Instant Anthony Quinn is such an infectious life force that it is easy to forget how sad much of this movie is. Ba... Read full article

Zorba the Greek

By Alyson on Mar 20, 2010 From The Best Picture Project

While waiting for a ship to Crete, uptight Englishman, Basil, meets a strange man, Zorba, and before they know more than each other’s names, Zorba wants to go with Basil to work for him.  Like most people, Basil is hesitant to make a stranger his new business partner.  He tells Zorba that he’s... Read full article

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Zorba the Greek Quotes:

Basil: I... couldn't help.
Alexis Zorba: What kind of man are you, don't you even like dolphins?
Alexis Zorba: How can I not love them? Poor weak creatures... and they take so little, a man's hand on their breast, and they give you all they got.
Alexis Zorba: There will be no funeral. She was a Frank, she crossed herself with four fingers. The priest will not bury her like everybody else.
Alexis Zorba: Silly old bitch. She's not alone, she's with Suleiman Pasha having a hell of a time.
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Zorba the Greek Facts
Lila Kedrova learned English specially for the film.
George P. Cosmatos: the disgruntled boy who writes down the illiterate Zorba's thoughts for him.
Such was the interest in an adaptation of Nikos Kazantzakis's hugely popular novel, the film was already in the black before it opened.
In the earlier stages of filming, Mihalis Kakogiannis and Anthony Quinn had frequent disagreements as the director felt that his leading actor was being too over-the-top.
Simone Signoret was the original choice for Madame Hortense. After filming began, director Mihalis Kakogiannis realized that she wasn't what he wanted for the part and asked permission from Darryl F. Zanuck to replace her. He agreed and he proposed Bette Davis. Kakogiannis, though, had Lila Kedrova in mind. Zanuck had no idea who Kedrova was, or how she even looked, but he trusted Kakogiannis very much, so he agreed.
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