Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5232 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-05-09
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Black & White, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Greek, Dutch, Bulgarian, Polish, Hungarian, Portuguese, Arabic, French, Italian, Hebrew
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 136 minutes

Synopsis
Basil, a young English writer of Greek ancestry, meets an older, free-spirited Greek peasant named Zorba (Anthony Quinn) on the island of Crete. While Zorba pursues a relationship with Madame Hortense, an aging French courtesan, the inhibited Basil summons up the courage to court a young widow. The young, unhappy Englishman finds himself learning valuable life lessons from Zorba, the earthy peasant who has a zeal for everything he does. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor (Quinn) and winner of three, including Best Supporting Actress (Lila Kedrova).

Customer Reviews

One of the best films ever
Quite simply one of the best films ever made, Antony Quinn is superb as Zorba and the rest of the cast too are excellent. DVD also has a biogrphy on Quinn and a two hour audio by the director on the making of the film.

A masterpiece
This film is my all time favourite. A true classic. I am a great lover of Greece and all things Greek and this film captures the essence of the Greek people. It makes me laugh and cry. It is a beautifully written story of happiness and tragedy. Anthony Quinn is marvellous and Alan Bates is on top form. It is a must for any collector of true classics.

Polar opposites, and a great film...
Basil (Alan Bates), a somewhat boring Englishman that also happens to be a writer, goes to Crete in order to take charge of small inheritance. In his journey to that island he meets Zorba (Anthony Quinn), a Greek that is his polar opposite. Zorba is temperamental, and acts before thinking, enjoying life at it fullest with no regard for the consequences.

Circumstances, and Zorba´s wish to earn some money, join this two men. Their interaction is something to be enjoyed as we watch “Zorba the Greek” (1964) once and again. Of course, the scenery is beautiful, and the music outstanding, but the real magic of this film is that it shows you what really good actors can do with a great script, and a director that knows what he is doing.

This film has hilarious scenes, but also others so dramatic that you will literally feel the pain of the characters. And of course, the ending is nothing less than perfect.

On the whole, I believe that this film is an excellent example of a true classic. Enjoy it.

Belen Alcat