Michael Cacoyannis Movies
Educated in Greece and London, Cyprus-born Michael Caccoyannis launched his professional career as a lawyer. Having had a taste of the arts by producing Greek-language programs for the BBC during the war, Caccoyannis forsook the legal world for the theatre, joining the Old Vic as an actor and director. When he ran into difficulty securing directing jobs in the British film industry, Caccoyannis returned to Greece, where he made his first film, Windfall in Athens, in 1953. The director was instrumental in the success of Greek superstar Melina Mercouri, guiding her through the multi-award-winning Stella (1955). Caccoyannis' first significant international success was Electra (1961), a fluid adaptation of the venerable Euripides play. His biggest hit was Zorba the Greek (1964), which fully demonstrated the influence that the Italian neorealist movement had had in the director's work. Unfortunately, Caccoyannis' next film, The Day the Fish Came Out (1967), was an expensive disaster, though he more than compensated for this set-back with his critically acclaimed The Trojan Women (1971) (he'd previously directed the well-received Broadway stage version of this ancient drama in 1963). After a long absence from the screen, Michael Caccoyannis directed the 1986 film Sweet Country, which received negative criticism at the time, but looks better with each passing year. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Renowned Greek filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis wrote and directed this adaptation of the classic final drama by playwright Anton Chekhov, set in 1900. Lyubov Ranevskaya (Charlotte Rampling) left Russia to escape troubling memories of the death of her son. Now her family is riddled with debt and Lyubov and her teenaged daughter Anya (Tushka Bergen) have come home to the family estate, looking for a way to pay their bills. Much to their dismay, the Ranevskayas are forced to sell their land to Lopakhin (Owen Teale), a crude businessman who intends to build a housing development in what was once the family's cherry orchard. The international cast also includes Alan Bates as Lyubov's brother Gaev, Katrin Cartlidge as Lyubov's ward Varya, and Michael Gough and Frances de la Tour as the family's servants. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlotte Rampling, Alan Bates, (more)
- 1993
In this antic sex farce, a sexually vigorous older woman (Irene Pappas) and her similarly active gay son Stratos Tzortzoglou) have their amiable life together thrown into high confusion when they both become the love object of an apparently bisexual gym instructor (Panos Mihalopoulos) who claims to be a relative of Maria Callas. Since they are both very attracted to the boy and are also fanatic fans of the opera, he gains ready entry into their lives. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Papas, Stratos Tzortzoglou, (more)
- 1987
- R
The Chilean Revolution of 1973 provides the framework of this propaganda drama that chronicles the aftermath of the assassination of President Salvador Allende. Much of the story centers on the effects the revolution has upon an American couple who lived there during the tumult. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jane Alexander, John Cullum, (more)
This production by Michael Cacoyannes is respectfully adapted from the ancient classical Greek play by Euripides (485-406 BCE). When the Athenians took off in ships to recover their fabled noble daughter Helen from Paris of Troy, their sailing ships were stalled for lack of wind among a group of islands. They didn't have enough food onboard for a long stay at sea, and some of the expedition leaders, including Agamemnon (Costa Cazakos) and Meneleas (Costa Carras), the cuckolded husband of Helen, decide to go ashore and kill some deer. However, they know that those particular deer are sacred to the gods, and that killing them would bring a curse for impiety onto the whole group. The head of the expedition, on examining the subsequent oracles, tells Agamemnon that the Athenian fleet will have no wind until he sacrifices his own daughter Iphigehnia (Tatiana Papamoskou) to atone for the death of the sacred deer. Clytemnestre (Irene Papas), the girl's mother, tries everything in her power to prevent the sacrifice but is unsuccessful. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Papas, Costa Kazakos, (more)
Filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis may have established himself in Greece, but he was born in Cyprus, and a Cypriot he remained in his heart. Cacoyannis' 1974 Attila 74: The Rape of Cyprus suggests that the Turkish invasion of his native land helped bring about the end of the military junta that had ruled Greece since 1966. But it also shows the appalling price imposed upon Cyprus and its people. Intriguingly, Attila 74 remains Cacoyannis's one-and-only documentary film. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The made-for-television movie The Story of Jacob and Joseph tells the Biblical tale of Jacob (Keith Michell) and Esau (Julian Glover), who spend 20 years fighting over their birthright. They eventually reconcile and sell their younger brother, Joseph (Victor LoBianco) into slavery. Joseph is taken to Egypt, where he becomes the Pharoah's chief advisor, yet he still resents his family for selling him into slavery. Alan Bates narrates the film, which is expertly adapted by screenwriter Ernest Kinoy and director Michael Cacoyannis. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie Guide
The Trojan Women is a film of the ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides, which is a highly mannered, ritual-like stage play. It was not easy to transform it into a movie while remaining faithful to the play, but there are many rewards for the patient viewer. The score by Mikis Theodorakis (Zorba the Greek) fits the story beautifully, and the film's re-creation of the ancient Mediterranean is memorable. Finally, the original play, despite its great age, has what are still considered among the finest roles ever written for women. The story concerns the trials and tribulations of the women of Troy at the time of Greek conquest and the truth and chilling power of the curses they hurl at their captors, who have slain every male of their nation, including the infants. Particularly notable is the performance of Irene Papas as Helen, a woman of infinite guile, whose abduction by Paris led to the whole debacle in the first place. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Katharine Hepburn, Geneviève Bujold, (more)
- 1967
Life on a remote Greek resort island is forever changed when two atomic bombs are accidentally dropped there when a NATO plane flies overhead. This comedy chronicles those changes. When the pilots realize they've lost their load, they bail out of their plane and head for the island to get help. The government has beaten them to the punch though and has already sent out an agent disguised as a resort developer. All of them are busily looking for the missing weapons when the island is suddenly filled with clamoring, hedonistic tourists who believe the developer is going to build the best resort in the area first. When the Agean fish living just off the island begin to mysteriously die, everyone there realizes that the jig is finally up and they so give in to their wildest desires. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Courtenay, Colin Blakely, (more)
If ever there was a role that Anthony Quinn was born to play, it was the lusty, life-affirming title character in Zorba the Greek. The scene is the isle of Crete, where English writer Alan Bates arrives in the hopes of realigning his own values and outlook on life. He is "adopted" by the flamboyant Zorba, who determines to educate Bates in the ways of the world-or, to be more precise, Zorba's world. Along the way, Bates is introduced to widow Irene Papas, the unrequited love object of everyone on the island, who comes to a tragic end when she is accused of adultery. The writer is also a spectator to the equally benighted romance between Zorba and venerable courtesan Lila Kedrova. Other disasters follow, but Zorba is able to convince Bates that failure is an inescapable part of life, and that only by constantly tasting defeat can one truly enjoy life's victories. Based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, Zorba the Greek earned Oscars for actress Lila Kedrova, cinematographer Walter Lassally and art director Vassilis Fotopoulos. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, (more)
- 1963
This is a standard, somewhat slow-paced drama about a much-needed transformation in a husband and father. Duncan (Van Heflin) is a womanizer who has no faith in the loyalty of any woman and cannot shake that attitude after he falls in love with Liana (Ellie Lambetti) and marries her. One of several disagreements with Liana sends Duncan out of the house with their son to escape on a boating trip. Instead of the respite he imagines, Duncan and his son are left stranded on a small raft after an accident -- giving him plenty of time to think back on his own behavior and why he might believe his wife is unfaithful. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Heflin, Ellie Lambetti, (more)
This excellent adaptation by Michael Cacoyannis of the famous tragedy by Euripides garnered him his first international success and an award at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival. Irene Papas plays Electra, the daughter of King Agememnon and sister of Orestes, caught up in an uncontrollable need for revenge. After the king returns from the battlefield, Clytemestra (his wife) joins with her lover in murdering the hapless ruler while he bathes. Orestes is sent away immediately, and Electra is left to simmer in her growing hatred of her mother until one day, she and Orestes manage to get together and hatch a scheme to avenge Agememnon's death. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Irene Papas, Yannis Fertis, (more)
- 1960
This is an uneven drama about high-powered, emotional teens caught up in the turmoil of rampaging hormones and obvious misjudgments. The young men and women are energetically pursuing life and love in spite of school demands until one day one of them dies because of an accident. That death changes the teens' energy into a destructive force, turned outward at the society and especially at the person who was responsible for the death, even if it was an accident. Perhaps too long and too intense to work efficiently, director Michael Cacoyannis would hit a better balance in 1964, in his acclaimed Zorba the Greek. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Marie Ney
Best known for their award-winning Zorba the Greek, director Michael Cacoyannis and writer Walter Lassally tackle both the grievous flaws in a selfish approach to life and the strength of character to overcome them in this cutting drama. The setting is the home of an elite Athens family that is quickly running out of money. The self-seeking mother more or less forces her daughter (Ellie Lambetti) to reject her two interesting suitors for a much-less attractive but wealthy Greek American -- he can give the family what it needs. In the meantime, their maid (Eleni Zafiriou) needs her overdue wages to cover her legitimate debts, many incurred when her little boy was traumatized and lost his ability to speak. The impoverished maid with valid concerns and the self-centered mother have a verbally violent confrontation on the issue which in the end, affects the daughter and her decisions about her own life. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellie Lambetti, Eleni Zafirou, (more)
- 1956
Though Windfall in Athens represented Michael Cacoyanis' directorial debut, it was held back from release in the U.S. until after the international success of Cacoyanis' Stella and A Girl in Black. Originally titled Kyriakatiko Ksynema, the director's maiden effort bears traces of the early talkie productions of Rene Clair. It all begins when a valuable lottery ticket is stolen from salesgirl Mina (Elli Lambetti). Offering aid and comfort to the disconsolate Mina is George (Georges Pappas), a married attorney. Meanwhile, musician Alexis (Dmitri Horn) has purchased the pilfered ticket from a gang of street kids. When Alexis wins the lottery, George tries to claim the money on behalf of Mina, resulting in an amiable romantic triangle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellie Lambetti, Georges Pappas, (more)
Hot on the heels of his breakthrough film Stella, Greek moviemaker Michael Cacoyanis came up with To Koritsi Me Ta Mara. Released worldwide as A Girl in Black, the film stars Ellie Lambetti as the title character. Because of her mother's loose reputation, Lambetti is considered "easy" by the male population of the tiny Greek island where she lives. She ultimately finds true love in the form of vacationer Dmitri Horn. The lovers' relationship is placed in sharp contrast with the cruelty and implicit degeneracy all around them. To Koritsi me ta Mara was screened at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ellie Lambetti
Earlier reports that Greek filmmaker Michael Cacoyannis' Stella was based on Olive Higgins Prouty's Stella Dallas were derived from misleading contemporary reviews. In fact, all that that Cacoyannis film has in common with the Prouty novel is the fact that both are centered around a strong, fiercely independent female protagonist. Melina Mercouri plays the film's title character, an intensely passionate girl who falls out of love with her many beaux the minute they start talking about marriage and commitment. Ultimately, Stella comes to grief when one of her more ardent suitors decides that, if he can't have her, no one can. Adapted from his own stage play by Iakovos Kambanellis, Stella was filmed in 1955, but did not attain a widespread American release until 1957. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Melina Mercouri, Aiekos Alexandrikis, (more)
