Customer Reviews

Never on Sunday

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When the Carol Burnett show was on television, she had a skit about foreign films where the stories were mistranslated. When she did the take off on NEVER ON SUNDAY, Burnett's Illia did all that Mercouri's Illia did in the movie, but the lines matched those of a young school teacher collecting money for supplies rather than those of a prostitute. The skit piqued my interest in this film and could hardly wait a while until I saw it on video, since I was probably only ten when the Carol Burnett skit first aired.

Perhaps what gives the movie its appeal is the fact that Illia, a gorgeous Greek prostitute is not the stereotype of a prostitute. She is not a miserable waif in need of salvation. She is a free spirit who cannot, or perhaps better stated, will not be tamed. The role is played masterfully by Melina Mercouri who won an award at Cannes for her performance. Homer, the American writer who wants her for himself is played by Jules Dassin. The film is set in a small Greek fishing village after World War II amend the locals give the film a great deal of flavor. There is plenty of Bouzouki music and Illia sings a rather seductive version of the well known theme song.

The DVD has a trailer for the original film. In some ways the commercial for this film is humorous since it has very little to do with the actual plot, but I suppose since this film was so risqué in its day, the trailer had to be vague.

Since the film is in black and white, it has a historic flair, but the tale itself is timeless, which makes this a true all time classic.

Never on a Sunday uses the wonderful, bigger-than-life talents of Melina Mercouri to show us the secrets of good living in her native Greece. She an independent prostitute who beds only those she is drawn to, not just those who have the money. Director Jules Dassin plays Homer, the American who is determined to make a moral and honorable woman of her. Um, as you might guess, he's fighting a losing battle from the get-go; it's like a battle between joy and responsibility - which would the average sun-kissed Greek prostitute choose? Mercouri is marvelous as she evades his best intentions while at the same time showing him the finer things in life. And then there's the memorable bouzouki theme song, which is happiness itself.
Watch it with a lover and share a bowl of pasta putanesca.

WOULD APPLAUD HEARTILY ... and IF he were around today, he'd probably write about her [pity though that in ancient times - she'd be played by a man !] Tough act this would be to follow since the Mercurial Mercouri holds the patent ~ and what a patent! A Greek slant on "My Fair lady" [Pygmalion} and perhaps just perhaps Miss Mercouri is perhaps too intellectual for this role? Nah! She's in splendid form! So's the rest of the talented cast. Great soundtrack too.

It's the old tale of the foreigner [a smitten American tourist] trying to 'reform' a local 'lady' who is quite multitalented in her own way - along the way quite a few noses are bent, glasses are broken [a great running gag in the taverna] and hearts are broken and mended.

Shocking for its period [1960] just THAT towel draped around her neck and no visible sign of anything else??

ENJOY this one - a rare find!

This is one of those rare b&w films that I think, wow, if it had been in color...but nevermind that. "Never On Sunday" is fine the way it is. A simple, intoxicating tale of an American writer named Homer (director Jules Dassin) who comes to the Greek isle of Piraeus to write and study the Greek culture. He is amazed at the laid back, carefree lifestyle he sees and the seemingly amoral ways of the local shipbuilders and fishermen. To them, drinking, partying and prostitution isn't bad---it's a fact of life, a necessity. They worship the local independent prostitute Illia (Melina Mercouri) who makes them all happy. She never sets prices and chooses only the ones she likes. She's as wonderful, exuberant and exotic as the Greek isles themselves. Homer cannot believe she's actually a (gasp) hooker and sets out to do the Pygmalian thing with her---educate her and "free" her from her lifestyle. But she is clearly happy with her life and sees nothing wrong with it. Homer has his job cut out for him. But the local bad guy Mr.No Face, who owns the local apartment row and overcharges the prostitutes who live there, wants Illia's business which she refuses to give. He cuts a deal with Homer---two weeks to educate her and get her out of business or else. But of course nothing goes exactly right. "Never On Sunday" is sexy, happy and romantic. The bouzouki music is infectious and won an Oscar in 1960 for film score. Everybody drinks ouzo and dances and sings and vies for Illia's favors. The location filmed cinematography is beautiful. The story is lyrical, like the music, and bittersweet. Dassin is wonderful as Homer, a ga-ga eyed intellectual naif with only the best intentions. But it's Mercouri as Illia who IS "Never on Sunday". She is spectacular as the earthy, wise, good-hearted earthmother/... who can teach intellectuals a thing or two about life. She knows the Greek Tragedies and can tell their stories at the drop of a hat---HER versions: "all these bad things happened and then everyone was happy and went to the seashore". But that's Illia and that's "Never On Sunday". A joyous, harmless slice of happiness you can watch again and again. The DVD print is crystal clear and sharp and the sound perfect for all the bouzouki music you'll be humming for days afterward. The spirit of this film is "ENJOY". So, please do. It's lovely.

I haven't seen this movie in years but what I remember is the music not the story line.

Never on Sunday is what Pretty Woman should have been. It doesn't try to change the hooker, more like laughs in the place of the Henry Higgins want to be. I liked the different twist for a change.
It's hard to believe this movie was once believed shocking. I remember when I was ten I sneaked this in,(and got in trouble too),only to wonder afterwards what the big deal was. This movie as such introduced me to the works of Jules Dassin, his earlier noir works and to the vibrant Melina Mercouri who sadly didn't have much of a film career. Unfortunately, most of the stuff about her on the net is about her political work. Also I liked the score.

This movie is a truly captivating and charming entertainment. The words "captivating" and "charming" could also describe Ms. Mercouri, who plays the larger-than-life prostitute, Illya. She is one of those special players, like Masina or Charlie Chaplin, who can make you laugh and cry at the same time.

I am specifically referring to a scene where, tiring of the goofy American's efforts to "save" her, Illya pulls out a little turn table from behind her bed, slips onto it a 78 of some Greek basouki music (as a matter of fact, the title song), looks wistfully at a photograph of a soccer team she obviously "serviced" in the past, and then performs an impromptu song-and-dance that is joyous, funny, and poignant--all at the same time.

What else can I say? Watch this movie, preferrably with a generous dose of ouzo!

"Never on Sunday" was a big hit when it was released in 1960. This, of course, was way before the era of the giant multiplex and the huge emphasis on opening weekend grosses. It was also a time when the median age of moviegoers was higher. Foreign films were popular, and subtitles were almost trendy. The movie was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Actress [Melina Mecouri, who won the award at Cannes], Best Director [Jules Dassin], Best Screenplay [also Dassin] and Best Costume Design [Theoni V. Aldredge]. Its sole win was for Best Song [Manos Hadjidakis]. I mention all this because the movie has fallen into obscurity, and I wanted the reader to know that it was considered more than a mere trifle of a comedy in its day. As far as I am concerned, it remains almost as fresh and sparkling as ever. Considered to be risqué and even shocking forty years ago, this tale of an exuberant, full of life Greek prostitute and the stuffy, high-minded American who tries to change her may be tame by today's standards, but it also has a timeless quality to it. After all, the war between the free-spirited and the conservative still rages on.

Melina Mecouri was one of the most beautiful, earthy and mesmerizing actresses ever to grace the screen. Jules Dassin, a very good director, was her husband. It's obvious that he wrote the movie for her. They later successfully collaborated on the delightful comedy "Topkapi" [available on DVD and VHS] and not so successfully on a modern version of the Greek tragedy "Phaedra" [not available in either format.]

By the way, "Never on Sunday" predates by four years the famous "Zorba the Greek" [available only on VHS], starring Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates. Both movies are highly recommended.

What a pleasure to finally be able to see this great movie again. I never find it in video stores. Melina Mercouri is fantastic. Jules Dassin is a real know-it-all American do gooder who makes me cringe. The dancing and music are so Greek, and I love Greek dancing. Great acting from the Greek cast. You could practice your Greek, though subtitles are provided. There is also plenty of English, if you aren't used to reading subtitles. Actually anyone who knows this film is accustomed to subtitles because you like lots of foreign films.

This is a very light, charming ode to the Greek spirit that comes off as some kind of mix of The Taming of the Shrew and Zorba the Greek. The American character drove me nuts with his intellectual presumptions of telling the Greeks how they ought to be, since the real Greece has somehow failed his high-flung notions. His transformation at the end was very gratifying. Melina Mercouri radiates spontaneaity and joy, it's a shame she didn't experience greater success in English language movies. Now then, pass the ouzo and let's start dancing!