Zorba The Greek Details

Marvellously emotive and perfectly cast film version of Nikos Kazantzakis's novel about the salt-of-the-earth peasant who teaches an uptight Englishman the secret of life. As Zorba, Anthony Quinn plays the part of a lifetime, so much so that the role greatly impinged on the actor both in real life and in all his movies ever since. Also adding to the film's particular and unusual grace are wonderful Oscar-winning black-and-white photography by Walter Lassally, a haunting Mikis Theodorakis score — since responsible for a zillion pieces of smashed crockery in Greek restaurants worldwide — and a glowingly warm portrayal (also Oscar-rewarded) by Lila Kedrova as an aged prostitute. It's a shade too long for its own good, though.

A mainly enjoyable character study of a larger-than-life character, this film made famous by its music does not really hang together dramatically and has several melodramatic excrescences.