Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

Pluskylang Great Film overall

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Logan By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The_Film_Cricket There's nothing quite like discovering a talent that you've never seen before. That's what I got from Melina Mercouri. Directed by her then fiancé Jules Dassin. Not classically beautiful but possessing a smile and a personality that could light up Chicago, Mercouri plays Ilya, a prostitute in a small Greek village of Piraeus who brings life and music to those around her. Surrounded by a small troop of male groupies, she is a fountain of joy and life.Into the picture comes Homer Thrace (Dassin), an American who is smart but does not possess a great deal of common sense. Watching her turn a local tavern into a place of life and music, he explains that he has become disillusioned by the sadness in the world and has returned to Greece, the cradle of civilization, in an attempt to discover what went wrong. Through this woman, brimming with happiness, he hopes to find out.Homer loves Ilya's spirit but he's troubled by her profession which he finds demeaning. He also finds it a little troubling that she reinterprets the Greek tragedies she attends, having misconceptions about Oedipus Rex. He asks for a little time to be alone with her, to educate her on the great philosophers who walked on the very same ground under her feet. He rearranges her apartment, giving her the books to educate her and trying to turn her toward Greek intellectualism. But, as we see, a little knowledge is a good thing but too much knowledge turns away the jollier sides of her personality. He doesn't realized it but by pruning her, he has cut away the bits of her mind that make her happy. She becomes modest and more serious . . . but not for long.Mercouri gives a performance of a character we don't see much in American films, the kind of person with a lust for life, the kind of person who absolutely lives to get out of bed in the morning. Her looks wouldn't get her work as a fashion model, but standing at the center of this film it is impossible to resist what she brings to the screen. When she dances, it isn't choreographed; it bubbles up from inside her. When we see her in the throng of men at the tavern, there is a reverence in their eyes. They don't see her as a sex object but more of a fountain of happiness; they respect her even though she engages in a profession that doesn't warrant it. There is a moment late in the film, a beautiful moment, when we see her in her apartment. She pulls out her record player and puts on Manos Hadjidakis's "Never on Sunday" and dances about her apartment like she is propelled by something wondrous. It is a moment when we see the seriousness that Homer had instilled in her, and the flower begins to bloom once more.

dlee2012 One of the greatest comedies of all time, Never on Sunday is an excellent examination of cultural imperialism and the clash between two very different outlooks.The character of Homer has the limitation of being unwilling to see the world through any other eyes but his own: his narrow-mindedness means he cannot see the very thing he is seeking on his quest. The Greeks have moved beyond a search for the truth, being content in their carefree lifestyle. The imperialist ambitions of ancient Athens are no longer a concern for them but, for the Americans, just setting out on their empire building, they are a priority.Homer's attempts to force the Greek population to fit his image of what they should be is an attempt at this very imperialism. Once the cradle of civilisation, he feels they should now conform to his world-view. Informed by the puritans and ancient philosophies long-rejected by the Greeks themselves, he forces himself onto a society onto which he cannot be grafted.He has the arrogance of an academic and does not understand human beings. His attempts at bettering Melina's character are attempts to force her to see his world-view. His belief he is truly bettering her is self-delusion.However, it is not solely the American character who imposes his view on others. Throughout the course of the film, the Greek port is visited in turn by the US, British and Russian naval fleets. Greece is clearly subjugated to each of these military empires now yet, somehow, it remains a happy place for they depart soon after, leaving the locals largely unaffected by their impositions.Melina's character's zest for life famously extends to the Greek tragedies. With the film's play within a play, she famously reinterprets the tragedy to conform to her world-view. Homer reacts angrily to this even though he is trying to force actual people to conform to his. (One has to wonder if Roland Barthes' "Death of the Author", published just seven years later was in anyway inspired by the ideas in this film of the audience constructing, albeit humorously, their own meaning and interpretation of the text.) The film's pace is fast and light-hearted and the many outdoor scenes reflect Melina's character's sunny mood. The soundtrack again is sprightly and energetic, encapsulating a zest for life and the film was exceptionally well-cast and acted.In the end, Homer of course achieves the aim of his quest by learning, when in Greece, do as the Greeks do. The simple lesson that it is love that will reform the girl is almost banal but here it works. She must be cared for and nurtured not forced to submit to the will of a foreigner.Ultimately, it is the comedy and the light-hearted way in which the moral of the story is expressed that makes this film delightful. Perfectly filmed and still humorous and highly relevant over fifty years after its release, this is one of the great comedies and one that this reviewer highly recommends.

wes-connors Middle-aged American scholar Jules Dassin (as Homer) goes from Connecticut to a Greek sea port, where he discovers vivacious thirty-something prostitute Melina Mercouri (as Ilya). As he soaks up local culture, Mr. Dassin decides to play "Pygmalion" with Ms. Mercouri. Speaking about morality and happiness, Dassin wants Mercouri to cleave only unto him; but, that means she must give up her regular seamen, including handsome Giorgos Foundas (as Tonio) and the occasional lonely young sailor. Mercouri is happy with her pleasure-driven lifestyle. Dassin wants her to change… Dassin wrote and directed "Never on Sunday" for the actress he loved. The film won Mercouri the "Best Actress" prize at the film's celebrated "Cannes Film Festival" opening. She went on to receive similar consideration from the "New York Film Critics" (her performance was #8), and nominations from the US and UK Academies. Dassin and the music also received many honors. In the end, Mercouri and the music are the film's main assets. The excellent Manos Hatzidakis title song was an easy listening hit for several recording stars, worldwide; collectively, the song must have sold many millions during 1960-61. My grandfather and mother liked the more innocent stereo LP version by Connie Francis. MGM made sturdy record albums; it still plays.****** Never on Sunday (5/25/60) Jules Dassin ~ Melina Mercouri, Jules Dassin, Giorgos Foundas, Titos Vandis

lotus07 SYNOPSIS: A well educated American tourists attempts to 'enlighten' a Greek prostitute in a small seaside village.CONCEPT IN RELATION TO THE VIEWER Newer is not always better, and sometimes over analyzing a problem can only make it worse. Leave well enough alone. It is more important to be happy than to understand everything.PROS AND CONS Every recent prostitute film from 'Irma la Duce' to 'Pretty Woman' owes a lot to this work. It was one of the first films that shed light on the idea that prostitution was a respectable and acceptable way to make a living.If nothing else this film is a homage by Jules Dassin to his wife, Melina Mercouri. She is the focus of the film and she captivates any scene she is in with her zest for life and smoldering sexuality. The other thing you tend to fall in love with is the romantic ideal of living in Greece in 1960. It appears care free, relaxed and almost infectious with its love of the simple life.The plot of the film is not overly complex and deals with an outsider, Homer (Dassin) arriving in town to study Greek culture. He is almost immediately captivated by Ilya (Mercouri) as one of the local prostitutes that 'freelances' and does not work for the town pimp. She negotiates a price with whomever she chooses, and sleeps with all the towns vendors in exchange for her daily goods (food, wine, drinks, etc), but she never 'works' on Sunday. Hence the title to the film.Homer is smitten by Ilya and decides that he must 'save' her from what he perceives as a wretched life that is going no where and decides to educate her so that she can see the error of her ways. In the end, this does nothing but frustrate everyone in town. The education of Ilya does have a silver lining, which if anything, leaves the town more corrupted than when Homer found it.The underlying theme of the film is that one should strive to be happy in what you do and more importantly, who you know. There is an interconnection between people in a small town, and disrupting those connections may lift some people up, but is not good for the whole of society. Regardless of his meddling, the towns people never turn on Homer, or blame him for anything. At their core, they know that life is to be enjoyed and blaming people for your troubles is just not part of the mix.