Pote tin Kyriaki (1960)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Jules Dassin

Writer:

Jules Dassin (writer)

Release Date:

1 October 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

An American scholar in Greece sets about improving a prostitute he's infatuated with.

Plot Keywords:

Prostitute | Greece | Piraeus Greece | Jail | Organ Grinder

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Melina Mercouri	...	Ilya
Jules Dassin	...	Homer Thrace
Giorgos Foundas	...	Tonio
Titos Vandis	...	Jorgo
Mitsos Ligizos	...	The Captain (as Mitsos Lygizos)
Despo Diamantidou	...	Despo
Dimos Starenios	...	Poubelle
Dimitris Papamichael	...	A Sailor (as Dimitri Papamichael)
Alexis Solomos	...	Noface
Thanasis Vengos		(as Thanassis Veggos)
Faidon Georgitsis	...	Sailor
Nikos Fermas	...	Waiter
Artemis Matsas
Koula Agagiotou
Panos Karavousanos

Also Known As:

Never on Sunday (USA)
Ποτέ την Κυριακή (Greece)

Runtime:

91 min | Argentina:93 min | USA:97 min

Country:

Greece | USA

Language:

English | Greek | Russian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:6 (re-rating) (2005) | Australia:PG | Argentina:16 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-16 | UK:PG (video rating) (2000) | UK:X (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Piraeus, Greece

Company:

Lopert Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Features first song ("Never On Sunday") from a foreign-made movie to win an Oscar.

Quotes:

Homer: It's extraordinary! Where do you learn all those languages?
Illya: In bed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Akropol (1995)

Soundtrack:

Ta paidia tou Peiraia

Never on Sunday, a story of the attempts of an American to reform a Greek prostitute and the adventures they both share in the process. Who reforms who?

I first experienced "Never on Sunday" shortly after I had visited Greece while in the US Navy. I loved the movie because of the atmosphere which it caught so well. Ilia was like so many of the Greek women and a wonderful character. The sensitive and skillful direction of Jules Dassin ranks as one of the best efforts I can remember in a film because of the humor and pathos he managed to combine and capture as well as the great love of life of the Greek people. The wonderful characterization makes the film a joy to watch. I have seen it countless times and each time it has been a delightful experience. The wonderful title song is quintessentially Greek that is a tune that I still adore and go back to, often humming for days. The plot is simple, direct and charming. The love of life that Melina Mercouri demonstrates in her performance is one to envied, admired and emulated. She was a truly gifted actress and Greek treasure. This is a must see film for anyone who loves life and all it can hold.

David Manning