Scanialara You won't be disappointed!

Nonureva Really Surprised!

GazerRise Fantastic!

Livestonth I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

jotix100 "Never on Sunday", that charming Jules Dassin film, was shown unexpectedly on cable recently. The inspired story of a happy prostitute working the waterfront of Piraeus, was a smash hit everywhere when it first came out. Mr. Dassin's love poem to Greece, a land he loved, added another layer to his distinguished career. Not being known for light comedies, this movie strikes the right tone from the start. The director himself decided to play the pivotal role of Homer Thrace, a Brooklyn scholar familiar with Greek culture, but naive in matters of the heart and sex.Ilya, a happy-go-lucky prostitute, is loved by the men working in the port. She has no hangups, something, that in contrast, Homer is full of. After all, he came from a society where sex was for the most part a taboo for the society he came from during the time period where the action takes place. After all, America was not a sexually liberated country. Ilya, on the other hand, was free to share her services openly, as she saw fit without any problem. In a way, the relationship that develops between Homer and Ilya, is a modified version of Pygmalion and Galatea, something that Homer was happy to undertake, even though he knew better not to try.Melina Mercouri dominates the film. She obviously enjoyed getting inside her character as it clearly shows on the screen. She gave a bigger than life reading in what was her best role in the movies. Ms. Mercouri's effortless performance wins the viewer right away because one realizes she is, like Fellini's Cabiria, a genuine soul that gives love without expecting anything in return.Jules Dassin has been criticized by some contributors to IMDb by his take on Homer, but actually, he also gives an appealing account of his scholar. Not being an actor, he understood what he wanted to accomplish with this Brooklyn man that has spent most of his life around books, but not around real life, something he finds living among the earthy people around the Greek port where he spends his vacation. In fact, he kept reminding this viewer of this type of individual that is more at home among books than with real people.The black and white cinematography of Jacques Natteau, enhances the film and the background in which it was filmed. Manos Hatzidakis' delightful music score plays well in the story and it's never out of touch with what the director conceived. Ultimately, the film was another triumph for Jules Dassin, an American original whose body of work speak for itself.

MartinHafer Actually, while the summary sounds pretty blunt, it IS the actual plot of this film. While the Academy liked this film so much that it received some awards, I was not all that taken by the film and I couldn't get past the fact that the leading character was a prostitute--and a very unattractive one at that. I know she was also sweet and fun-loving woman that every man in the film desired, but to me the thought of sleeping with her just seemed very nasty--after all, practically every man in Europe seems to have done this! The men drooled and ogled constantly but frankly she gave me the creeps and the cliché of a "hooker with a heart of gold" just seemed silly. Just once, I want to see a film where instead of Melina Mercouri or Julia Roberts playing a nice "professional girl", I'd like to see one where the lady has oral herpes sores or at least a bad yeast infection.Well, the plot revolves around a naive American (played by Jules Dassin) who wants to reform Mercouri and make her a "nice girl". His motives, ultimately, are rather interesting and there are many wonderful scenes--particularly at the end of the film. Mercouri was a wonderful actress in the film, but the overall effect, while rather charming, is also pretty disturbing since it's a prostitution film. In many ways, I guess that makes me a bit of a naive boyscout if the movie's main premise is accurate.

reebee11 One of my all-time favorite movies! Coming from the 50's generation, I remember seeing this movie when I was a teenager and being absolutely fascinated by the Greek setting, music and dancing. I believe that this movie contributed to my interest in foreign movies to this day. The song "Never on Sunday" was very popular on the radio in the 60's. If you don't remember it now, you probably will, once you hear it. The story line in this movie is clever and charming. The variety of characters pull you right into the story. It's dramatic, funny and at the same time, romantic. Tame by today's standards, this movie must have been considered very risqué for its time, but it remains entertaining to this day.....timeless!!! A must-see for old movie buffs.

Holdjerhorses No one else in the history of cinema became a star in America playing a sexpot at the age of 40. Melina Mercouri did. "Never on Sunday" is why.Aided immeasurably by Manos Hadjidakis' unforgettable score (you're probably already humming the theme) and Jules Dassin's story, Mercouri's incredible presence stole the show -- and hearts worldwide.Dassin is perfect in what would be the "nebbish" role, were he Jewish. The Greeks have, perhaps, 27 words for "nebbish" as they do for "love." Dassin brilliantly inhabits one of them.Rarely has the energy and life force of a particular time and place been so economically and delightfully captured on film.There's a reason "Never on Sunday" is a legend and part of every serious film lover's collection. Once you've seen it, you'll know.