Customer Reviews

Never on Sunday

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
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.

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.

Hard to believe (but maybe not after perusing this site) that I am only the second person to comment on this movie. Melina Mercouri was one of the most vibrant actresses of her era. a Greek treasure along the lines of Helen. She was the essnce of Greek spirit. I don't know if her politics has hindered her legacy in America: if that's the case it's not fair. This is a marvellous paean to life, to exuberance, to transcendent spirit. By all means, buy it or rent it or at the least make yourself acqauinted with it in whatever manner you can. I'm amazed it's not shown on American television. But then again, The Trojan Women isn't shown here either , nor is Medea, both of them powerful films dealing with powerful ladies.

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.

I bought this CD several years ago and still listen to it with great pleasure. It has a way of bringing sunshine into the house when all is grey and cold out. The children of the Pirea was always my favorite. I love each of the 4 different versions on this CD, especially the one accompanied by Melina Mercoury's warm voice. Many other great bouzouki tunes.

Melina Mercouri, "The Last Greek Goddess", stars in the comedy "Never on Sunday"(1960) directed/written by Jules Dassin. She plays Illia, the most sensuous and radiant "lady of the night" in the seaport Pyres where every man adores her and she is the one who chooses her partners. Mercouri was 40 years old when she played Illia but she did not hide a single day of her age and she was gorgeous, full of the inner fire and absolutely irresistible. When the new Pygmalion, the intellectual American named Homer (of course) sails into the town and meets Illia, he decides that his search for meaning of life would end in Pyres if he would reform Illia and make her change her way of life. With all his intellect and education he couldn't understand a very simple truth about Illia - only true love might change her. Homer played by director/writer Jules Dassin is the weakest part of this mostly charming comedy. I agree with one of the IMDb commenters who said that "Jules Dassin has directed a great movie but he should have hired an actor to play Homer, and not played it himself... A better actor might have found a way around the rough spots but Dassin magnifies them." I guess that in real life Dassin was much more charming that in the film because he and Mercouri were married in 1966 and stayed married until her death in 1994.

This film is a real winner. The story concerns a vibrant call girl(Melina Mercouri) who lives life on her own terms who is trying to be changed by a moralistic American journalist(Jules Dassin). Mercouri is dynamically infectuous as Illia. I can't help but to think if Julia Roberts tried to reference Mercouri when she did "Pretty Woman". If so, she failed miserably. This film just grabs ahold of you and doesn't let go. The beautifully photographed Greek ambience, the amazing music score, the great supporting actors who feel so authentically Greek are all assets of this film. This is definitely a film some forty years on that holds up remarkably well.

Purchased this and Zorba the Greek to help remind me of my time living in Crete. They both represent the joy and exuberence with which the Greeks and Cretans live. In Never On Sunday, the pragmatic Homer tries to "better" Illia by having her conform to post-Greco-Roman empire Western ideals. What he fails to realize, is that the pure beauty and essence of truth is what makes Illia tick to begin with. She represents a desire and quest for things "epicurian and sensual", but without the baggage of our modern societal morals. It is this living in the moment, without pretense and without malice that captures the spirit of Greece. Homer finally gets it, and is better for it. Eferesto poli ti Illia!

This story of the naive, academic American played by Jules Dassin, the director, and the lady of the port of Pireas played in sparkling form by Melina Mercouri bounces off the screen with vitality. Against a backdrop of classical Greece with the catchy award winning music of Manos Hadjidakis (including that song) there is a parade of colourful characters. It has wit, humour and humanity and a warmth you can almost feel. Critic's comments have included "A bubbling champage cinema cocktail" and "Pygmalion with a twist of ouzo"

NEVER ON SUNDAY was the movie for which both Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin became best remembered.Dassin was the director-screenwriter and also took the part of the bookish American tourist named Homer who tried to reform a very liberated prostitute named Ilya played by Melina Mercouri. The movie was set in a Greek port city and the talented cast was almost entirely Greek. Dassin on the other hand was an American expatriot who had been blacklisted during the McCarthy era.

Melina Mercouri was the winner of the award for Best Actress at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival for her performance as Ilya. She also repeated the role in the successful Broadway musical ILYA DARLING. Mercouri and Dassin were married in 1966. They collaborated on a total of nine films during their long careers, including the outstanding TOPKAPI in 1964.