Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89996 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-07-05
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 92 minutes

From the Back Cover
Stella (Melina Mecouri), a fiery singer with an insatiable appetite for men, defies the rules of conventional morality by refusing to marry. Determined to keep her independence, she discards her timid lover (Alekos Alexandrakis) and begins a torrid affair with Miltos (George Foundas), a brash local football hero who satisfies her hunger for unbridled passion. But when Miltos forces a marriage proposal upon her, Stella faces losing the freedom she desperately craves. The first Greek film to achieve international recognition, Stella confirmed Michael Cacoyannis' talents as a director of exceptional originality and vision. Shot on location in and around Athens, the film featured some of the most provocative and realistically shot love scenes of the times.

Customer Reviews

Stella:a woman representing her own country
Stella is probably considered, as the best Greek film of all times! Based on J.Kampanellis theatrical play "Stella with the red gloves" this movie gave a new direction to Greek cinema at 1955 , not only because of its subversive story but also of its fresh and inventive filming . When every woman's dream was to get married, settle down and accomplish a petty bourgeois life Stella went right the opposite way. She wanted to be free and live a non conformist life ,with the man she loved as long as their love was still alive. This happens till she meets Miltos the definite man of her life. Although, she only wants to live in passion with him, he finally ,like all the other ordinary men demands from her to marry him. She accepts his proposition against her will but at last, the day of her marriage, she leaves him, leading the end of the story towards an ancient Greek tragedy's closure. Metaphorically Stella represents her country in the decades of 40's and 50's , always wanting to be free but constantly being suppressed by foreign forces. In this movie marriage and family life represent the rape of social freedom. The magnificent direction of M. Cacoyiannis is very much close to Italian neorealism. The wonderful score and the songs of the film are written by Manos Hadjidakis. But above all there is "the last Greek godess":Melina Mercouri. Melina Mercouri is not only excellent as Stella but I think that she is Stella herself ! Even though, she lost the first prize for an actress in a leading role at Cannes film festival of 1955, she won "a better one" by meeting there the man of her life : Jules Dassin. Together they made :NEVER ON SUNDAY

Mercouri Tour de Force
A young and quite lovely Melina Mercouri, in one of her few extant Greek films, directed by the brilliant Greek director Michael Cacoyiannis, playing her classic role: the fiery, independent woman who wants to live her own life on her own terms. The film operates on another level as a metaphor for Greece and its relations with the Great Powers, who each in turn have desired to possess and control that beautiful ancient land. Like Greece, Stella insists on making her own way in the world, and would rather die free than live in servitude. In addition to its thrilling performances and profound theme, the film is blessed with a fabulous soundtrack by Manos Hadjidakis, who, using as his raw material the soulful music of the Greek lower class, rendered some of the most beautiful melodies of the 20th century.

At last a Greek masterpiece in DVD!
One of the most sought-out movies is finally out on DVD!!! I do not understand why a B&W DVD with MONO sound and NO digital remastering should cost that much. "Stella" is probably the best Greek movie ever, Melina Mercouri is breathtaking but surely something could be done restoring it! The copy looks like a good VHS recording. We've come to expect far more from DVDs - just look what has been done in "Gone with the wind" and other cinema masterpieces. And no extras (except filmographies of the main actors), even the chapters could have been more!