Product Description

Nominated* for five Academy AwardsÂ(r), including Best Actress, Director and Original Screenplay, and featuring the OscarÂ(r)-winning* song "Never on Sunday," this "racy, arty comedy"(The Hollywood Reporter) is as intoxicating as fine Greek wine...and a "rambunctious" (Time) delight! Glasses are smashing, fingers are snapping and everyone's dancing to the sultry music of the bouzoukies! It's just another glorious moment in the carefree world of Illia (Melina Mercouri), Greece's most radiant lady of the night. Sensuous Illia adores her life, and every man in her seaport paradise adores her. But when Homer (Jules Dassin), a stuffy American intellectual, sails into town and tries to reform her, Illia shows him that she's one free spirit who's happy with her wild life and not about to be tamed. *1960: Original Song (won), Costume Design

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10236 in DVD
• Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
• Released on: 2003-07-01
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: Black & White, Closed-captioned, DVD, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: Greek
• Subtitled in: English
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 93 minutes

Amazon.com
Thirty-two years before My Big Fat Greek Wedding brought Greek-American culture to a mainstream audience, Never on Sunday took mainstream culture to Greece, with similarly popular results. Expatriate director Jules Dassin wrote, directed, and costars in this vibrant and (in retrospect) rather simple-minded celebration of good living, as embodied by the vivacious Melina Mercouri in the Cannes award-winning role of her career. She's Ilya, a fiercely independent prostitute who hand-picks her clientele, and Dassin plays Homer, an American intellectual enamored of all things Greek, and determined to steer Ilya onto the straight and moral path. He's out of his depth, of course; it's not long before his efforts are exposed as naively self-serving, and half the fun of Never on Sunday comes from watching Mercouri amiably deflect any attempt to dampen her indomitable spirit. Innocently good-natured by latter-day standards, Dassin's delightful film still retains its popular charm, and its familiar bouzouki theme is an irresistible invitation to join in the fun. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

An All Time Classic With A Great Score
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.

Melina my love
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.

HAPPINESS IS.......
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.