Rating: 
Summary: Knock on This Door
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting "Hooker with heart of gold" Musical
Review: This is a particularly captivating version of the "prostitute with a heart of gold" theme. The "twist" is that Melina Mercury's lead character is to be turned into a "lady" by Professor Higgins-type Jules Dassin. The mezmerizing Greek island location photography as well as the oscar winning song add to the charme of this classic. Stellar performances throughout make this a not-to-be-missed cinema treat!*****
Rating: 
Summary: I'm suddenly very thirsty for ouzo!
Review: This is a very light, charming ode to the Greek spirit that comes off as some kind of mix of The Taming of the Shrew and Zorba the Greek. The American character drove me nuts with his intellectual presumptions of telling the Greeks how they ought to be, since the real Greece has somehow failed his high-flung notions. His transformation at the end was very gratifying. Melina Mercouri radiates spontaneaity and joy, it's a shame she didn't experience greater success in English language movies. Now then, pass the ouzo and let's start dancing!
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Summary: HAPPINESS IS.......
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: charming and captivating
Review: This movie is a truly captivating and charming entertainment. The words "captivating" and "charming" could also describe Ms. Mercouri, who plays the larger-than-life prostitute, Illya. She is one of those special players, like Masina or Charlie Chaplin, who can make you laugh and cry at the same time.I am specifically referring to a scene where, tiring of the goofy American's efforts to "save" her, Illya pulls out a little turn table from behind her bed, slips onto it a 78 of some Greek basouki music (as a matter of fact, the title song), looks wistfully at a photograph of a soccer team she obviously "serviced" in the past, and then performs an impromptu song-and-dance that is joyous, funny, and poignant--all at the same time. What else can I say? Watch this movie, preferrably with a generous dose of ouzo!
Rating:
Summary: Splash of Greek Sunshine
Review: 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"
Rating:
Summary: The original Zorba music.
Review: What a pleasure to finally be able to see this great movie again. I never find it in video stores. Melina Mercouri is fantastic. Jules Dassin is a real know-it-all American do gooder who makes me cringe. The dancing and music are so Greek, and I love Greek dancing. Great acting from the Greek cast. You could practice your Greek, though subtitles are provided. There is also plenty of English, if you aren't used to reading subtitles. Actually anyone who knows this film is accustomed to subtitles because you like lots of foreign films.
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Summary: An All Time Classic With A Great Score
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: ARISTOPHANES ......
Review: WOULD APPLAUD HEARTILY ... and IF he were around today, he'd probably write about her [pity though that in ancient times - she'd be played by a man !] Tough act this would be to follow since the Mercurial Mercouri holds the patent ~ and what a patent! A Greek slant on "My Fair lady" [Pygmalion} and perhaps just perhaps Miss Mercouri is perhaps too intellectual for this role? Nah! She's in splendid form! So's the rest of the talented cast. Great soundtrack too. It's the old tale of the foreigner [a smitten American tourist] trying to 'reform' a local 'lady' who is quite multitalented in her own way - along the way quite a few noses are bent, glasses are broken [a great running gag in the taverna] and hearts are broken and mended. Shocking for its period [1960] just THAT towel draped around her neck and no visible sign of anything else?? ENJOY this one - a rare find!
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