Zorba the Greek (1964) on Netflix
Basil, a Greek-British writer, waits at the port of Piraeus to sail for Crete and reopen an old lignite mine. He meets Zorba, a peasant musician who becomes his foreman and handyman.
- Netflix3.6/5
- IMDb7.6/1025,889 votes
- Rotten Tomatoes80%
Trailer
Plot summary
An unadventurous Greek-British writer raised in the United Kingdom, Basil is bound for Crete, where he owns a long-disused lignite mine he hopes to reopen and where he hopes to get past a writer's block. At Piraeus he meets Zorba, a peasant and musician who claims mining experience and talks his way into being foreman and handyman. The impoverished village greets them with enthusiasm, and the two lodge at the self-styled Hotel Ritz, kept by Madame Hortense, an elderly French former cabaret dancer who recalls her past as a courtesan. Zorba charms her; Basil keeps his distance. The two of them begin work on the old mine.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Zorba the Greek (1964)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- In Zorba the Greek, Simone Signoret began filming the role of Madame Hortense, but was replaced early in production by Lila Kedrova.
- The film's star, Anthony Quinn, gave a performance as the peasant Zorba that popularized the folk dance known as the sirtaki.
