Zorba the Greek (1964): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Zorba the Greek is a 1964 drama directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis, starring Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba, Alan Bates and Lila Kedrova. It runs 2 hours 22 minutes and earned $1,358 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 22m (142 min)
- Director
- Mihalis Kakogiannis
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Greek - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Zorba the Greek About?
The premise of Zorba the Greek without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Life. Lust. Love. Zorba. An uptight English writer traveling to Crete on a matter of business finds his life changed forever when he meets the gregarious Alexis Zorba.
Zorba the Greek Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- writer
- greece
- riding a donkey
- song and dance
- thunderstorm
- working in the rain
- lighting a cigarette for someone
- riding on top of a car
- whistling
- character name as title
- two word title
- rambunctious chld
+38 more Show fewer
- card game
- sheep
- laughter
- crying
- jovial man
- greek man
- greek countryside
- patriotism
- life and death
- right and wrong
- prejudice
- bon vivant
- lustful man
- uptight man
- englishman
- macedonian man
- macedonia
- enthusiasm
- shy man
- plan
- scheme
- cabaret
- lust for life
- greek village
- small town
- exuberance
- living for the moment
- greek orthodox church
- exuberant man
- old woman
- good will
- affability
- benevolence
- questioning authority
- failure
- misogyny
- patriarchy
- indifference
Zorba the Greek Cast & Characters
Anthony Quinn leads the cast as Alexis Zorba, with Alan Bates as Basil and Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense. Directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis; 11 actors are credited in all.
- Director Mihalis Kakogiannis
-
Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba -
Alan Bates as Basil - Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense
-
Irene Papas as Widow
Also Starring in Zorba the Greek
· 7 more- George P. Cosmatos Acne Faced Boy
- Yorgo Voyagis Pavlo
- Sotiris Moustakas Mimithos
- Takis Emmanuel Manolakas
- George Foundas Mavrandoni
- Eleni Anousaki Lola
- Anna Kyriakou Soul
More from Mihalis Kakogiannis
More films directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis, best-rated first: The Cherry Orchard, Up, Down and Sideways, Sweet Country and Iphigenia.
Zorba the Greek Plot Summary
What happens in Zorba the Greek from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 6-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Basil is a cautious, middle-class Greek-British writer whose life is packed with luggage and books, and who longs to escape writer’s block by visiting a Crete he scarcely knows. At the Athens port of Piraeus, he encounters a forceful, weathered figure from the countryside: Zorba, a robust peasant and musician who travels light but carries a world of experience in his santouri case. Their chance meeting sparks a pragmatic pact: Basil will head to a Cretan village to inspect land he owns there, with the aim of reopening a lignite mine, while Zorba offers himself as foreman and helper, ready to prove his mettle in the rougher parts of the world.
Full summary
The whole story of Zorba the Greek, scene by scene
Zorba the Greek Box Office
Zorba the Greek grossed $1,358 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$1.4K
Zorba the Greek Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Zorba the Greek.
How Well Do You Know Zorba the Greek?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor portrayed the title character Zorba?
Zorba the Greek Also Known As
24 alternative titles, including “Zorba le Grec” and “O Grego”.
- Also known as
-
- Zorba le Grec
- O Grego
- Alexis Zorbas
- Αλέξης Ζορμπάς
- Zorba - O Grego
- Alexis Sorbas
- Aléxis Zorbás
- Zorba, el griego
- Kerro minulle Zorbas
- Zorba il greco
- Zorba el griego
- Zorba, a görög
+12 more Show fewer
- Řek Zorba
- זורבה היווני
- 희랍인 조르바
- Zorba grecul
- Zorba, grækeren
- Grek Zorba
- Зорба Гъркът
- Graikas Zorba
- 希腊人佐巴
- Грек Зорба
- Грк Зорба
- Grék Zorba, ბერძენი ზორბა
Seen Zorba the Greek?
Movies Like Zorba the Greek
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including When The Wheels Danced, Ti 30… ti 40… ti 50… and World Gone Mad.
Zorba the Greek FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Zorba the Greek, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Zorba the Greek?
Zorba the Greek runs 2 hours 22 minutes (142 minutes).
When was Zorba the Greek released?
Zorba the Greek was released on December 14, 1964.
Who directed Zorba the Greek?
Zorba the Greek was directed by Mihalis Kakogiannis.
More films by Mihalis Kakogiannis Who is in the cast of Zorba the Greek?
Zorba the Greek stars Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba, Alan Bates as Basil and Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense, among 11 credited actors.
How much did Zorba the Greek make at the box office?
Zorba the Greek grossed $1,358 worldwide.
Does Zorba the Greek have a post-credit scene?
No. Zorba the Greek has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Zorba the Greek in?
The original language of Zorba the Greek is Greek.
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