FilmCriticLalitRao Greek film "Never on Sunday" is a perfect film for all those viewers who appreciate good cinema and have already seen films directed by Jules Dassin namely Rififi, Topkapi and Celui Qui Doit Mourir. Never on Sunday is a simple philosophical film with sufficient doses of light philosophical lessons. A philosophy professional would feel music ringing in his/her ears when the names and teachings of great Greek philosophers namely Socrates, Plato and Aristotle are uttered. The film's star cast includes director Jules Dassin who is paired against his wife Melina Mercouri, one of Greek cinema's best known actresses who was also active as the minister of culture in her native Greece. For 'Never on Sunday', the difficult subject of prostitution is treated in a non controversial, non didactic manner. In many ways this has become a weak point for the film as such a tough topic requires more attention both from director as well as audiences. Much of the film is based on the meditative curiosity which an American tourist displays regarding the profession of a practical harlot upon his arrival at the island of Piraeus, Greece. As the film was made in 1960s, a time of black and white films, there is virtually no skin show. Hence, one can go ahead and watch it with family members without bothering about any polemical content.

moonspinner55 Jules Dassin wrote, directed, and co-stars in this Greek-infused play on "Pygmalion", wherein an American scholar vacationing in Greece becomes obsessed with reforming the most popular prostitute in the village: a fiery local who picks and chooses her men--and celebrates alongside all her paramours with an 'open house' on Sunday. Melina Mercouri gives a star-making performance as the passionate Ilya, though Dassin, who also co-produced the film uncredited, may have taken on more than he could handle. The character of the professor (who's actually lusting in secret for Ilya) doesn't make a lot of sense, and Dassin's actorly turn in this role gives us little to go on (he's a blank). We understand that educating Mercouri's Ilya, in effect, replaces her sexual desires with a quest for knowledge, but one isn't sure how the professor personally hopes to benefit romantically from this denouement--nor how his plan relates to the greedy landlord who keeps raising the rent on all the prostitutes in town. The music and the film's celebration of life (and sex without need for attachments, which Dassin tells us can be cured by true love) put the movie over at the US box-office, but only Mercouri's delicious performance remains memorable today. **1/2 from ****

MartinHafer Actually, while the summary sounds pretty blunt, it IS the actual plot of this film. While the Academy liked this film so much that it received some awards, I was not all that taken by the film and I couldn't get past the fact that the leading character was a prostitute--and a very unattractive one at that. I know she was also sweet and fun-loving woman that every man in the film desired, but to me the thought of sleeping with her just seemed very nasty--after all, practically every man in Europe seems to have done this! The men drooled and ogled constantly but frankly she gave me the creeps and the cliché of a "hooker with a heart of gold" just seemed silly. Just once, I want to see a film where instead of Melina Mercouri or Julia Roberts playing a nice "professional girl", I'd like to see one where the lady has oral herpes sores or at least a bad yeast infection.Well, the plot revolves around a naive American (played by Jules Dassin) who wants to reform Mercouri and make her a "nice girl". His motives, ultimately, are rather interesting and there are many wonderful scenes--particularly at the end of the film. Mercouri was a wonderful actress in the film, but the overall effect, while rather charming, is also pretty disturbing since it's a prostitution film. In many ways, I guess that makes me a bit of a naive boyscout if the movie's main premise is accurate.

mannida I first experienced "Never on Sunday" shortly after I had visited Greece while in the US Navy. I loved the movie because of the atmosphere which it caught so well. Ilia was like so many of the Greek women and a wonderful character. The sensitive and skillful direction of Jules Dassin ranks as one of the best efforts I can remember in a film because of the humor and pathos he managed to combine and capture as well as the great love of life of the Greek people. The wonderful characterization makes the film a joy to watch. I have seen it countless times and each time it has been a delightful experience. The wonderful title song is quintessentially Greek that is a tune that I still adore and go back to, often humming for days. The plot is simple, direct and charming. The love of life that Melina Mercouri demonstrates in her performance is one to envied, admired and emulated. She was a truly gifted actress and Greek treasure. This is a must see film for anyone who loves life and all it can hold.David Manning