L'empire du Grec

I suppose, it is one of films very easy to be critic about it. Or it is one of perfect options for the ladies loving soap operas.

In my case, it is one of the films of my childhood who I preserve a good memory. Not for comparation between characters and real people but for beautiful work, noble effort of Jacqueline Bisset and Anthony Quinn to propose fair interpretations of characters , a love story not so unrealistic , a nice paralel with what can be imagined about relation Bouvier - Kennedy - Onassis .

It is just, in profound sense, a beautiful film about mature love , acted with elegance.

No pun intended - this very obviously and even without me knowing that much about him, is about Onassis and Jackie Kennedy. Mainly that is, because other characters will turn up too. Again I don't know all the players and all the relatives Onassis had (or maybe still has, offspring wise) - but I can tell this is about one of the richest mens this planet saw. The movie is not about how became wealthy either.

It is about an individual with money and his downfalls character wise and all that. Quinn who also has played Zorbas (in a way better rated movie than this, generally speaking) is of Italian descent. Just recently I read about big Greek historical (and fictional) people not being portrayed by anyone Greek. Not sure if that is a make it or break it case for you. But there is a saying between Italians and Greeks (Quinn being of Italian descent): una facia una ratsa (hope I wrote it correctly). Meaning we are alike to boil it down.

There are many things that remind us of Greece and greek mentality here. When I see him being open and loving, but also when I see a darker side in marriage and how he treats his son at times. No one is perfect - and one that has money may think he (or she) is invincible. A lot of drama, a lot of culture and life ... happening. Quinn was one of the greatest actors to grace the screen ... to greek the screen you say? Well that too.

This thinly-veiled roman-a-clef depicts the story and courtship of Aristotle Onassis and Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis.

People who have no interest in the lives of such public figures will no doubt find this story tiresome and completely without merit. This film wasn't made for them. This film was made for people who couldn't and still can't, get enough about this most famous couple; the widow of Camelot and the Golden Greek.

Anthony Quinn reportedly met with Mr. Onassis prior to Onassis' death. Onassis figured that a film may be made about him and wanted Quinn to play the part of the shipping magnate. Quinn plays his part well and gives the audience a very fine performance of the character as we might imagine him to be.

Jackie Bisset as Jackie Kennedy-Onassis gives a very fine performance as what we would imagine Jackie O to be like. As many of us would not know the lifestyle of the people portrayed in this film, all the actors in the film give convincing performances and humanize their respective characters. Raf Vallone playing Spiro Tomassis, the alter ego of Onassis' real life business and personal rival, Stavros Niarchos is actually funny and has some very humorous lines which he delivers without fail.

The film as a whole accomplishes what it sets out to do very well and doesn't disappoint.

A fantastically erotic and slow moving hard r-rated drama about the greek shipping magnate onassis, and his love affair with jackie kennedy after john was murdered. J lee thompson shows this with the same frankness and darkness from his other war movies and thrillers, but i think that's what forms it into something utterly beautiful, with great use of landscapes and the greek landscapes. Anthony quinn is great in the lead, sleazy but you find such a great sympathy to his character, just a man hustling and bustling his way through life, through the brutality and the endless decadence that comes with his money, his son dies and he has to face the consequences, and he feels utter heartbreak but longing for a more simple life. Jacqueline bisset is fantastic as jackie kennedy, ironically having the exact same formal name as her, i do find it funny that jackie kennedy is always portrayed from beautiful actresses, when she wasn't exactly the most beautiful woman in the world, talk about flattery. Bisset finds that fantastic mix between anger and eroticism, she comes under the grasp and trance of this man and his charm with his rugged handsomeness. A movie made for adults, the eroticism, the beauty in the simple nature to life, the horrifying prospect of death on the horizon. The story was written by one of my favorite filmmakers nico mastorakis, and this is exactly what i love about his introspective, erotic eye, great eye for these type of simple stories about adults making love, breaking up, and doing it all over again. Very slow but absolutely moving, and his final dance is incredibly similar to the final dance from another round, a final acceptance of the life he has lived and the life he will live in the future.

Anthony Quinn is perfectly cast in the role of a wealthy Greek aristocrat to Jacqueline Bisset's rich American widow. Set in the 1970s, the acting is passable though not fantastic. Quinn's turn is the best, though, as he plays an emotional, powerful man who is used to having his way in and out of the boardroom. Thinly veiled plot, you can figure out what is going to happen in the movie during the first few minutes, but it is worth sitting through for the scenery of the Greek islands. Even if the volume is turned to mute, it is nice to see how rich and famous frolic aboard yachts, in pools and on the beach. Serious film critics might just see this film as a glorified television movie of the week.