The Greek Tycoon

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.

Fictionalized account of the Greek shipping magnate, Theo Tomasis (Anthony Quinn) , Onassis lookalike , of humble beginnings , his wife, Simi Tomasis (Camilla Sparv) and his meeting and subsequent romance to the widow , Liz Cassidy/Jacqueline Kennedy (Jacqueline Bisset) , of assassinated U. S. president (James Franciscus). Theo dotes on his son, Nico Tomasis (Edward Albert) , a daredevil aviator , who he wants to follow in his footsteps in all aspects . Tomasis ends up divorcing Simi in order to marry his new lover . Then the distraught but vigorous widow of US President James Cassidy -who was assassinated while he and Liz were walking on a beach- marries the known playboy and shipping billionaire . Meantime, Tomasis and Liz Cassidy enjoying the high life in the process. He's one of the richest and most powerful men in the world. She's the beautiful wife of an American President. The world watched...She was the most famous woman in the world. He was a peasant, a pirate, a shark. What he couldn't buy with money he stole with charm

Fictitious semi-biography of the life of Aristotle Onassis, a Greek who rose to become one of the world's most wealthiest men , detailing his rise to power and unhappy marriages . Pointless fabrication to bring to life a known myth , dealing with the love story and marriage of Aristotle/Onassis and a certain president's widow . It seems to be a transparent depiction of the Onassis/Kennedy marriage done to a turn. The casting is formidable here for people so well known . Anthony Quinn gives a very nice acting in 'Zorba the Greek'-alike, including his popular dances , playing an aging Greek shipping magnate who works on his own moral code and eventually finds that money cannot buy happiness. Quinn is a good actor who captures the crude essence of Tomasis or Aristotles Onassis. While Jacqueline Bisset is awesome as the jealous and sweet Liz Cassidy/Jacqueline Kennedy. They are very well accompanied by a familar and international cast , such as : Marilù Tolo as Sophia Matalas or Maria Callas , Raf Vallone as Spiro Tomassis, the personal rival and alter ego of Aristotle's real life , Edward Albert , James Franciscus , Camilla Sparv , Charles Durning , Luciana Paluzzi , Robin Clarke as John Cassidy or Robert kennedy , Linda Thorson , Roland Culver and debut theatrical feature film of actresses Lucy Gutteridge and Cassandra Harris who married Pierce Brosnan , though she died early , at 49. These two powerful personalities , Onassis/Jacqueline , were so much alike their own passion . This ambitious film made for big screen in a co-production of ItalyUnited States and Greece follows the story of the two lovers faithfully . J. Lee Thomson made this spectacular film that puts the action in the places where the principals lived . The end result is a glossy look at that world of the ultra rich and famous people realized with great style and skillness enough. Overall this is worth watching because the subject matter is agreeable and the actors are first rate despite some physical differences and carried out in soap-opera style . A nice attempt to condense such an interesting man's life story that spans over twenty plus years of history into 107 min time capsule, though there's a DVD version running 112 minutes. Enjoyable and luxurious settings , charming musical score by Stanley Myers and colorful cinematography by Anthony B. Richmond in Technovision add only luster to tepid storyline . The motion picture was middlingly but professionally by the American craftsman J. Lee Thompson, though some critics even rate as good trash.

Other films about this famous figure are the following ones : ¨Onassis: The Richest Man in the World¨ (1988) by Warris Hussein Raul Julia as Aristotle Onassis , Jane Seymour as Maria Callas, Anthony Quinn as Socrates Onassis , Francesca Annis as Jacqueline Kennedy and Elias Koteas. ¨Callas e Onassis¨(2005) by Giorgo Capitani with Gérard Darmon, Luisa Ranieri , Anna Valle , Orso Maria Guerrini, Gabriele Ferzetti .

I remember the erstwhile BBC reviewer, Barry Norman, opining that Anthony Quinn's portrayal of Theo (Ari?) had 'all the appeal of an armpit'. One or two other reviewers over the years have rather dismissed Quinn as 'overrated'. Be that as it may, I thought the great actor played his part, at times, both sensitively and sympathetically. And, of course, Jackie Bisset remains a good enough reason to watch a movie.

There is a scene in "The Greek Tycoon" that I consider the best scene of the film…

It was Sunset... The sun was disappearing below the horizon... The sea at its ever-changing wave style... The waves—in all its moods, clear and calm, mysterious, awesomely threatening— were beating under the old rocks...

Anthony Quinn (fabulous as always) was standing alone in front of this wonderful view...

The sky was offering the best looking effects of red and yellow lights... In the horizon some pale clouds were escorting the sun to another world... Tomasis was truly flavoring the moment... The beauty of this great view invited him to dance, to slowly move his hands and legs, to feel the fresh air, to hear the sound of music, to smell the salt of the sea...

Tomasis' dance was a farewell to a world he cherished… This beautiful scene makes me meditate about human life: God's 'greatest gift'... Sometimes we forget this precious present...

The photography is accomplished, the acting is quite good, but in virtually every other department The Greek Tycoon is a dreary bore. Taking its inspiration from the real-life love affair of Jackie Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis, the film is a glossy but absolutely empty soap opera of the kind that can be found on TV all day long. Viewers who embrace the whole "celebrity magazine culture" (paparazzi photographs and gossipy stories about the rich and famous) will undoubtedly find much to whet their appetite here. But those who prefer films with a bit more substance and craft and quirkiness will find the 107 minute running time a butt-numbing slog.

American president James Cassidy (James Franciscus) and his beautiful wife Liz (Jacqueline Bisset) are in Greece on official business. A ridiculously wealthy Greek shipping tycoon, Theo Tomasis (Anthony Quinn), catches sight of Liz at a party at his elegant manor. Despite the fact that both of them are married to someone else, there is an immediate attraction between them. Later, at a private party aboard his yacht, Tomasis makes his desires known to Liz. Some while later, President Cassidy is assassinated whilst out strolling on a beach. Liz is shocked and saddened by his death, but it isn't long before she seeks comfort in the arms of her Greek lover Tomasis. Eventually the two of them are married and their love affair becomes a favourite talking point for the world's newspapers, magazines, photographers and wags.

It is somewhat amusing to note the vigour with which the producers of this film denied that it was a dramatisation of the Kennedy-Onassis story. They wanted the film to be seen as an original story, rooted in fiction. But anyone with a brain can see where the movie is drawing its inspiration from. Even Aristotle Onassis himself knew The Greek Tycoon amounted to his love-life getting the Hollywood treatment (if rumours are to be believed, he actually had a hand in approving Anthony Quinn for the Tomasis role!) J. Lee-Thompson isn't really the right sort of director for this type of movie – he's better suited to action fodder like The Guns Of Navarone and Ice Cold In Alex – but he marshals the proceedings with an uninspired, professional adequacy. Quinn is very watchable as Tomasis; Bisset looks lovely as the object of his desires; Franciscus uses his toothy smile and a façade of integrity to make for a believable politician. Their performances are good on the surface, but there's little for the actors to do on any deeper level. Similarly, Tony Richmond's photography gives the film an elegant surface sheen as it moves from one exotic locale to the next, but the merest of scratches proves that there's nothing behind the film's glossy exterior.