marantosvassilis

It is a colorful movie, full of wonderful characters. This movie shows the life of a young boy, named Ben Harvey -maybe young Ben Hecht-who tries to succeed as a reporter in Chicago. It features in the cast the beautiful and mercurial Melina Mercouri, who as Madame Lily-owner of a brothel- 'adopts' Ben when he runs to Chicago to prove himself. Melina Mercouri provides the film with one stellar performance, but you can not stop the thought that she is restrained in some scenes, especially in the beginning with an unflattering piece of hair. She even sings a song of Henry Mancini that as far as I know has never been recorded. (Mercouri although never a professional singer, had a wonderful voice that helped here to record some classic songs like 'Never on Sunday'. Keith and Kennedy are good in their but easily forgotten. Bridges provides some somewhat stupid expressions, but his part is never developed, as N.Jewison never gave him directions.

This is the story of Romain Gary. This films shows the relationship between Romain Gary and his Mother, Nina Kacew. Melina is excellent, some critics thought that she deserved an Oscar for her performance. Rex Reed named Melina as the 'Mercourial Melina'.She plays an overbearing mother, and she is excellent at this role. Her love for her son is driving her to do things that non-one else could have thought, as to write hundreds of letters to be sent to her son, daily, after her death, in order for him not to understand the loss of his mother. Melina's best friend, Despo Diamantidou plays Aniela, and Melina's husband and director Jules Dassin plays Romain's friend. It's a very good movie, based on Melina's character.