The Golden Age Of Greek Cinema

Description

This two disc edition comprises the soundtracks of the decisive films of the era; These include Michael Cacoyannis' Stella and Jules Dassin's monumental Never on Sunday, which it prefigured; films which found Melina Mercouri set against the conventions of society, a symbol and a mascot for outlaw women, giving vivacious performances which would make her a national hero and bring international fame. Never on Sunday earned Mercouri the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival in 1961 (award she deserved for Stella). At Hollywood's Academy Awards ceremony, 'Ta pedia tou Pirea' (under the title Never on Sunday), won the Oscar for best original song. While Mercouri performed it on screen, it was Nana Mouskouri's seductive recording which propelled Manos Hadjidakis' composition into the charts. Both are included here. Hadjidakis was responsible for Nana Mouskouri's big early successes. She won first prize at the Festival of Greek Song with 'My Love is Somewhere', a composition he wrote especially for her, and then he had the youngster sing with the chorus of the national opera on his lavish score for Wolfgang Müller-Sehn's documentary / travelogue, Greece. Mikis Theodorakis is the greatest living Greek composer; a charismatic figure who gained a wide following through both his art and his courageous opposition to the forces of oppression in his homeland.