A DREAM OF KINGS
US, 1969, 107 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Quinn, Irene Papas, Inger Stevens.
Directed by Daniel Mann.
A sentimental comedy drama set within the Greek community in Chicago. It portrays the atmosphere of that community and its way of life. The film gives Anthony Quinn an opportunity to transport his Zorba performance to America in the character of Matsoukas. He is joined by Irene Papas as his wife. The issues of the film are stronger than their presentation - there are some very interesting aspects about the way Matzoukas approaches and influences people's lives. Yet there is a very soft presentation of his character especially as regards hie dying son and his quest to take him to Greece. The film is of mixed value.
1. The significance of the title, a symbol of Matsoukas’ approach to life? Indication of themes? The traditions of ancient Greece?
2. The presentation of Chicago and its environment, the authentic atmosphere of the Greek community, streets and homes, shops and halls? The Greek musical score?
3. The film as a piece of Americana, migrant Greeks and the life that they had built up within the American dream - the American dreams of kings? A sentimental presentation of these issues?
4. Anthony Quinn’s style as Matsoukas? As a man, strengths and weaknesses of character, as the hero of the film? As a vibrant character and his influence on people? His zest for life and all its drives? Problems with gambling, supporting his family, mother-in-law, dying son? What was revealed about him in the gambling sequences? Luck and fortune and his interpretation of this? His love for his wife and yet her resistance to him? His daughter, his devotion to his son? The impulse of attraction to Anna and his seducing her? His vigorous approach to the morality of this? The importance of having so many sequences of his giving advice and the way that people depended on him? what was revealed about him in his interview with the boy and his adolescent problems? As a man of dreams and the difficulties of his outlook on real life?
5. Caliope and her bitterness? Her love for her husband, her resentments towards him - especially as regards Anna? Her realistic attitude towards their son's illness? The bond between them as revealed at home, their arguments, bedroom sequence, church, the dance and the dancing? The fact that she spoke such words to him at the end trying to estimate his character, his dreams and his facing reality?
6. The contrast with Anna and her suspicions of him, her work in the bakery? His straightforward proposal to her and seduction? The bedroom sequences in comparison with those with Caliope? Her succumbing to compliments? Her place at the dance? The significance of her refusal to give him the mousy?
7. The ordinary sequences at home, the meals with the children? The tender scenes with his son? The growing ambition to take his son to Greece? The hopes for the healing? Drawing on the ancient Greek heritage for this dream?
8. The portrait of Matsoukas with his friends? In the shops and their refusal to serve him, the gambling group, the potential violence and the way that he could dispel it?
9. The transition with his attitude towards cheating and the consequent violence and bashing? His not living up to his principles?
10. The character of Cicero, the quality of this sequence between them and the nature of their friendship and Cicero’s depending on it? A glimpse of true friendship? The promise of the money and the pathos with Cicero’s death and Matsoukas trying to discover what had happened?
11. The place of the mother-in-law in the home, the quarrels and clashes, Caliope and the money?
12. Greece as the Dream of Kings for the Greek migrant? What did Matsoukas hope for his son? The discussion with the doctors? His facing the reality, living in a fantasy world?
13. The ending with Matsooukas sailing contentedly and how he had fulfilled his dream? Would his boy live? Would he make him live? How much insight into the hopes and sentiments of ordinary people with their mixture of good and bad, their hopes and dreams?
