THE GREEK TYCOON

US, 1978, 107 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Quinn, Jacqueline Bissett, Raf Vallone, Edward Albert, James Franciscus, Camilla Sparv, Charles Durning, Luciana Paluzzi, Roland Culver.
Directed by J. Lee Thompson.

The Greek Tycoon achieved a certain notoriety at the time of its release in late 1978.

Americans had put Jacqueline Kennedy on something of a pedestal during her time as the First Lady but, especially, at the time of the assassination of John F. Kennedy and its aftermath. When she married Aristotle Onassis, there were mixed feelings amongst the Americans. However, in real life, Jackie Kennedy kept close contact with the Kennedy family.

Aristotle Onassis was renowned as the shipping tycoon and millionaire. Having played Zorba the Greek to great success, Anthony Quinn now takes on Aristotle Onassis and fits the bill perfectly. Jacqueline Bisset brings great glamour and flair to the role of the equivalent of Jacqueline Kennedy.

The film has a lot of beautiful Greek scenery, glamour and wealth, high living and fashion.

Since the late 1970s, this type of biographical film, thinly disguised, has become very popular – especially television biographies. The Kennedys have been portrayed in numerous films and miniseries.

Direction is by J. Lee Thompson, a British director who made a number of significant films in Britain in the 1950s, including Tiger Bay. In the early 60s he made The Guns of Navarone and moved to the United States. In his later years he made quite a number of films with Charles Bronson.

1. The impact of this film in terms of its subject, treatment? Audience expectations about each? Memories of history and the personalities? History, popular gossip, popular articles?

2. The quality of audience interest in the characters, the situations, wanting to get behind the scenes? How well did the film fulfil this interest?

3. Could the film be called an invasion of privacy? Was it any ways an expose - sensationalized? Are these people public figures and therefore the public has the right to know something about them? How much of their personalities and the issues of their lives were revealed? How much truth told in a film like this? Scathing criticism, expose of the way of life. a wore gentle approach to them?

4. The contribution of Panavision, the beautiful Greek photography, the United States, especially New York and Washington, the New England coast? The importance of a visual presentation of the opulent life? Contribution of the score and main theme?

5. The focus of the title? Anthony Quinn an embodying this? The emphasis on the Greek - environment, character, motives, animalistic as he described himself, intense, self-made? Poor origins? The meaning of a tycoon - having all, wealth, power? The use and influence of wealth and power? The accompanying life style?

6. The film a fable about gaining everything and losing things? How did this apply to Tomants himself and his whole family? To Jackie and experience of the deaths of her husbands? Niko and the suddenness of his death? Simone and her losing everything and taking her own life? The final symbol of Theo dancing at the end - all that he was left with?

7. The film's introduction to Theo via the beauty of Greece, the wealthy life style, the party politics, cut-throat business? What kind of man was he in himself? His explanation of his origins, his father's influence and death? His relationship with his wife and loving her for twenty years? His devotion to his son? Hostility towards his brother? The women in his life especially Maria Callas and her vivacious glamour? His interest in the Cassidys and persuading them to stay? The discussion of Truman with American and English politicians? His personal style, gruff manner, language?

8. How was Theo revealed through his interaction with the people In his life? His sensuous relationship with women, his refusing Simone a divorce and her challenging him especially in public? Niko and hie resentment, wanting to work by himself, his father's influence and interference? Being left alone by his father? Theo in America, the deals with Michael Russell, the deals with the Saudis and political bribes, politics and the cultivation of the Cassidys? The world of big oil deals? The beginning of grief in his life - Simone's divorce, the assassination of Cassidy, Niko's death and its profound effect on him?

9. The compatibility of Theo and Lizzie? The initial meeting, the story, meeting her to congratulate her in public, the holiday and his passionate attitude towards her, the condolences and John Cassidy's resentment? The proposal and the build-up to the wedding and its joy, his boorish behaviour, the question of Matti’s and Lizzie's refusal?
An authentic portrait of the Onassis type?

10. The contrast with the Cassidys - the American style and American politics, the clean cut and glamorous look? Their environment especially the New England coast? Row did they represent America? Cassidy's ambitions, political interest and talk? How much did James Cassidy resemble John F. Kennedy? The phone call and his nomination? (His eye for the ladies?) Lizzie and her place in thin world, listening to the story of Theo's father, the status? The Washington life, supporting her husband, receptions, the relationship with the Cassidy family, the influence of John and Nancy in politics and ordinary life? The impact of the death of the child? Her need for a holiday and the fascination of Tomasis and Greece? The response to her husband's being shot and her terror? Grief?

11. The effect of her husband's assassination on Lizzie? The passing of a year, the family life. the internal coherence of the family, politics? The contrast with her return to Greece and the strength of her decision despite the family? The comparison of her holiday and her not being so interested in Greek meals and her relish on her return? The dance with Theo during the holiday, the verve of dancing on her return? The effect of Theo on her? His being divorced? The possibility of marriage?

12. The nature of the contract with him? His humiliating her? The viciousness of their fighting? Of their love? A compatible couple, a convincing marriage?

13. Lizzie and the change throughout the film - the hold of the family, her need for freedom, her explanation of the need to Theo, the contract? The wedding, Niko's humiliation? The fight, the changes in the relationship? Her concern about her husband's health? The fashions and showing him the dress and his knowing he was to die? Her absence for his death and his sending her away? How much a parallel to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis?

14. The portrait of Niko - the son of his father, relationship with girls, need for establishing himself In business, deals, the American negotiations? His daredevil riding? The bond with his father, death?

15. Theo's brother and his being a lesser man, comparisons, deals, marrying his brother's ex-wife? Simone and her being neglected, her revenge? Suicide?

16. What was Theo left with at the end - the joy of his empire, disappointments? The discussion with the doctor and his willingness to face death? His wanting to be president but not being able to fulfil this? Letting Lizzie go? The final dance and the meal with the dog? Reduced back to the basics?

17. How much insight into real characters does this kind of popular film provide?