Never on Sunday


Never on Sunday is a 1960 Greek black-and-white, romantic comedy film.
The film tells the story of Ilya, a self-employed, free-spirited prostitute who lives in the port of Piraeus in Greece, and Homer, an American tourist and classical scholar who is enamored of all things Greek. Homer feels Ilya's life style typifies the degradation of Greek classical culture, and attempts to steer her onto the path of morality, while, at the same time, Ilya attempts to loosen Homer up. It constitutes a variation of the Pygmalion plus "hooker with a heart of gold" story.
The film stars Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin, and it gently submerges the viewer into Greek culture, including dance, music, and language. The theme song and the bouzouki theme of the movie became hits of the 1960s. The movie won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. It was nominated for the Academy Awards for, respectively, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Costume Design, Black-and-White, Best Director, and Best Writing, Story and Screenplay as Written Directly for the Screen. Mercouri won the award for Best Actress at the 1960 Cannes Film Festival.

Cast

When Pote Tin Kyriaki the lines said by soldiers to the prostitute on the battle cruiser while bargaining the price will be modified 2) the scene in which the soldier and prostitute, framed as naked from the waist up and sitting in bed talking, will be deleted 3) the scene in which the protagonist is showering and talking to the prostitute will be shortened, in particular when he pulls the towel revealing her breasts and the sexual intercourse that follows. Document N° 33379 signed on 26 November 1960 by Minister Ruggero Lombardi.

Home media

MGM released Never on Sunday on VHS in 2000 as part of the Vintage Classic lineup. The Region 1 DVD would soon follow on July 1, 2003.