Stella (film)
Encyclopedia
Stella is a 1955 Greek film is a retelling of Carmen
featuring Melina Mercouri
. The film was directed by the Greek Cypriot, Michael Cacoyannis and written by Cacoyannis and Iakovos Kambanelis
. The music was composed by Manos Hadjidakis
and Vassilis Tsitsanis
.
Stella was originally intended to be a stage play with the title Stella with the Red Gloves, but it was never staged. It has been claimed that this story was the perfect vehicle for the thirty-five-year-old Mercouri's film debut. Indeed, it was the hit that Melina Mercouri needed. The film sparked great controversy, and although it was initially rejected by Greek critics, it is now considered one of the five greatest Greek films.
At the 1955 Cannes Film Festival
, where the film was screened, Melina met Jules Dassin
, her future husband, mentor
, and director
. He helped her to secure major roles in such films as Topkapi
, Never on Sunday
, Phaedra
, and 10:30 P.M. Summer
, which have become major international successes.
It has been said that the story of Stella's forced marriage symbolises the forces that are constantly trying to impose their will on Greece.
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
featuring Melina Mercouri
Melina Mercouri
Melina Mercouri , born as Maria Amalia Mercouri was a Greek actress, singer and politician.As an actress she made her film debut in Stella and met international success with her performances in Never on Sunday, Phaedra, Topkapi and Promise at Dawn...
. The film was directed by the Greek Cypriot, Michael Cacoyannis and written by Cacoyannis and Iakovos Kambanelis
Iakovos Kambanelis
Iakovos Kambanelis or Kampanellis was a Greek poet, playwright, lyricist, and novelist. Born 2 December 1922 in Hora in the island of Naxos, Kambanelis appears as one of the most prominent Greek artists of the 20th century...
. The music was composed by Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hadjidakis
Manos Hatzidakis was a Greek composer and theorist of the Greek music. He was also one of the main prime movers of the "Éntekhno" song ....
and Vassilis Tsitsanis
Vassilis Tsitsanis
Vassilis Tsitsanis was a Greek songwriter and bouzouki player. He became one of the leading Greek composers of his time and is widely regarded as one of the founders of modern Rebetika. Tsitsanis wrote more than 500 songs and is still remembered as an extraordinary bouzouki...
.
Stella was originally intended to be a stage play with the title Stella with the Red Gloves, but it was never staged. It has been claimed that this story was the perfect vehicle for the thirty-five-year-old Mercouri's film debut. Indeed, it was the hit that Melina Mercouri needed. The film sparked great controversy, and although it was initially rejected by Greek critics, it is now considered one of the five greatest Greek films.
At the 1955 Cannes Film Festival
1955 Cannes Film Festival
-Jury:*Marcel Pagnol *Marcel Achard *Juan Antonio Bardem *A. Dignimont *Jacques-Pierre Frogerais *Leopold Lindtberg *Anatole Litvak *Isa Miranda *Leonard Mosley...
, where the film was screened, Melina met Jules Dassin
Jules Dassin
Julius "Jules" Dassin , was an American film director, with Jewish-Russian origins. He was a subject of the Hollywood blacklist in the McCarthy era, and subsequently moved to France where he revived his career.-Early life:...
, her future husband, mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
, and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. He helped her to secure major roles in such films as Topkapi
Topkapi (film)
Topkapi is a heist film made by Filmways Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It was produced and directed by the emigre American film director, Jules Dassin...
, Never on Sunday
Never on Sunday
Never on Sunday is a 1960 Greek black-and-white film which tells the story of Ilya, a prostitute who lives in the port of Piraeus in Greece, and Homer, an American tourist from Middletown, Connecticut — a classical scholar enamored with all things Greek. Ilya is a character close to the...
, Phaedra
Phaedra (film)
Phaedra was a 1962 motion picture directed by Jules Dassin as a vehicle for his wife Melina Mercouri, after her world-wide hit Never on Sunday.The film was the fourth collaboration between Dassin and Mercouri, who took the title role...
, and 10:30 P.M. Summer
10:30 P.M. Summer
10:30 P.M. Summer is a 1966 American drama film directed by Jules Dassin, husband of star Melina Mercouri.-Plot:Maria and Paul, a couple in their forties, travel through Spain with a new friend, Claire , a younger woman. The couple's daughter is also part of the trip...
, which have become major international successes.
Plot
Stella, the main character, is a rebetiko singer. Although she is in love with Miltos, a soccer player, she repeatedly rejects his marriage proposals. When Miltos finally forces her to accept the idea of marriage, Stella does not appear in church, despite Miltos repeatedly warning her that he will kill her if she doesn't marry him. Miltos kills her with a dagger at end of the film.It has been said that the story of Stella's forced marriage symbolises the forces that are constantly trying to impose their will on Greece.
Cast
- Melina MercouriMelina MercouriMelina Mercouri , born as Maria Amalia Mercouri was a Greek actress, singer and politician.As an actress she made her film debut in Stella and met international success with her performances in Never on Sunday, Phaedra, Topkapi and Promise at Dawn...
as Stella - Giorgos FountasGiorgos FountasGiorgos Fountas was a Greek actor in film and television.He attended the Dramatic School at the Athens Odeum. He played football for some years for AEK Athens FC. He appeared for the first time in the theatre in Nyfiatiko tragoudi and his first film in 1944...
as Miltos - Alekos AlexandrakisAlekos AlexandrakisAlekos Alexandrakis was a famous Greek actor. He was known for his theatrical work as well as work in film and television. He died of lung cancer....
as Alekos - Christina KalogerikouChristina KalogerikouChristina Kalogerikou was an actress which she was awarded for her work in the theatre. She is descended from an acting family and acted at the National Theatre.-Biography:...
as Miltos' Mother - Voula ZouboulakiVoula ZouboulakiVoula Zouboulaki was a Greek actress . She attended the Dramatic School of the National Theatre, the School of the National Odeon and the Law School of the University of Athens.Zouboulaki began at the National Lyric Stage in 1952 and two years later appeared in prose...
as Anetta - Dionysis PapagiannopoulosDionysis PapagiannopoulosDionysis Papagiannopoulos was one of the most talented and loved actors in Greece. He studied at the Drama School of the National Theatre of Greece and made his stage debut in 1938, appearing as the Knight in William Shakespeare’s King Lear...
as Mitsos - Sofia VemboSofia VemboSofia Vembo was a leading Greek singer and actress active from the interwar period to the early postwar years and the 50s. She became best known for her performance of patriotic songs during the Greco-Italian War, when she was dubbed the "Songstress of Victory".Her real name was Efi Bebo...
as Maria - Costas Kakavas as Antonis (as Kostas Karalis)
- Tasso KavadiaTasso Kavadia-Biography:Kavadia was born on 10 January 1921 in Patras. She studied piano in Athens, writing and decoration in Paris, scenario and clothing with Giannis Tsarouchis, and acting at the Drama School at the Art School with Karolos Coon....
as Alekos' Sister - Michael Cacoyiannis as Wedding guest