How music and dances presented in Greek movies

1. MUSIC AND DANCE IN
GREEK MOVIES
Erasmus 2015-2017
The presentation consists of two sections : music in movies
and famous Greek dances in Greek cinema.

2. Music and cinema
 Themain aspectsof cinema, whichconsistsanaudiovisual spectacle,are :
 thespeech,
 picture,
 andsound/music
 Thesecharacteristicsinteractwitheachotherand compose the appropriatecinematicbackground.
Therefore, themovies’ soundtrackcannotbe secluded from thisbackground and be treatedasit was
destined for audition.Whereasthereare severalsongs and composures – thathadalreadybeen
composed- whichwere usedas soundtracks.

3.  During 30s’, the transitionfrom thesilent films to the
speaking cinema gives anew dimension in therole of
music, asseveral composers of the20th century dealt
withmusic for films.
 During the 50s’ withthe threatof televisions’ spread,
jazz music invades atthe world of cinema andprepares
theadventof the upcoming pop forms of thenext
decades.
 In the70s and80s electronicmusic production tools
invade, suchassynthesizers andcomputers.
 Today, music in cinema combinessynthesistechniques
from various ages,aiming mainly to artisticeffect that
will createtherightimpression to theviewer.

4.  The elements of cinematic music
 Observing the musicusedin themovie we concludethatcertaintypesofmusic arelinked with
specific psychologicalsituations,emotions,heroes charactersandfilm categories(westerns, thriller
etc).Musiccanconvey messages, commenting orillustratingthe action,or even toreveal hidden
aspects,which arenotexpressedin thedialogue.
 Musicals
 A special categoryof films aremusicals. This is afilm genre, theplotof whicharebuilt-inmusical
pieces. The firstever musical was“ Thesinger ofjazz“ ( 1927)ofAl Jolson.Verypopularwerethe
films withthe danceduoFred Astaire andGinger Rogersin themid 1930s.Aroundthe middle of
the 1950s,the demandformovies musicalsbegan weakening,resulting in reduced production.

6. Music in Greek cinema
 Thefirst talking film filmedin Hollywood by the homogeneous Tetos Dimitriadis in1930,with the title "the
fist of the cripple” .
 “TheShepherdess’ lover (1931)was the first talking movie, whose musicwas composed inGreece and was
recorded in Germany.
 The40smusic for films is written and thefirst composers are distinguished( Kostas Gianidis ).
 Inthe years that follow, all theimportant Greekcomposers (as Manos Hadjidakis, who won Oscar for best
music for the film "neveron Sunday“, Mikis Theodorakis, Nikos Mamangakisetc) passed from the field of
film music.

7. Manos
Hadjidakis
Mikis
Theodorakis
Nikos
Mamanga
kis
Stavros Xarchakos
Manos Loïzos

8.  Furthermore we are going to present three of the most
emblematic Greek movies -based on their music composure
and dance scenes- including «Zorba the Greek», «Never on
Sunday» and «?????????». Each of these films has been
nominated and awarded with various international awards
and have marked the golden age of Greek Cinema, which
was also associated with the growth of movie production
company Finos Film.

9. Zorba the Greek
Zorba the Greek is a 1964 Greek drama film directed
by Michael Cacoyannis and starring Anthony Quinn as
the title character. It is based on the novel Zorba the
Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis.
The movie was awarded with 3 Oscar prizes ,
including Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Lila’s
Kedrova performance.
The famous piece of music, known as Sirtaki, was
composed by Mikis Theodorakis.
The main feature of this dance and music is the
acceleration in the pace. The name Sirtaki comes from
the Greek word syrtos, a common name for a group of
traditional Greek dances in which the dancers "drag"
their feet.

10. The famous dance ‘Sirtaki
Nikos Kazantzakis the book author
Anthony Quinn as Zorbas

11. Never on Sunday
 The film stars Melina
Mercouri and Jules Dassin, and it
gently submerges the viewer into
Greek culture, including dance, music,
and language (through the use
of subtitles).
 The signature song and
the bouzouki theme of the movie
became hits of the 1960s and brought
the composer, Manos Hadjidakis,
an Academy Award. It was also
nominated for the Academy Awards for,
respectively, Best Actress in a Leading
Role (Melina Mercouri), Best Costume
Design, Black-and-White, Best
Director (Jules Dassin) and Best
Writing, Story and Screenplay as

12. Melina Merkouri has been one of the most
recognized actresses in the history of
Greek cinema and the first female Minister
for Culture of Greece in 1981. She was a
strong advocate for the return to Athens of
the Parthenon Marbles, which were
removed from the Parthenon, and are now
displayed in the British Museum.
Julius Dassin was an American
Director, actor and screenwriter of
the theater and cinema. After his
marriage with Melina Mercouri linked
his life with Greece and considered
himself Greek. Towards the end of
his life he became honorary Greek
citizen as the highest recognition of
the cultural offer in Greece. Indicated
in the photo with his wife Melina
Merkouri.

14. Rebetiko
 Rebetiko is the Greek urban song in its
beginning. It evolved through the Greek
musical tradition, the folk song and the kleftiko
from the inhabitants of the Greek cities . In the
early 1900s the rebetiko formed the folk song
of the poor districts of major cities.
 1922 is the year of the destruction of Smyrna
followed by forced population exchange .
Many inhabitants are installed in the large
cities of Greece bringing with them their
musical traditions.
 Similar creations with those of rebetiko are
observed and in America with the creation of
Blues (blues), in Brazil with the Samba
(samba) and in Jamaica with reggae music
(reggae). Similar are the processes that have
contributed to the creation of this music
(populations movement, combining music of
population that moved with the music of the
regions where they are installed).
The Piraeus’ quartet

15. Rebetiko (movie)
 The story of a group of Rembetes, singers and musicians of the
Greek equivalent to the blues, in the early decades of the 20th
century, seen through the eyes of a young female singer.
 The film has several historic songs signed by Stavros Xarchakos,
lyrics by Nikos Gatsos. The well-known song “Come tonight at
Thomas's», is in verses and entirely visualized by Kostas Ferri in
the film, as it refers to persons of this archetypal Orchestra.

16. Poet Nikos Gatsos alongside Manos
Hadjidakis
Stavros Xarchakos