Trivia / Zorba the Greek

• Breakaway Pop Hit: The "Sirtaki" music and dance has become iconic and strongly associated with Greece since this film.
• Deleted Role: Pia Lindstrom filmed scenes as a peasant girl, but they were cut.
• Fake Nationality: Anthony Quinn, a Mexican-American of Irish descent, plays the quintessentially Greek Alexis Zorba.
• The Other Marty: Simone Signoret was originally cast as Madame Hortense and was initially present for filming, but was replaced after two weeks by Lila Kedrova.
• Typecasting: George Foundas had a lengthy career in Greek films, typically playing tough guys and/or villains. For example he was the titular villain in the film "Katharma" (1963), where the title roughly translates to "Scoundrel".
• What Could Have Been:
  • Tallulah Bankhead, Bette Davis and Barbara Stanwyck were considered for Madame Hortense.
  • Burt Lancaster turned down the role of Alexis Zorba.
  • Ian McKellen and Oliver Reed lobbied the role of Basil.
  • At the 1986 Cannes Film Festival, The Cannon Group announced they were making a musical remake of Zorba with Anthony Quinn reprising the title role. It was never made.

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