The Counterfeit Coin
| Κάλπικη λίρα (Istoria mias kalpikis liras) The Counterfeit Coin | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Yorgos Javellas |
| Written by | Yorgos Javellas |
| Starring |
Vassilis Logothetidis Ilia Livykou Mimis Fotopoulos Sperantza Vrana Orestis Makris Maria Kalamioti Ellie Lambeti Dimitris Horn |
| Narrated by | Dimitris Myrat |
| Music by | Manos Hatzidakis |
| Cinematography |
Kostas Theodoridis Giorgos Tsaoulis |
| Edited by | Giorgos Tsaoulis |
Production company |
Anzervos Productions |
| Distributed by | Atlantic Films |
Release dates | December 28, 1955 |
Running time | 127 minutes |
| Country | Greece |
| Language | Greek |
Κάλπικη λίρα (Istoria mias kalpikis liras) (English: The Counterfeit Coin) is a Greek comedy-drama film, produced in 1955, written and directed by Giorgos Tzavellas and starring Dimitris Horn, Ilia Livykou and Vassilis Logothetidis.[1][2][3] At the 2006 International Thessaloniki Film Festival, the film was announced as among the 10 all-time best Greek films by the PHUCC (Pan-Hellenic Union of Cinema Critics).[4][5]
Plot
An honest, religious engraver, Anargyros Loumbardopoulos (Vassilis Logothetidis), has routinely invested his money in gold coins, specifically British gold sovereigns, bought from a friend of his, a banker. Upon having stored away 100 sovereigns, a friend of the banker suggests that Anargyros mints counterfeit sovereigns, but he adamantly refuses. The banker's friend then introduces Anargyros to a lady that he knows. Anargyros' resistance is soon curbed, and he spends all his invested 100 sovereigns to buy minting equipment.
Cast
- Vassilis Logothetidis as Anargyros Loubardopoulos
- Ilia Livykou as Fifi
- Mimis Fotopoulos as the beggar
- Sperantza Vrana as Maria
- Orestis Makris as Vasilis Mavridis
- Maria Kalamioti as Fanitsa
- Ellie Lambeti as Aliki
- Dimitris Horn as Pavlos
- Additional cast
- Lavrentis Dianellos as Anastasis
- Vagelis Protopapas as Dinos
- Lela Patrikiou as Mrs. Mavridou
- Dimitris Myrat as the narrator
- Zoras Tsapelis as Dimitris
- Thanos Tzeneralis as George Phil
Reception
As part of the closing night event at the Antipodes Greek Film Festival 2005 in Melbourne, Australia, they screened what they considered a classic 50’s film, The Counterfeit Coin in celebration of the film's 50th anniversary.[6] At the festival, it was said of the film that it was, "Considered by many to be the best Greek film ever produced..." and "There is no more complete Greek cinematic creation".[7] And after the festival, "The standout favourites of the Film Festival have been Brides with 3 sell out screenings to date, The Counterfeit Coin, Testosterone and Liza and The Others.[8]
Other information
- The movie saw 1000 simultaneous screenings in Russia.
- It was a box office success with 208.410 tickets only from the first run in Athens, more than any other movie for that season.
- It has also been honored with several film awards (Venice, Moscow) and nominations.
References
- ↑ Kathimerini (English edition), by Michalis Katsigeras (September 14, 1956), "Commentaries", accessed 01-14-2009
- ↑ The Hellenic Society Prometheas, "Presents the Classic Greek film The Counterfeit Coin (I Kalpiki Lira), 1955", accessed 01-14-2009
- ↑ cinemainfo.gr, History of the Greek cinema, accessed 01-14-2009
- ↑ cinemainfo.gr, by Giannis Frangoulis (translated by Konstantinos Vassilaros), "47th THESSALONICA FILM FESTIVAL - FOG CASING OVER THE WORLD OF CINEMA", accessed 01-14-2009
- ↑ filmfestival.gr, " The ten best best film of the Greek Film Critics Association", accessed 01-14-2009
- ↑ greekcity.com.au, "GreekFilm Festival - September 2005 Melbourne", accessed 01-14-2009
- ↑ Antipodes Greek Film Festival, accessed 01-14-2009
- ↑ greekfilmfestival.com.au, accessed 01-14-2009