This is one movie that screams for a modern remake. In Color - shot completely on location in Crete or a beautiful Greek island. Stick to the book and just tell the story with nice scenery, great acting and fantastic music.
Director: Alan Parker
Soundtrack: Vangelis
Basil: Colin Firth or Pierce Brosnan
Zorba: Antonio Banderas with older make-up
The Widow: Rachel Weisz (too young?) Isabella Rossellini (too old?)
Madame Hortense: Meryl Streep
Anybody have any ideas?
There have been many great performances in the history of cinema, but on certain rare occasions, an actor owns a role so completely that it would be tantamount to sacrilege for anyone else to attempt it. Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch is one example. Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba is another. Leave this classic alone. It doesn't need a remake.
shareTotally agree, jbaker1-2. What I can't comprehend is that, though Quinn did get the Oscar for this, his greatest achievement, somebody else got the Golden Globe. Anyway, remaking this film with some of the ridiculous actor suggestions made here would be sacrilege. Why not remake Gone With the Wind or On the Waterfront or Citizen Kane? Some films are as unrepeatable as the Mona Lisa.
EDIT: Just checked, and Peter O'Toole won that year for Becket (as did the film). I've got to hand it to him -- nobody else could come close IMO.
Only in Show Biz by injection