The Greek Tycoon movie storyline. Theo Tomasis, from humble beginnings, is an aging Greek shipping magnate who works on his own moral (or amoral as the case may be) code, both professionally and personally, to get what and who he wants in life. The “who”s include a bevy of bed partners who don’t generally include his wife, Simi Tomasis. He dotes on his son, Nico Tomasis, who he wants to follow in his footsteps in all aspects, Nico, a daredevil, especially in the air, also enjoying the high life in the process.
He ends up divorcing Simi in order to marry Liz Cassidy, the grieving widow of US President James Cassidy, who was assassinated while he and Liz were walking on a beach. Liz’s marriage to Theo is in part to escape the spotlight not only of being the widow of a President, but part of a high profile and powerful American political family, James’ brother, John Cassidy, who was the Attorney General in James’ administration. Theo had been attracted to Liz on first sight, meeting her and James when James was still a senator. Theo and Liz’s marriage ends up being a passionate one in a turbulent way, that turbulence a result of the fundamental differences in their beings and the way they deal with people, and not just the other.
The Greek Tycoon is a 1978 American drama film, of the roman à clef type, directed by J. Lee Thompson. The screenplay by Morton S. Fine is based on a story by Fine, Nico Mastorakis, and Win Wells, who loosely based it on Aristotle Onassis and his relationship with Jacqueline Kennedy. Mastorakis denied this, instead stating “We’re not doing a film about Aristotle Onassis. It’s a personification of all Greek Tycoons.” The film stars Anthony Quinn in the title role and Jacqueline Bisset as the character based on Kennedy. Quinn also appeared in Thompson’s picture The Passage, released the following year.
Producer Nico Mastrokais reportedly offered Jackie Onassis $1 million to play herself in a film called Tycoon. She refused. When Christina Onassis declined to give permission for the movie, Mastrokais changed it to be “fictional”.
Quinn said that he met Onassis six months before the latter’s death and the tycoon gave his blessing to Quinn’s casting. Quinn said Jackie Kennedy asked him to not make the movie.[4] Quinn originally decided not to do it but then changed his mind after Jackie snubbed him at a restaurant.
Filming started 1 October 1976 with a reported budget of $4 million. Quinn was paid $500,000 and Bissett $250,000. The film was shot on location in New York City, Athens, Mykonos, Corfu, Washington, D.C., and London.
The film’s theme song, “(Life is) Just a Dance with Time,” was written by John Kongos and recorded by Petula Clark in both English and French (as “Le Grec”). In September 1977 Universal bought the film for a reported $8 million.
The Greek Tycoon (1978)
Directed by: J. Lee Thompson
Starring: Anthony Quinn, Jacqueline Bisset, James Franciscus, Edward Albert, Camilla Sparv, Marilù Tolo, Charles Durning, Luciana Paluzzi, Roland Culver, Robin Clarke, Kathryn Leigh Scott
Screenplay by: Morton S. Fine
Production Design by: Michael Stringer
Cinematography by: Anthony Richmond
Film Editing by: Alan Strachan
Set Decoration by: Vernon Dixon
Music by: Stanley Myers
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: May 12, 1978
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