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274:), decides to enter the 26-mile marathon. Once in Athens he meets Christina Gratsos (Kalogeropoulou) a young woman from his hometown who is now the personal maid to Greece's most famous actress, Eleni Costa (Mansfield). Eleni's lover, Lt. Alexi Vinardos (Minardos), is a powerful man in Greece and a respected runner. Though Spiridon arrived after the entry date, his persistence and athletic prowess so impress the Olympic officials and Coach Graham (Mathias), that he is admitted to compete in the race.
564:
Both performers were released due to their box office popularity. Though
Mansfield was a huge box office star in the late-1950s, her movie career had faded by this point. Colton, an unknown, was released from the studio without having had a fair chance at superstardom. According to Fox, Mansfield had
277:
To promote herself, Eleni announces she'll marry the winner of the marathon, having faith that it will be her beloved
Vinardos. Her proposal is heavily promoted in the press. However upon meeting Spiridon, Eleni pursues him romantically. Spiridon stays true to Christina, and tries to assuage her fear
281:
After starting the race in dead last, and accompanied most of the way by his small dog, Spiridon wins the race. Eleni has a change of heart and tells
Spiridon to find Christina and marry her, stating "...she's your girl, not me". Spiridon tries to run to find Christina, but faints. He is revived two
29:
521:. Less experienced actors had initially been cast, but when Fox demanded the roles be lengthened, the more experienced Minardos and Mathias were brought in as replacements. Unknowns were cast in smaller and less meaningful parts that rounded out the cast.
505:
As a publicity promotion for Colton, Fox cast the unknown actor in the lead and billed him directly below sex goddess
Mansfield. During the filming of the feature, Mansfield and Colton had a brief love affair, unknown at the time.
536:. Like several other Fox films during the early 1960s, the feature was made to bring quick profit to the studio, which was going broke due to the rising costs and expanding production schedule of the expensive historical epic
618:
THOMAS M. PRYOR (Aug 10, 1951). "MODERN OLYMPICS TO BE FILM'S BASIS: Metro
Dramatization of Start in 1896, With Action Shot in Greece, Listed for Spring Shortage of Dancers Of Local Origin".
270:
In 1896, it is announced the
Olympic Games will be revived and played in Athens. Young shepherd, Spiridon Loues (Colton, in a fictionalized but sometimes accurate portrayal of water-carrier
561:, making roughly $ 1 million in ticket sales on a budget of nearly $ 1.3 million. Not long after the film's failure, Fox released both Colton and Mansfield from their studio contracts.
906:
282:
hours later and initially believes everything has been a dream. Christina finds
Spiridon as he returns to the finishing line to remember his glory, and they share a kiss.
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were added as supporting characters at the last minute when the appearances of both Lt. Alexi and Coach Graham were lengthened to become more than
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and they did not have enough time to promote the severely unknown Colton, who lacked faith in his own, somewhat unwanted, career in the movies.
387:
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Hopper, Hedda (Aug 31, 1960). "Lemmon Sought for 'Crooked Ship': Glenn Ford to Live on Seine; Finch Off of H.M.S. Bounty".
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starred in the film. He had been discovered in a drug store and only made one film beforehand – a brief appearance in
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of Fox announced the film would be one of three made in Greece by the studio, the others being
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Hopper, Hedda (May 28, 1960). "Looking at
Hollywood: O'Connor Would Re-Do a Memorable Movie".
545:
The end of the final race in the stadium was shot on 23 October 1960 with over 50,000 extras.
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425:, with the plot revolving around seven Americans who helped Spyridon Louis win the marathon.
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603:"Drama: Piazza, Fabray to Test; Wanger Goes Scientific; Olympics Film Planned Schallert".
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was considered for the female lead but Fox decided to go with Jayne
Mansfield instead.
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648:"3 FILMS SET IN GREECE: Skouras Lists 'King Must Die,' 'Thermopylae' and 'Athens'".
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481:'s last film with Fox before her career setback to low-budget British and European
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489:. Although Mansfield appears in only a supporting role, she received top billing.
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766:"The Cinematic Fortunes of Greece: Our 'Method' Correspondent By John Rigos".
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732:. No. 2844. New South Wales, Australia. 23 November 1960. p. 19
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to star. It was intended to film in Greece. However MGM did not proceed.
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Hopper, Hedda (Aug 22, 1960). "Co-Ed Lands Star Role
Opposite Elvis".
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386:
The project was originally announced by MGM in 1951 from a story by
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had purchased the script from MGM and were going to make it, with
524:
Though thought of as one of Mansfield's latter low-budget films,
450:; API produced low budget films for Fox, although the budget of
663:"FILMLAND EVENTS: Ritz Bros. Signed as French Cabbies".
528:
was actually made on a large budget and was produced in
446:
The film was done under the API banner via producer
892:
751:"Bill Holden Still Trotting Over Globe Kilgallen".
565:not worked with them full-time due to her repeated
477:Shot in the fall of 1960 in Greece, the film was
1161:
421:mentioned as a possible star. The title was now
707:
617:
336:Charles Fawcett as Ambassador Cyrus T. Gaylord
878:
708:Wolters, Larry. (Sep 17, 1960). "TV TICKER".
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677:
632:
306:(credited as Maria Xénia) as Christina Gratos
557:was greeted with negative reviews and was a
1240:English-language sports comedy-drama films
885:
871:
844:
828:
810:
794:
740:– via National Library of Australia.
584:List of films about the sport of athletics
27:
454:was high by API standards. At one stage
390:which had been turned into a script by
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866:
753:The Washington Post and Times-Herald
258:in his debut, and Olympic champion
13:
1200:American sports comedy-drama films
351:(credited as Bill Browne) as Drake
136:(but credited to 20th Century Fox)
14:
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778:
324:as Grandpa Loues/Mr. Trisapopolis
1225:Films scored by Manos Hatzidakis
1220:Films directed by Andrew Marton
1215:Films about the Summer Olympics
1190:1960s sports comedy-drama films
759:
744:
1205:American track and field films
1131:Around the World Under the Sea
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701:
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579:List of American films of 1962
381:
1:
1123:Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion
768:The Christian Science Monitor
589:
376:
278:of being deserted for Eleni.
1185:1960s English-language films
825:AFI Catalog of Feature Films
652:. July 12, 1960. p. 38.
7:
755:. Mar 18, 1961. p. A8.
667:. Aug 12, 1960. p. 24.
607:. Aug 10, 1951. p. 13.
572:
465:At one stage it was called
458:was announced in the cast.
10:
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1059:Seven Wonders of the World
907:Two O'Clock in the Morning
770:. Jan 10, 1961. p. 6.
548:
472:
413:In 1960, it was announced
363:Gustavo De Nardo as George
354:Marion Siva as Maria Loues
327:Lili Valenty as Mama Loues
16:1962 film by Andrew Marton
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724:"Snippets from Hollywood"
559:box office disappointment
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33:Theatrical release poster
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1043:Men of the Fighting Lady
605:Edwin. Los Angeles Times
467:Winged Victory in Athens
134:Associated Producers Inc
1175:1962 comedy-drama films
915:The Night Without Pause
372: : Greek supporter
285:
265:
1195:20th Century Fox films
979:A Little Bit of Heaven
963:The Secret of Stamboul
939:Demon of the Himalayas
423:And Seven From America
366:Roger Fradet as Dubois
1083:It Happened in Athens
1019:The Devil Makes Three
837:It Happened in Athens
819:It Happened in Athens
803:It Happened in Athens
786:It Happened in Athens
710:Chicago Daily Tribune
680:Chicago Daily Tribune
635:Chicago Daily Tribune
555:It Happened in Athens
526:It Happened in Athens
452:It Happened In Athens
312:as Lt. Alexi Vinardos
220:It Happened in Athens
146:Twentieth Century-Fox
22:It Happened in Athens
1180:1960s American films
1003:King Solomon's Mines
923:Johnny Steals Europe
398:was to produce with
304:Xenia Kalogeropoulou
234:. It is directed by
1235:Films set in Athens
971:School for Husbands
344:Pierre de Coubertin
223:is a 1962 American
1147:Africa Texas Style
1115:Crack in the World
1102:(1963, uncredited)
1067:Underwater Warrior
893:Films directed by
857:The New York Times
842:TCM Movie Database
370:Alberto Rabagliati
1230:Films set in 1896
1210:CinemaScope films
1157:
1156:
1107:The Thin Red Line
1099:55 Days at Peking
695:Los Angeles Times
665:Los Angeles Times
499:Marriage-Go-Round
448:Robert L. Lippert
431:The King Must Die
400:Ricardo Montalbán
294:as Spiridon Loues
230:film released by
216:
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65:Robert L. Lippert
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1011:Storm Over Tibet
931:North Pole, Ahoy
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119:Manos Hatzidakis
62:James S. Elliott
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479:Jayne Mansfield
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392:Everett Freeman
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333:as Father Loues
318:as Coach Graham
298:Jayne Mansfield
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240:Jayne Mansfield
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779:External links
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620:New York Times
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553:Upon release,
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456:Dean Stockwell
437:(which became
427:Spyros Skouras
408:Fernando Lamas
396:Sidney Sheldon
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212:$ 1.05 million
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160:June 1962
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712:. p. c2.
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697:. p. B6.
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637:. p. n6.
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460:Juliet Prowse
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419:Robert Wagner
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238:and features
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236:Andrew Marton
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53:László Vadnay
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734:. Retrieved
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388:Laslo Vadney
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349:Roger Browne
331:Titos Vandis
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256:Roger Browne
228:comedy-drama
219:
218:
217:
176:Running time
153:Release date
101:Curt Courant
1139:Birds Do It
736:23 February
567:pregnancies
530:CinemaScope
519:bit players
515:Bob Mathias
494:Trax Colton
435:Thermopylae
404:John Hodiak
382:Development
358:Paul Müller
316:Bob Mathias
292:Trax Colton
260:Bob Mathias
248:Maria Xénia
244:Trax Colton
242:, newcomer
180:100 minutes
91:Bob Mathias
83:Maria Xénia
79:Trax Colton
59:Produced by
39:Directed by
1170:1962 films
1164:Categories
1051:Green Fire
590:References
483:melodramas
377:Production
340:Jean Murat
209:Box office
126:Production
49:Written by
539:Cleopatra
492:Newcomer
360:as Priest
107:Edited by
1075:Oh Islam
808:AllMovie
573:See also
487:comedies
193:Language
115:Music by
71:Starring
840:at the
822:at the
729:The Biz
549:Release
473:Filming
196:English
185:Country
164:1962-06
162: (
128:company
1150:(1967)
1142:(1966)
1134:(1966)
1126:(1965)
1118:(1965)
1110:(1964)
1094:(1962)
1086:(1962)
1078:(1961)
1070:(1958)
1062:(1956)
1054:(1954)
1046:(1954)
1038:(1954)
1030:(1952)
1022:(1952)
1014:(1951)
1006:(1950)
998:(1946)
990:(1944)
982:(1940)
974:(1937)
966:(1936)
958:(1936)
950:(1935)
942:(1935)
934:(1934)
926:(1932)
918:(1931)
910:(1929)
793:
225:sports
201:Budget
509:Both
791:IMDb
738:2018
532:and
513:and
485:and
433:and
286:Cast
266:Plot
854:at
806:at
789:at
443:).
406:or
342:as
1166::
726:.
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469:.
402:,
394:.
262:.
254:,
250:,
246:,
886:e
879:t
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166:)
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