Stella (Στέλλα)

MELINA MERCOURI in

STELLA

With GEORGE FOUNDAS

ALEKO ALEXANDRAIGS

SOPHIA VEMBO

Screenplay MICHAEL CACOYANNIS

Music MANOS HADJIDAKIS

A MICHAEL CACOYANNIS FILM

PARADISE TAVERNA LIVE BOUZOUKI MUSIC

"Anneta and the celebrated STELLA.

All the songs about LIFE, LOVE and DEATH...

that mirror the sou] of the Greek people. "

PARADISE

Let's go to the Paradise Bouzouki

And when the fun dies down

Seven songs will I sing for you to pick

The one you 'll sing to make me say I love you

Seven songs will I sing for you to pick

The one you'll sing to make me say "I love you"!

- Stella, Aleko is here. - 0k.

Mrs Maria...

My daughter isn't happy.

She always sings first, as if Stella is the star.

That's what we agreed on from the beginning.

But now we have offers galore. We're nightingales proper.

Besides, my Anneta SINGS. She doesn't croak like Stella.

Yew mrs Euterpe, but it's Stella who packs them in.

She's trying out a new number and she's all nerves.

Hello Aleko. What was my mom grumping about this time'!

She resents your going out first.

- I told her to stay away. - She's like any mother.

- Ambitious for her daughter. - Some ambition! Singing in a taverns!

Why's it a bad thing? I'll check if Stella's ready.

- How have you been'? - How eke“!?

Getting plainer every day while Stella blooms.

And why wouldn't she... As if too many gentlemen like you ever cared for her?

Go ask Mitsos. AH she ever befriended with were mostly scums.

- Isn't that so, Mitso? - Keep me out of it. I'm just doing my job.

And when she's through with you, she'll go back to her bums.

Why are you telling me this? Something she said?

No, but I know Stella inside out.

She doesn't care about money. She's proud that way.

But when she falls for a guy, it's all the way.

And after a couple of months, she gets over it, right?

It's the fault of you men, she says, for being so selfish.

In other words, my time is up?

- The lights! - Lights out!

- New tricks tonight? - She'll dance in a spotlight.

- She saw it in the movies and liked it. - Yeah, big thing.

Drums!

Higher!

Higher!

What's that bastard doing?

- I find her disgusting. - The men don't.

Out of my way!

That old witch! She put the jinx on me.

I don't care if she is Anneta's mother.

She'll never ever set another foot in here!

Where's my shirt?

- Stella! - Here it is!

May I offer my congratulations?

Are you putting me on?

Just once I try to do something artistic...

and I make a fool of myself.

Some joint!

- What's wrong with it? - It doesn't even have a piano!

It has a whole orchestra.

Try doing a classy number with bouzouki music!

I'll get myself a piano, you wait!

Be patient and I'll get it for you, doll!

I'm not patient. You know me.

Sure I do. May others had a heart just like Stella's here. Right, Aleko?

- Not even a smile for me? - Lay off, Aleko.

- Come on, it wasn't so tragic. - For me it was! I'm not Anneta.

- What was she going on about? - Nothing that matters.

Think I don't know? It's always the same.

Whenever I'm stuck on someone, she tries to snatch him away.

And the lies she tells!

Yet deep down she loves you.

She's a good girl. Trouble is, she's too set on getting married...

and that's not healthy, not in our line of work.

- And you, Stella? What do you want? - You know what I want.

To sing, dance and have all the men at my feet.

- What's wrong? - Nothing.

And the man who loves you?

He'll love me and be happy I'm his.

Do you love me, Stella?

Careful guys! My piano! It's new dammit!

Careful! My piano!

- Congratulations. - Thanks.

You swear you can afford it?

- You wanted a piano, right? - Yeah but. .

- Like it? - Adore it.

I'm coming. Help me 11P-

Are you going to sit up there?

Where else? Leave my piano alone? No way man!

Slow down. We're going past the competition!

Come on out!

- What's going on? - I want Pepe, the pianist.

Okay. He)', Antigone!

They want Pepe!

- Where's Pepe? - He isn't here.

- Is he playing somewhere? - Wherever they ask him.

I've got work for him. I need him right away.

He's playing at some wedding.

- Where? - In Piraeus, the little port.

Thank you. First we'll drop the piano at the Paradise.

To your health, Pepe!

To the happy couple!

To your health, Milto!

- Hi guys! Can anyone give a hand here? - Gladly!

- Wow!! - Hi there baby!

Hello guys, I missed you all. Where have you been?

A beautiful piano, all black and shiny!

- What make? - The best there is.

Who's that good-looking guy? Looks familiar.

It's Milto, the soccer player. of Olympiakos

- The bestest! - The greatest.

So, Pepe, like we said... tonight.

- Leaving so soon? - Yes.

- Why? - Keep your hand, I've one too many here!

- What's your name? - Your hand!

- Mine's Miltos. - Who cares?

- Where are you going? - Anywhere I like.

I'd like you to stay.

Something tells me we like different things.

Something tells me you're wrong.

It's getting light.

That Paradise poster down there, is new?

Yesterday's. It was my idea. I like to look at it.

My hair needs dyeing.

- Stella? - What'!

- What are you thinking? - Shall I have it dyed red?

- Stella... Know what I'm thinking? - What my boy?

I hate having to leave every morning like a thief.

- I'd like us to be different. - I say we're fine.

- For how long? - What's gotten into you lately?

I'm afraid you'll leave me, and if you do...

Why don't you want to marry me'!

If you're starting that talk again, then better go.

- I can't help thinking of it. - And I can't help resenting it.

But why Stella, why?

You can't possibly like the life you lead... Maria, Anneta, mitsos...

What's wrong with them? Not classy enough for you?

No Stella. You're so much better. Why don't you want to change?

To change and be what like? You're insulting me!

No, Stella. When you love someone, it's only natural...

Not to me! I love people for what they are. I ask no more.

I've told you a thousand times: if you don;t want to kill mylove for you,

love me as I am! But you just don't listen!

If that doesn't suit you, go back to your world...

and leave me in peace!

Is there someone else'!

Now you're being really insulting.

Think I'm hiding something? You should know me better.

When there's someone else, you'll be the first to know.

I'm sorry.

Stella...

I'm going now.

Haven't seen Aleko around lately.

Think I haven't noticed?

- Did you have a fight? - Kind of.

I bet he took it hard.

Unlike me, you mean... living it up!

Stop that horrid bouzouki noise!

The past three nights he hasn't gone out.

- At all? - No.

Thank heavens.

What are you writing, Aleko?

Poetry.

What about?

Bourgeois boredom.

Poetry my foot.

Instead of doing some real work.

- Don't start. - You spoiled him.

- You know how sensitive he is. - He only knows how to spent money

At least he's rid of that ghastly woman!

What do you say Spyrettos?

I say stop it, for God's sakes. You're choking him.

- Are you going out? - Yes.

- At this late hour? - Yes.

Why don't you sit here with us my child. It's so nice.

Where to?

To the horrid bouzoukis.

It's the thirteenth of the month

My bad-luck day

I don't want to set eyes on

or greet a single soul

I don't want to set eyes on

or greet a single soul

Every time it's the thirteenth

I don't get out of bed

I close the doors and windows

But my eyes refuse to close

I close the doors and windows

But my eyes refuse to close

All together, everyone!

Cursed day, you've done me in

You've clipped my wings

Each time I full in love