The tribute focuses on the films that Katina Paxinou filmed abroad: Sam Wood’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls”, Luchino Visconti’s “Rocco and His Brothers”, Orson Welles’ “Mr. Arkandin”, and the British gothic thriller “Uncle Silas” by Charles Frank, that hasn’t been screened in Greece since 1947, the year it was filmed.

(For Whom the Bell Tolls)

USA/ΗΠΑ, 1943, εγχ./col.

Σκην./Dir.: Sam Wood. Σεν./Scr.: Dudley Nichols. Φωτ./Cin.: Ray Rennahan. Μοντ./Ed.: John F. Link, Sherman Todd. Μουσ./Mus.: Victor Young. Ηθ./Cast: Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, Akim Tamiroff, Katina Paxinou / Κατίνα Παξινού. Παρ./Prod.: Sam Wood. Διάρκεια/Dur.: 170΄.

Based on the novel by Ernest Hemingway, this adventure drama follows the story of Robert Jordan, an idealist with a talent for blowing things up and being where the action is. In 1930, he is in Spain where a civil war rages and his skills are needed. He is led into the Rocky Mountains by a guide where he joins a clan led by a hard man named Pablo, whom he is not sure he trusts. Katina Paxinou (who was awarded an Oscar for her performance) plays Pilar, a rough woman herself who can stand up to and/or influence Pablo; she encourages a relationship between Maria, a victim of rape by the enemy, and Jordan.

(Mr. Arkadin / Confidential Report)

Γαλλία, Ισπανία, Ελβετία / France, Spain, Switzerland, 1955, μ/α./b&w.

Σκην./Dir.: Orson Welles. Σεν./Scr.: Orson Welles. Φωτ./Cin.: Jean Bourgoin. Μοντ./Ed.: Renzo Lucidi. Μουσ./Mus.: Paul Misraki. Ηθ./Cast: Orson Welles, Michael Redgrave, Patricia Medina, Akim Tamiroff, Katina Paxinou / Κατίνα Παξινού. Παρ./Prod.: Louis Dolivet, Orson Welles. Διάρκεια/Dur.: 93΄.

American smuggler Guy Van Stratten leaves an Italian prison term with one asset; a dying man’s words about wealthy, mysterious Gregory Arkadin. Guy finds it most pleasant to investigate Arkadin though his lovely daughter Raina, her father’s idol. To get rid of Guy, Arkadin claims amnesia about his own life prior to 1927, sending Guy off to investigate Arkadin’s unknown past. Guy’s quest spans many countries and eccentric characters who contribute clues. But the real purpose of Guy’s mission proves deadly; can Guy himself survive it?

(Rocco e i suoi fratelli)

Ιταλία, Γαλλία/ Italy, France, 1960, μ/α./b&w.

Σκην./Dir.: Lucchino Visconti. Σεν./Scr.: Luchino Visconti, Suso Cecchi d’Amico, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Massimo Franciosa, Enrico Medioli. Φωτ./Cin.: Giuseppe Rotunno. Μοντ./Ed.: Mario Serandrei. Μουσ./Mus.: Nino Rota. Ηθ./Cast: Alain Delon, Renato Salvatori, Annie Girardot, Katina Paxinou / Κατίνα Παξινού. Παρ./Prod.: Goffredo Lombardo. Διάρκεια/Dur.: 168΄.

H χήρα Ροζάρια, μαζί με τους τέσσερις γιους της, ανάμεσά τους και τον Ρόκο, μετακομίζει στο Μιλάνο όπου ήδη ζει ο Βιντσένζο, ο πέμπτος γιος της οικογένειας. Στην αρχή, η οικογένεια αντιμετωπίζει πολλά προβλήματα, στη συνέχεια όμως όλοι βρίσκουν κάτι να ασχοληθούν: Ο Σιμόνε το μποξ, ο Ρόκο δουλεύοντας σε ένα στεγνοκαθαριστήριο και ο Τσίρο σπουδάζοντας. Ο Σιμόνε θα δημιουργήσει μία θυελλώδη σχέση με μία πόρνη, τη Νάντια, με την οποία θα μπλέξει και ο Ρόκο αφού απολυθεί από τον στρατό. Η διαμάχη μεταξύ των δύο αδελφών θα οδηγήσει μέχρι και στο φόνο.

Uncle Silas

UK/Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο, 1947, μ/α./b&w.

Σκην./Dir.: Charles Frank. Σεν./Scr.: Ben Travers. Φωτ./Cin.: Robert Krasker Μοντ./Ed.: Ralph Kemplen. Μουσ./Mus.: Alan Rawsthorne . Ηθ./Cast: Jean Simmons, Katina Paxinou / Κατίνα Παξινού, Derrick De Marney. Παρ./Prod.: Laurence Irving, Josef Somlo. Διάρκεια/Dur.: 103΄.

Caroline Ruthyn is the teenager niece of Silas, a sickly and unbalanced man, who becomes her guardian when her father dies. The fact that Silas is broke and greedy and young Caroline is the heir to her father’s great fortune is reason enough for Caroline to be wary, but her fears escalate when she meets Silas’s perverted son and when she discovers that her fearsome former governess, Madame de la Rougierre, is in league with her uncle.

Paraskinio - Tribute to Katina Paxinou

Greece/Ελλάδα, 2001, εγχ./col.

Σκην./Dir.: Δημήτρης Δημογεροντάκης/Dimitris Dimogerontakis, Κώστας Μαχαίρας/Kostas Macheras. Σεν./Scr.: Δημήτρης Δημογεροντάκης/Dimitris Dimogerontakis, Κώστας Μαχαίρας/Kostas Macheras. Φωτ./Cin.: Θεόδωρος Μάργκας/Theodoros Margas. Μοντ./Ed.: Πάνος Βουτσαράς/Panos Voutsaras. Παρ./Prod.: ΕΡΤ, Cinetic. Διάρκεια (β’μερος)/Dur(2nd Part).: 52΄.

Katina Paxinou acquired her fame in the Greek and European theatre scenes and became the first Greek actress tο shine in Hollywood, winning an Oscar for her very first role there. She was distinguished for her eclectic choices, her dynamic presence, her way of performing ancient Greek tragic roles. With the occasion of the tribute to her appearances in cinema, this documentary offers a comprehensive picture of her life, based on Greek National Television archives.