The Counterfeit Coin
Encyclopedia
Κάλπικη λίρα (English: The Counterfeit Coin) is a Greek
comedy film
produced in 1955
, written and directed by Giorgos Tzavellas and starring Dimitris Horn
, Ilya Livikou and Vassilis Logothetidis
. At the 2006 International Thessaloniki Film Festival, the film was announced as among the 10 all-time best Greek films by the PHUCC (Pan-Hellenic Union of Cinema Critics).
), has routinely invested his money in gold coins, specifically British
gold sovereigns, bought from a friend of his, a banker. Upon having stored away 100 sovereigns, a friend of the banker suggests that Anargyros mints counterfeit sovereigns
, but he adamantly refuses. The banker's friend then introduces Anargyros to a lady that he knows. Anargyros' resistance is soon curbed, and he spends all his invested 100 sovereigns to buy minting equipment.
Additional cast
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
produced in 1955
1955 in film
The year 1955 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* November 3 - The musical Guys and Dolls, starring Marlon Brando and Frank Sinatra, debuts.* June 27 - The last ever Republic serial, King of the Carnival, is released....
, written and directed by Giorgos Tzavellas and starring Dimitris Horn
Dimitris Horn
Dimitris Horn was a Greek theatrical and film performer. He is regarded probably as the greatest Greek actor of modern times.-Biography:...
, Ilya Livikou and Vassilis Logothetidis
Vassilis Logothetidis
Vassilis Logothetidis was a Greek comedian.Logothetidis was born in 1897 in Myriofito, a village in Eastern Thrace close to Istanbul. One year after graduating from high school, in 1916, he started to participate as an amateur actor in local shows...
. At the 2006 International Thessaloniki Film Festival, the film was announced as among the 10 all-time best Greek films by the PHUCC (Pan-Hellenic Union of Cinema Critics).
Plot
An honest, religious engraver, Anargyros Loumbardopoulos (Vassilis LogothetidisVassilis Logothetidis
Vassilis Logothetidis was a Greek comedian.Logothetidis was born in 1897 in Myriofito, a village in Eastern Thrace close to Istanbul. One year after graduating from high school, in 1916, he started to participate as an amateur actor in local shows...
), has routinely invested his money in gold coins, specifically British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
gold sovereigns, bought from a friend of his, a banker. Upon having stored away 100 sovereigns, a friend of the banker suggests that Anargyros mints counterfeit sovereigns
Coin counterfeiting
Coin counterfeiting of valuable antique coins is common; modern high-value coins are also counterfeited and circulated.Counterfeit antique coins are generally made to a very high standard so that they can deceive experts; this is not easy and many coins still stand out.-Circulating...
, but he adamantly refuses. The banker's friend then introduces Anargyros to a lady that he knows. Anargyros' resistance is soon curbed, and he spends all his invested 100 sovereigns to buy minting equipment.
Cast
- Vassilis LogothetidisVassilis LogothetidisVassilis Logothetidis was a Greek comedian.Logothetidis was born in 1897 in Myriofito, a village in Eastern Thrace close to Istanbul. One year after graduating from high school, in 1916, he started to participate as an amateur actor in local shows...
as Anargyros Loubardopoulos - Ilia Livykou as Fifi
- Mimis FotopoulosMimis FotopoulosDimitris "Mimis" Fotopoulos was a Greek actor, writer, poet and academic....
as Beggar - Sperantza VranaSperantza VranaSperantza Vrana was a Greek actress and writer.She was born as Elpida Homatianou in Messolongi on 6 February, either in 1926 or 1932. She wrote several books with the most famous autobiogrqaphy Tolmo . She died of a heart attack on 29 September 2009, aged either 77 or 83.-Film:-External links:...
as Whore - Orestis MakrisOrestis MakrisOrestis Makris was a Greek actor and tenor.He graduated from the Greek Odeum of Athens and first entered the scene as a tenor in the troupe of Rosalia Nika in 1925. He later joined the Papaioannou troupe, before moving to more humoristic roles. Makris excelled in the portrayal of folk characters,...
as Vasilis Mavridis - Maria Kalamioti as Fanitsa
- Ellie LambetiEllie LambetiEllie Lambeti was a Greek actress.-Family:Born in 1926 in Greece,her father owned a Greek tavern in the village of Vilia Attikis. She had six siblings. Her maternal grandfather was a Captain Stamatis who fought together with Kolokotronis against the Turks in 1821, when the modern Greek democracy...
as Aliki - Dimitris HornDimitris HornDimitris Horn was a Greek theatrical and film performer. He is regarded probably as the greatest Greek actor of modern times.-Biography:...
as Pavlos
Additional cast
- Lavrentis DianellosLavrentis DianellosLavrentis Dianellos was a Greek actor. From 1948 to 1975, he appeared in 200 films, leading one reviewer to call him "ubiquitous."-External links:**...
as Anastasis - Vagelis ProtopapasVageli ProtopapasVangelis Protopappas was a Greek actor in film and television. His ancestry is from Messolongi. His famous roles included Enas iros me pantoufles, Santa Chiquita, I kalpiki lira, O Ziliarogatos, Despoinis eton 39, etc., all with Vassilis Logothetidis in which he cooperated a narrow friendship...
as Dinos - Zoras Tsapelis as Dimitris
Reception
As part of the closing night event at the Antipodes Greek Film Festival 2005 in Melbourne, Australia, they screened what they considered a classic 50’s comedy, The Counterfeit Coin in celebration of the film's 50th anniversary. At the festival, it was said of the film that it was, "Considered by many to be the best Greek film ever produced..." and "There is no more complete Greek cinematic creation". And after the festival, "The standout favourites of the Film Festival have been Brides with 3 sell out screenings to date, The Counterfeit Coin, Testosterone and Liza and The Others.Other information
- The movie saw 1000 simultaneous screenings in Russia.
- It was a box office success with 208.410 tickets only from the first run in Athens, more than any other movie for that season.
- It has also been honored with several film awards (VeniceVenice Film FestivalThe Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...
, MoscowMoscow International Film FestivalMoscow International Film Festival , is the film festival first held in Moscow in 1959. From its inception to 1995 it was held every second year in July, alternating with the Karlovy Vary festival. The festival has been held annually since 1995....
) and nominations.
External links
- The Counterfeit Coin at YouTubeYouTubeYouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....