The fiend

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right The fiend (Greek Ο Δράκος) was a Greek film written by Iakovos Kambanellis and directed by Nikos Koundouros. It was released on March 5, 1956.

Plot

Thomas is an insignificant and unappreciated bank clerk. He heads home from work, on the bus, with no plans for the New Year's holiday when he views, in a fellow-passenger's newspaper, a newly-released picture of a master criminal called "the fiend". To his amazement, the master criminal is his spitting image.

Panic-stricken Thomas tries to avoid the police and ends up in a cabaret with underworld connections. The owner ("Fatso"), employees and patrons of the cabaret assume that he is indeed "the fiend" and treat him with fear and respect. A young, still-innocent showgirl called "the baby" (to moro) falls in love with him.

Eventually, the insignificant Thomas identifies with the role of the fiend. He meets a tragic end when the truth comes out.

Cast

Awards

"The fiend" won the title of one of the best Greek films of the 1955-1959 period at the Film Festival of Thessaloniki in 1960.

Notes

  • In its day, "The fiend" was a flop and was sharply criticised by several Greek dailies for its sympathetic depiction of the underworld. Later on it came to be appreciated and was even named one of the best Greek films of all time.
  • Its music was by Manos Hadjidakis