The Greek Tycoon is supposed to be loosely based on the romance of Jackie Kennedy and Ari Onassis, but it's a pretty shameless copy on the surface. Jaqueline Bisset plays Liz, a high-class, prim and proper wife of James Franciscus, who plays an ambitious politician named Jack Cassidy. The soon-to-be president has an equally ambitious brother, Johnny, played by Robin Clarke, who soon gets promoted to Attorney General. I'm not kidding. They meet The Greek Tycoon, who has silver hair and dark glasses, named Theo Tomasis. I'm still not kidding.No one in Hollywood knows what happened behind closed doors between Jackie and Ari, so beyond that, the movie is probably largely fiction. I hope the movie is largely fictitious, because neither lead is even remotely likable. "Theo" is an open womanizer who tells his new bride on his wedding night that he's going to sleep with his mistress the next day. He has a temper, and unlike most Anthony Quinn roles, he's not warm or tender underneath the roughness. "Liz" is cold and callous, giving an unbelievably heartless speech after her husband's assassination. She also has a temper, and she vacillates between boredom and anger, with no reason for either. Also, the so-called romance between the two is pretty ridiculous. She's married to a "Cassidy" and she's bored? She's married to a "Cassidy" and she is immediately drawn to the crude "Theo" even during her marriage? There's no reason for her hormones to take over when he's around, but screenwriter Mort Fine thought the audience didn't need a reason. Tony does a Greek dance and all of a sudden she can't control herself. Jaqueline Bisset could have poured herself into the role, but either she chose not to or she wasn't able to, because I wasn't able to find any real acting on display. Anthony Quinn doesn't even do a good job! He gets in arguments with Jaqueline, loses his temper, throws a punch at his son Edward Albert, and sleeps around with various women. That's about it. The music is like a bad '70s tv movie, as is the very trite script. The only thing the movie manages to do is cast two actors are infinitely more attractive than the real people they're portraying.DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not your friend. The movie contains lots of shaky helicopter shots, and that might make you sick. In other words, "Don't Look, Mom!"

Thinly disguised story about the marriage of Jacqueline Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis. In this Anthony Quinn plays Theo Tomasis a Greek millionaire with some shady dealings. He meets Liz Cassidy (Jacqueline Bisset) and falls in love--but she's married to President James Cassidy (James Franciscus). He's killed and she goes to Onassis...you know the rest of the story.This was a huge hit in 1978 but destroyed by the critics. I think they were angry because the filmmakers kept insisting this was NOT about Kennedy and Onassis (which it most certainly was). Facts were changed (Onassis had a daughter in real life, here it's a son) and events but it was still pretty obvious. The characters themselves are treated very well. Bisset plays Cassidy as a beautiful, frightened, vulnerable yet strong woman. Quinn plays Tomasis as vulgar, stubborn but strong and learning how to love. Also Quinn has an infectious laugh and hams it up in an enjoyable way.There's also beautiful scenery and a wonderful score. These combined with the acting push this across. No cinematic masterpiece but a pretty good love story if you can ignore the Kennedy-Onassis connection. I give it a 7.

This thinly-veiled roman-a-clef depicts the story and courtship of Aristotle Onassis and Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis.People who have no interest in the lives of such public figures will no doubt find this story tiresome and completely without merit. This film wasn't made for them. This film was made for people who couldn't and still can't, get enough about this most famous couple; the widow of Camelot and the Golden Greek.Anthony Quinn reportedly met with Mr. Onassis prior to Onassis' death. Onassis figured that a film may be made about him and wanted Quinn to play the part of the shipping magnate. Quinn plays his part well and gives the audience a very fine performance of the character as we might imagine him to be.Jackie Bisset as Jackie Kennedy-Onassis gives a very fine performance as what we would imagine Jackie O to be like. As many of us would not know the lifestyle of the people portrayed in this film, all the actors in the film give convincing performances and humanize their respective characters. Raf Vallone playing Spiro Tomassis, the alter ego of Onassis' real life business and personal rival, Stavros Niarchos is actually funny and has some very humorous lines which he delivers without fail.The film as a whole accomplishes what it sets out to do very well and doesn't disappoint.

Anthony Quinn is perfectly cast in the role of a wealthy Greek aristocrat to Jacqueline Bisset's rich American widow. Set in the 1970s, the acting is passable though not fantastic. Quinn's turn is the best, though, as he plays an emotional, powerful man who is used to having his way in and out of the boardroom. Thinly veiled plot, you can figure out what is going to happen in the movie during the first few minutes, but it is worth sitting through for the scenery of the Greek islands. Even if the volume is turned to mute, it is nice to see how rich and famous frolic aboard yachts, in pools and on the beach. Serious film critics might just see this film as a glorified television movie of the week.