Do you ever wonder how certain places became in-demand vacation destinations in the bygone days before social media?

Books, magazines, newspapers, TV, and films perform a vital service in travel and tourism, then and now.

Take the Greek island of Crete, for instance, the setting for two very different productions filmed on location and released in the same year, 1964.

The acclaimed 1964 film Zorba the Greek, is a bittersweet rumination on life, love, and loss that became a blockbuster hit:

✨ Starred Anthony Quinn as Alexis Zorba, Alan Bates as Basil, Irene Papas as the Widow, and Lila Kedrova as Madame Hortense.
✨ Nominated for six Academy Awards and won three, including Best Supporting Actress for Lila Kedrova.
✨ Launched trends for Greek music and folk dances such as the syrtaki created for the film.
✨ Made household names of literary lion Nikos Kazantzakis and legendary composer Mikis Theodorakis.

Filmed in black and white, the film focuses on the story rather than the scenery. Although the scenery of the Akrotiri peninsula in northwest Crete, is admittedly stunning.

The lesser-known 1964 film, The Moon-Spinners, presents an entirely different perspective as a Walt Disney Production.

Walt Disney himself produced the movie starring Hayley Mills, she of Pollyanna and The Parent Trap fame, as Nikky Ferris, Eli Wallach as Stratos Alexiakis, Irene Papas (yes, again!) as Sophia Alexiakis, and Peter McEnery as Mark Camford.

Best of all, the cast includes 1920s silent film legend Pola Negri as Madame Habib, her final role.

It’s a family-friendly and campy romp as “Hayley and a romantic stranger bound together by an ancient secret… too dangerous to share” investigate an international jewel heist.

Filmed in brilliant Technicolor, The Moon-Spinners showcases the spectacular Agios Nikolaos coast of northeast Crete to impressive effect.

So The Moon-Spinners won no awards, but did launch trends of its own, in particular Agios Nikolaos’ enduring reputation for beautiful beaches and abundant charms.

And the historic windmills featuring in a critical cinematic scene still remain, albeit without sails.

Reader, to learn more about this delightful destination, click HERE to read our new article “Agios Nikolaos, Greece, the Chic Coastal Town on Lake Voulismeni.”​

Until next time,

Travel on, sparkle on, meaningfully✨

Marilee + Paul Kostadimas
Spotlight Sojourns | Slow Travel
​with the Hidden Gemologists®

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