It Happened in Athens (1962)

In 1896 it is announced that the Olympic Games will be revived in Athens. A young shepherd, Spiridon Loues, decides to enter the 26-mile marathon. Once in Athens, he meets Christina Gratsos... See full summary »

Director:

Andrew Marton

Writer:

László Vadnay

Stars:

Jayne Mansfield, Trax Colton, Nico Minardos

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jayne Mansfield	...	Eleni Costa
Trax Colton	...	Spiridon Loues
Nico Minardos	...	Lt. Alexi Vinardos
Bob Mathias	...	Coach Graham
Xenia Kalogeropoulou	...	Christina Gratsos (as Maria Xénia)
Ivan Triesault	...	Grandpa Loues / Mr. Trisapopolis
Lili Valenty	...	Mama Loues
Titos Vandis	...	Father Loues
Charles Fawcett	...	Ambassador Cyrus T. Gaylord
Jean Murat	...	De Coubertin
Roger Browne	...	Drake (as Bill Browne)
Marion Siva	...	Maria Loues (as Marion Silva)
Paul Muller	...	Priest
Gustavo De Nardo	...	George
Roger Fradet	...	Dubois

Storyline

In 1896 it is announced that the Olympic Games will be revived in Athens. A young shepherd, Spiridon Loues, decides to enter the 26-mile marathon. Once in Athens, he meets Christina Gratsos, a young woman from his hometown who is now the personal maid of Eleni Costa, Greece's most glamorous actress. Though he has arrived after the qualification date, Spiridon's athletic prowess so impresses Coach Graham of the American team that he is permitted to enter the contest. Eleni informs the press that she will marry the victor, confident it will be her lover, Lieutenant Vinardos.

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Plot Keywords:

greece

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Taglines:

When Jayne Becomes the Olympic Prize...It's An Outdoor Variation on an Inside Sport!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1962 (USA)

Also Known As:

Accadde in Atene

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Jayne Mansfield's 23-month-old son, Miklos, makes a cameo at the beginning of the film as the little boy who throws food across the table.

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Goofs

Though the film is set at the time of the first modern Olympic Games at the dawn of the 20th Century, from far away it is noticeable that the people in the crowd are from the 1960s as they're wearing 1960s fashions.

User Reviews

A light hearted comedy set at the first Olympics

This is a frivolous light hearted comedy about about Greek farm boy, Trax Colton, who decides to enter the first Olympics in 1896. The movie follows his struggles through to his success. It's amusing to watch the primitive conditions athletes competed under back then, and the lack of formality. Real-life Olympic hero Bob Mathias plays the American captain. A real attraction is Jayne Mansfield, who as a beauty promises to marry the winner of the marathon. She appears in a number of skimpy, revealing costumes, trying to tempt the virtuous Colton, to humorous effect.