The Day the Fish Came Out (1967)

A plane carrying a weapon more dangerous than a nuclear weapon goes down near Greece. To prevent panic, the officials go in dressed as tourists (who are dressed so casually that the pilots ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Cacoyannis

Writer:

Michael Cacoyannis

Stars:

Tom Courtenay, Sam Wanamaker, Colin Blakely

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Courtenay	...	The Navigator
Sam Wanamaker	...	Elias
Colin Blakely	...	The Pilot
Candice Bergen	...	Electra Brown
Ian Ogilvy	...	Peter
Dimitris Nikolaidis	...	The Dentist
Nikos Alexiou	...	Goatherd (as Nikolaos Alexiou)
Patricia Burke	...	Mrs. Mavroyannis
Paris Alexander	...	Fred
Arthur Mitchell	...	Frank
Marlena Carrer	...	Goatherd's Wife
Tom Klunis	...	Mr. French
William Berger	...	Man in Bed
Kostas Papakonstantinou	...	Manolios (as Costas Papaconstantinou)
Nikos Papakonstantinou	...	Manolios

Storyline

A plane carrying a weapon more dangerous than a nuclear weapon goes down near Greece. To prevent panic, the officials go in dressed as tourists (who are dressed so casually that the pilots assume that they are all gay). The pilots are not to make themselves known and can't contact the rescue team. The secrecy causes a comedy of errors including the desolate Greek Isle deciding that since tourists have now arrived, they have to become touristy.

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Plot Keywords:

resort | tourist | greek island | nuclear bomb | bikini | 

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Taglines:

A NEW GIFT FROM THE GREEK WHO BREATHED LIFE INTO ZORBA

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Genres:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

Greece UK USA

Language:

English Greek

Release Date:

26 October 1967 (UK)

Also Known As:

...Otan ta psaria vgikan sti steria!

Filming Locations:

Greece

Company Credits

Production Co:

Michael Cacoyannis Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Top-billed Candice Bergen first appears in the film 68 minutes into its running time.

User Reviews

Mods in a Greek island

Michael Cacoyannis, the Greek director, working on his own material, gives us an intriguing look at a would be catastrophic end for all the people in a remote Greek island where nothing ever happens, but where just by a freak accident, it is suddenly possible.

We meet the Navigator and the Pilot, two Englishmen that have been wrecked after their aircraft, carrying two atom bombs, suffer an accident. This accident, and its dire consequences, bring to the island of Makos, in the Aegean Sea, a team of investigators led by Elias, who pretends they are interested in building a hotel in the arid place. The canny inhabitants of the island are confused as to why do they pick a place in the middle of nowhere instead of right on one of the lovely beaches.

Throughout the film we watch the two crew members running around the island in tattered briefs that, at times, seem not to hide any of the two men's charms. Word gets out that Makos is going to become fashionable and soon the jet set descends in the place, attired in weird futuristic costumes.

The island suddenly changes into a touristy place where the fun goes on forever, bu unaware of the danger from the possibility of the bombs exploding at any moment. There is an ironic twist when a peasant couple discovers one of the devices. Not knowing what it is, they are able to cut with acid into the strange box only to find out strange balls. The woman decides to keep two for her young son to play, but ultimately, the husband, upon discovering them, and thinking they are nothing, throws them into the water system.

The film seems sadly dated. Since there are so many characters, no one seems to dominate the proceedings. Tom Courtney and Colm Blakely are good as the Navigator and the Pilot. Sam Wanamaker is the head of the people trying to find the devices. Candice Bergen is seen as a model type who sets shop in the island.