Search - Onassis: The Richest Man In The World on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 9/24/2023...

Raul Julia really plays his role as Ari Onassis well! This gives a backstory for Jackie Kennedy Onassis. Rest in Peach Raul Julia.

Barbara A. from SUN CITY, CA
Reviewed on 8/26/2008...

I was delightfully surprised by the quality of this DVD. Anthony Quinn at his very best - this is not a documentary but a movie made out of the true life of Onassis. One can see is dysfunctional childhood and how his father's treatment of him, changed him into a man who thought most about money. He appeared to have a great deal of love in him, but he married the wrong woman. I have a whole new feeling for Onassis and for Jackie's need for him. Everyone who is interested in the Kennedy family should see this DVD. I wish I had years ago!

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

The uncut version needs to be released

Kauri | San Francisco, CA USA | 08/28/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"According to a couple of internet sources, this DVD is a drastically truncated version of what was originally a 200 min. miniseries. This could explain many of my problems with the film, which seems to skip briefly over the biographical and emotional high points of Aristotle Onassis's life, without giving us much insight into his character or much depth to his romantic relationships. Jane Seymour won an Emmy for her portrayal of Maria Callas, but I suspect that much of her performance that prompted the award has been cut from this DVD, leaving mostly over-the-top moments (even in the context of the character being played) from this usually very subtle actress. While I admire Raul Julia's body of work, I think he may have been miscast as Onassis. While, again, more subtle, character revealing aspects of his performance may show up in the full version of the film, his acting choices here were awkward and abrupt, and he never convinced me that Onassis was anything more than a shallow, unpleasant, not particularly interesting character who never would have a film made of him were it not for his wealth and taste in women. Anthony Quinn (who here is cast as Onassis's father), at a (not too much) younger age would have done a better job of portraying what I suspect the scriptwriter wanted us to see in Onassis: a charming, often likeable rogue. The most powerful emotional moment on this DVD came from Francesca Annis as Jacqueline Kennedy, who convincingly conveyed what was probably the core reason for the latter's marriage to Onassis: stark fear that her entire family would share the same violent fate as John and Robert Kennedy, resulting in her search for protection. I hope that a full version of this miniseries will be released on DVD, so that viewers can discover how much more depth to Onassis's story might be found in the missing 82 minutes."

Interesting but the casting left something to be desired

S. Mitchell | Tyler, TX United States | 10/17/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I watched this on the WE station 10/16/06 with commercials. I must assume it was not the abreviated version as there was Part I and Part II. Seymour was very good, altho when I saw her in the credits I could not believe she would be playing Callas. Onassis was a short, not too handsome a man and the casting was not good here altho a fine actor, J. is tall and handsome. The contrast between Onassis/Jackie would have been more real with another actor nearer to Onassis' looks/stature... The Jackie actress was super.

Young Onassis had a gay affair with the Turkish soldier for self preservation? Has this been known?

I agree the reason for Jackie marrying him was known but well scripted in this movie. I thought Onassis' quote (I assume) that women all marry for money was interesting. In Jackie's case it was a matter of price.She ended up living in NY and without fear.

Worth a look. Rent if you can. A bit different than the Anthony Quinn/Bisset TV movie."