Elsa Rizou
Acting
Biography
Elsa Rizou born in 1933 as Eleni Lambropoulou, her parents called her “Elsa” from childhood. Her love of dance led her to the renowned Elli Zouroudis school, where she studied for several years. There she gained grace, self-confidence and her first contact with the stage — an experience that paved her way to acting and Greek cinema. Elsa Rizou began her artistic career in the theatre, as a dancer. Her first appearance was in December 1952 in the revue “Our Life is Cheerful”, which was staged at the Papaioannou Theatre, directed by Rena Dor. In the summer of 1953, she participated in the Acropolis Theater's review of "30 to Dollar", where she formed a dance pair with the later successful screenwriter and director Yannis Dalianidis. Three years later, in the performance "White, Black and Cold", she met Rena Vlachopoulou, with whom she subsequently became close friends and collaborators. From the late 1950s and for about six years, she was a member of the successful troupe that her husband, Nikos Rizos, had formed, together with Georgia Vasiliadou and Vasilis Avlonitis. Her last theatrical appearance was in the 1995–1996 season, in the review “To Mimi sernei… karavi”, with texts by Dinos Spyropoulos and directed by Fotis Metaxopoulos and Nikos Rizos. Her first appearance on the big screen was in 1953, as Elsa Lambropoulou, in the Finos Film film “To Soferaki”, written and directed by Giorgos Tzavellas. In the following years —and after her marriage to Nikos Rizos— she would now appear under his surname, creating one of the most beloved artistic couples in Greek cinema. With Finos Film she collaborated on eight films, including the unforgettable “Our Lady the Midwife”, “Clearhos, Marina and the Short One”, “Something Burning”, “The Heirs”, “A Smart Smart Face” and “The Lady and the Tramp” — one of the most successful moments of her career. In the film “The Charmer” she gave one of her most characteristic performances, as Katina, from whom Costas Voutsas constantly asked for… “salami”. In total, she participated in 29 films, of which in 22 she shared the stage with her husband, Nikos Rizos, leaving with him their own unique imprint in the history of Greek cinema. Elsa Rizou appeared on the small screen only twice, however each of her appearances stood out for its naturalness and warmth. Her first television appearance was in 1973, alongside Yannis Michalopoulos, in the YENED series “The World and Kosmas.” Four years later, in 1977, she participated in the social series “The Road,” confirming once again her comfort in moving easily between comedy and drama.
Known For
The rivalry between a professional doctor and a midwife in a small Greek village.
Mrs. Midwife
The Clearchos order to escape the unbearable and domineering wife Marina and found a lively geitonisa of Iro, will invoke the alleged suspicions that the Mahos groom, husband of their daughter Rhea has a mistress and will follow up the Fthiotida, where do you go to spas for a sore arm ...
Klearhos, Marina and the short one
Rena’s father insists on marrying her off to the son of a shipowner. Rena, however, doesn’t even want to hear about it, so she runs away and disguises herself as a boy named Pipis. As such, she meets a poor fisherman, Lefteris, and helps him on his way to Ioannina.
The Lady and the Tramp
A guileless peasant with a heart of gold enlists in the prestigious Hellenic Special Forces and finds himself neck-deep in trouble when his superior entrusts him to keep an eye on his beloved only daughter.
Michalios of the 14th Regiment
A poor taxi driver works hard in order to pay off his car and to marry his fiancee.
The Driver
A minor fender-bender triggers a string of unexpected events when a young optimist and car sales representative chances upon the incognito daughter of his antagonist. Will this lead to a fresh romance, and the fulfilment of his dreams?
The optimist
Four very different people inherit a percentage of a fashion house but in order to make it work they have to get along with each other.
The Heirs
An old couple reviews their lives together, from the first time they met and got married since the present, through good and bad moments...
Bedlam My Love
Two naughty men, Iordanis and Potis, are partners in a drug- industry. Potis is a great womanizer, given that, even though he is married to the main financier of the business, Amalia, he doesn’t hesitate to cheat on her. One day, Tilemachos runs in a hurry into his office, looking for a job. Clever as he is, he suspects at once the ongoing situation and threatens to reveal everything to Amalia.
A Very Clever Guy
A kind accountant meets the statuesque owner of a boutique who comes up with a double proposal: apart from bookkeeping, he has to help her with her fiancé. As deeper feelings take over, will this brave volunteer of love emerge victorious?
Volunteer in Eros
Two apartments of an apartment building with common balcony, living two same-sex couples. At one resident Stephen with Fanny and the other Myrto with Tatiana. But other things show and others are as well in the apartments live two married couples. Stephen with Myrto and Fanis with Tatiana, who keep hidden their marriages, because women working as hostesses in an airline that does not allow their marriage...
One Crazy Crazy Hijacker
Lished a quarrel with his friend Aristos and a nonexistent uncle from America will become an opportunity to approach and seduce the poor and unemployed Babis beautiful and rich Ellie loves, without any hope to watch him otherwise.
The Ladykiller
Set in Athens, this Greek film concerns the trials and tribulations of two girls from the village of Korfu. Unschooled in big-city ways, our heroines are prime targets for every sharpster and lothario in the city. The results of their naivete are more comic than dramatic, culminating in lasting romance for both ladies. The plotline is periodically interrupted by the performance of Greek folk dances, easily the highlights of the film. Indicative of the frugality of the Greek film industry is the fact that, at $80,000, this was the country's most expensive production up to 1957!
Capital adventures
The film focuses on the Tarniatis brothers, with the brother trying to marry his sister (Georgia Vasileiadou), who refuses to follow the fashion of the time and become a lustful woman, so that he too can marry, having been engaged for eight years. The last groom that Vangelis shows Eftychia is Kleomenis, who after their trip to Hydra falls in love with the family's niece. However, Koulis also wants to marry Eftychia, who thinks he is inheriting 120,000 pounds.
The Bridegrooms of Eftyhia
During an International Trade Fair at Thessaloniki, a mature woman, Rena (Martha Karagianni), goes there with her sister to convince her childhood friend Dinos (Dinos Iliopoulos) to have a "white wedding" so that she can inherit a large estate. Dinos though, does not accept because even though he is actually a womanizer he acts as a shy and modest man around people. Everyone there will meet a group of musicians and one of them will fall in love with the daughter of the strict manager of the company Dinos works for who is accompanied by Dinos. At some point, everyone goes to Athens where things get more complicated untill everyone finds his perfect match. In the end Rena gets her inheritance and all together they perform a musical play in a grand theater.
Something Hot
Agisilaos is in need of some money because he's facing an eviction.
The End of the Two-Cent Coin
No description available.
Μεσημεριανό Express
A countryman arrives in Athens to make it big and becomes a millionaire overnight. However, a duo of swindlers has set their sights on getting their hands on his fortune. Will he discover the hard way that more money means more problems?
The Lucky One
The Fontas Tsakiris is a truck driver and avid viewer. His dream is to have his taxi, but loses his job and is forced to seek employment elsewhere. Recourse to a TV production company, which is run by Flora, the dynamic daughter delicate Spyros Apostolou. There, the director of the big successes Belokas Harry discovers his talent and his Fontas accepts to star in the new TV series, with the condition to keep secret his marriage to Martha, which is forced to represent his sister, Christina.
A Short Man Will Save Us
Revolving around the modern Greek woman and her perspective on love in general, not one, but twenty-one brief and vivid vignettes attempt to shed light on an ever-present matter: can there be consequences in Cupid's eternal game?