Die Abenteuer des Odysseus 

This lavish small-screen adaptation of Homer's ancient epic--replete with Maltese and Turkish locations, state-of-the-art special effects, and many bronzed muscles gleaming with sweat--... See full summary »

Stars:

Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 24 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Armand Assante	...	Odysseus (2 episodes, 1997)
Greta Scacchi	...	Penelope (2 episodes, 1997)
Isabella Rossellini	...	Athena (2 episodes, 1997)
Bernadette Peters	...	Circe (2 episodes, 1997)
Eric Roberts	...	Eurymachus (2 episodes, 1997)
Irene Papas	...	Anticleia (2 episodes, 1997)
Jeroen Krabbé	...	King Alcinous (2 episodes, 1997)
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Eurycleia (2 episodes, 1997)
Christopher Lee	...	Tiresias (2 episodes, 1997)
Vanessa Williams	...	Calypso (2 episodes, 1997)
Nicholas Clay	...	Menelaus (2 episodes, 1997)
Adoni Anastassopoulos	...	Perimedes (2 episodes, 1997)
Paloma Baeza	...	Melanthe (2 episodes, 1997)
Ron Cook	...	Eurybates (2 episodes, 1997)
Reid Asato	...	Cyclops (2 episodes, 1997)
Mark Hill	...	Orsilicus (2 episodes, 1997)
Pat Kelman	...	Elatus (2 episodes, 1997)
Vincenzo Nicoli	...	Antinous (2 episodes, 1997)
Sally Plumb	...	Queen Alcinous (2 episodes, 1997)
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	Polites (2 episodes, 1997)
Katie Carr	...	Nausicaa (2 episodes, 1997)
Marius Combo	...	Agelaus (2 episodes, 1997)
Alan Cox	...	Elpener (2 episodes, 1997)
William Houston	...	Anticlus (2 episodes, 1997)
Oded Levy	...	Leocritus (2 episodes, 1997)
Peter Page	...	Philotus (2 episodes, 1997)
Michael J. Pollard	...	Aeolus (2 episodes, 1997)
Alan Stenson	...	Telemachus (2 episodes, 1997)
Stewart Scudamore	...	Antiphus (2 episodes, 1997)
Tony Vogel	...	Eumaeus (2 episodes, 1997)
Heathcote Williams	...	Laocoon (2 episodes, 1997)
Michael Tezcan	...	Eurylochos (2 episodes, 1997)
Richard Truett	...	Achilles (2 episodes, 1997)
Yorgo Voyagis	...	Agamemnon (2 episodes, 1997)
Peter Woodthorpe	...	Mentor (2 episodes, 1997)
Derek Lea	...	Hector (2 episodes, 1997)
Freddy Douglas	...	Hermes (2 episodes, 1997)
Miles Anderson	...	Poseidon (2 episodes, 1997)
Alan Smithie	...	Priam (2 episodes, 1997)
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Aegyptius (2 episodes, 1997)
Josh Maguire	...	Young Telemachus (2 episodes, 1997)

Storyline

This lavish small-screen adaptation of Homer's ancient epic--replete with Maltese and Turkish locations, state-of-the-art special effects, and many bronzed muscles gleaming with sweat--chronicles the voyage home of a Trojan hero, Odysseus King of Ithaca, and includes many more scenes of his faithful, beautiful wife Penelope dodging leering suitors at home than Homer ever composed!

---

Plot Keywords:

voyage | war hero | combat | mythology | odyssey | 

---

Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violent sequences and some sensuality

Details

Country:

Italy UK Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Abenteuer des Odysseus

Filming Locations:

Malta

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

American Zoetrope, Beta Film, Hallmark Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

176 min (2 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

There are two babies used for the infant Telemachus. One has a head full of hair while the other is bald.

---

Quotes

Athena: The gods cannot do for man what man must do for himself.

---

Connections

Referenced in Adjust Your Tracking (2013)

User Reviews

Coherent adaptation of the epic poem

Having been forced to read The Odyssey several times throughout school in clunky and stale translations, it was very refreshing to see the story brought to life like an action movie. I don't want to sound shallow by emphasizing that aspect of the epic because I do understand and appreciate the subtler nuances and motifs of Homer's poem. However, to take it out of the classroom and turn it into a popcorn movie does not do it injustice. In fact, it gave me a better appreciation of the story and a shot in the arm to give the print version another try. Which I did. And I really enjoyed it this time. Probably the fact that I didn't have an essay assignment breathing down my neck on my last reading helped immeasurably.

Anywho, I think Armand Assante was an inspired choice for Ulysses and the supporting cast was very well-chosen too, especially Greta Scacchi and Nicholas Clay. The Scylla/Charibdis and Hydra segments were the most thrilling. Perhaps the FX weren't always top-notch, but this is TV, folks. It definitely had a storybook feel to it with the bright colors and understandable dialogue. Now, if they will only make a TV miniseries of The Iliad......