Ulysses (1954)

A movie adaptation of Homer's second epic, that talks about Ulysses' efforts to return to his home after the end of ten years of war.

Director:

Mario Camerini

Writers:

Franco Brusati (screenplay), Mario Camerini (screenplay)

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, Silvana Mangano, Anthony Quinn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kirk Douglas	...	Ulysses
Silvana Mangano	...	Circe / Penelope
Anthony Quinn	...	Antinoos
Rossana Podestà	...	Nausicaa
Jacques Dumesnil	...	Alicinous
Daniel Ivernel	...	Eurylochus
Sylvie	...	Eurycleia
Franco Interlenghi	...	Telemachus
Elena Zareschi	...	Cassandra
Evi Maltagliati	...	Ulysses' Mother
Ludmilla Dudarova	...	Arete
Tania Weber	...	Leucantes
Piero Lulli	...	Achilles
Ferruccio Stagni	...	Mentor
Alessandro Fersen	...	Diomede (as Alessandro Ferzen)

Storyline

In the ancient Greek city of Ithaca, many impatiently await the return of their king Ulysses and his warriors from the Trojan War. Among these, Ulysses' devoted wife Penelope and his grown son Telemachus. But Ulysses' return is not eagerly awaited by everyone, especially by his enemies. They openly court Penelope and ask her to give her husband up for dead and re-marry one of the rowdy suitors who have taken up residence in her home since her husband's departure. However, Penelope clings to her belief that Ulysses will soon return. To appease the aggressive suitors, Penelope promises that she would re-marry as soon as she finishes weaving a large tapestry depicting Ulysses' deeds of bravery. In secret, she's unraveling the day's weaving, thus delaying the tapestry's completion. Penelope knows that her trick won't work forever. In Troy, Ulysses and his warriors use the Trojan Horse ruse to conquer the city. In his fervor, Ulysses destroys the Trojans' temple to Neptune, god of the sea,...

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Plot Keywords:

warrior | return home | odyssey | husband wife relationship | greek mythology | 

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Taglines:

History's Greatest Romantic Adventure-Now Brought Magnificently to the Screen!

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Italy France USA

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

October 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Odyssey

Filming Locations:

Ponti-De Laurentiis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$2,200,000, 31 December 1955

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lux Film,Paramount Pictures,Producciones Ponti-de Laurentiis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Limbs for the 35-foot mechanical Cyclops were built and moved by wires and bellows. Museums in Rome, Naples and Athens loaned armor and weapons to the producers.

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Goofs

Ulysses, in beggar's disguise, is granted permission to draw the bow. As he takes it and moves to another spot to string it, a metal wristband suddenly materializes on his left arm where a few seconds before there was none.

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Quotes

Circe: What are you doing, Ulysses? Do you really think you can leave me?
Ulysses: I left you a long time ago. The day my men died in the storm.
Circe: And do you think your journey will last any longer than theirs?
Ulysses: You will not hold me here.
Circe: Listen to me! I shall give you something that will make you forget all your petty dreams. Your miserable kingdom. Your wife who grows old. Remain, and this very night, Olympus shall welcome a new god: Ulysses!
Ulysses: Immortal?
Circe: This is my gift - the greatest gift that has ever been ...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in Dino De Laurentiis: The Last Movie Mogul (2001)

User Reviews

Kirk Douglas at his best

I saw this film when I was seven,(1962), I was an epic then and will remain an epic thru eternity. Good strong Italian cast, camera angles and cinematography were cutting edge for that time,(52),Ulysses,(Kirk Douglas), has been away from home on a quest of war and exploration for ten years, and his wife fears he has died in the wars, with her heart broken and her friends and family giving advice to move on with her life, plus the towns political figures trying to pursue her "late" husbands fortune in the guise of suitors, Ulysses wife devises a contest, with the winner taking all including her hand in marriage. All one must do is string Ulysses bow and shoot an arrow thru a multitude of axe heads eyes to meet it's destination at a bullseye at the other end, (without touching the eyelets of the axe handles). What happens at the event is a climax worth waiting for, for thirty-eight years, as that's how long I've waited for it to be released on video/DVD. Release date: 1/1/2000. I rate it a ten!