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IMDbPro

Ulysses

Original title: Ulisse
  • 19541954
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
Ulysses (1954)
Official Trailer
Play trailer1:09
1 Video
43 Photos
  • Adventure
  • Fantasy
  • History
A movie adaptation of Homer's second epic, that depicts Ulysses' efforts to return to his home after the end of ten years of war.A movie adaptation of Homer's second epic, that depicts Ulysses' efforts to return to his home after the end of ten years of war.A movie adaptation of Homer's second epic, that depicts Ulysses' efforts to return to his home after the end of ten years of war.
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
4.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mario Camerini
  • Writers
    • Franco Brusati(screenplay)
    • Mario Camerini(screenplay)
    • Ennio De Concini(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Silvana Mangano
    • Kirk Douglas
    • Anthony Quinn
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mario Camerini
  • Writers
    • Franco Brusati(screenplay)
    • Mario Camerini(screenplay)
    • Ennio De Concini(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Silvana Mangano
    • Kirk Douglas
    • Anthony Quinn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 40User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Ulysses
    Trailer 1:09
    Ulysses

    Photos43

    Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn in Ulysses (1954)
    Ulysses (1954)
    Ulysses (1954)
    Kirk Douglas in Ulysses (1954)
    Kirk Douglas in Ulysses (1954)
    Kirk Douglas and Silvana Mangano in Ulysses (1954)
    Kirk Douglas, Anthony Quinn, Silvana Mangano, and Rossana Podestà in Ulysses (1954)
    Daniel Ivernel, Piero Pastore, and Aldo Pini in Ulysses (1954)
    Kirk Douglas and Silvana Mangano in Ulysses (1954)
    Jacques Dumesnil in Ulysses (1954)
    Kirk Douglas in Ulysses (1954)
    Franco Interlenghi and Sylvie in Ulysses (1954)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Silvana Mangano
    Silvana Mangano
    • Circeas Circe…
    Kirk Douglas
    Kirk Douglas
    • Ulyssesas Ulysses
    Anthony Quinn
    Anthony Quinn
    • Antinoosas Antinoos
    Rossana Podestà
    Rossana Podestà
    • Nausicaaas Nausicaa
    Jacques Dumesnil
    Jacques Dumesnil
    • Alicinousas Alicinous
    • (as Jacques Dusmenil)
    Daniel Ivernel
    Daniel Ivernel
    • Eurylochusas Eurylochus
    Sylvie
    Sylvie
    • Eurycleiaas Eurycleia
    Franco Interlenghi
    Franco Interlenghi
    • Telemachusas Telemachus
    Elena Zareschi
    • Cassandraas Cassandra
    Evi Maltagliati
    • Ulysses' Motheras Ulysses' Mother
    Ludmilla Dudarova
    • Areteas Arete
    Tania Weber
    • Leucantesas Leucantes
    Piero Lulli
    • Achillesas Achilles
    Ferruccio Stagni
    • Mentoras Mentor
    Alessandro Fersen
    • Diomedeas Diomede
    • (as Alessandro Ferzen)
    Oscar Andriani
    • Calopsas Calops
    Umberto Silvestri
    • Polyphemusas Polyphemus…
    Gualtiero Tumiati
    Gualtiero Tumiati
    • Laerteas Laerte
    • Director
      • Mario Camerini
    • Writers
      • Franco Brusati(screenplay)
      • Mario Camerini(screenplay)
      • Ennio De Concini(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Exteriors of this movie were filmed on the Mediterranean coasts and islands, described in Homer's Odyssey.Filming also was to take place on the Greek island of Ithaca, but was canceled because of an earthquake.
    • Goofs
      When Ulysses and his men crush the grapes to make wine for Poliphemus, Ulysses gives the juice directly to him. It hasn't had time to ferment. So, Poliphemus is getting drunk from just grape juice.
    • 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 offered to a man!

      Ulysses: [after a pause] No. There are greater gifts. To be born and to die, and in between to live like a man.

      Circe: To live like a man? Filled with petty fears?

      Ulysses: Only the fearful can know the value of courage.

      Circe: And old age? That fool flesh will rot one day! And at the end, nothing but death. This is the terrible heritage of man!

      Ulysses: I accept that inheritance. I no longer see myself falling in battle or in the fury of a storm. It would take much less. A puff of cool air... A sudden chill one night... But even so, this - this vulnerable mass of fears has dared to battle with a god - and has not yet been defeated! If it should be that one day men shall speak of me, I hope they say with pride that I was one of them.

      Circe: Their pride will not serve to warm you in the kingdom of darkness. I will bring centuries of light!

      Ulysses: I do not think it will sadden me too much to close my eyes, when the time comes.

    • Connections
      Edited into Spisok korabley (2008)

    User reviews40

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    A Decent Version of Homer's Oddisey
    Homer's tale goes that after his brilliant idea of a huge wooden horse that decided the Greek's victory in the Troyan war, Ithaca's King Ulysses challenged the sea god Poseidon and he was punished to sail around for 10 years before he could get back to his island and his faithful wife Queen Penelope. During the hero's long absence many ambitious men have settled in his palace with the intention of marrying the supposedly widow Queen and rule Ithaca with her. The picture is about Ulysses's trip and all the tasks he has to go through before reaching home and, once there, how he deals with the men that are trying to take his place.

    Though the film is sort of slow by the middle part of the story and perhaps a little exceeded in its running time, it doesn't lack adventure, action and entertainment. Ulysses faces the cyclops who wants to have him and his crew for lunch, survives the seducing singing of the mermaids, visits the kingdom of the dead and escapes the spell of sorceress Circe who plans to retain him for herself. Arrived at last in Ithaca after loosing all his mates, he faces the pretenders to his throne in a memorable action and fighting sequence.

    "Ulysses" is pure entertainment and adventure in ancient Greece. The film is well done and easy to watch (its excess in duration apart)with a correct direction by Mario Camerini. It shows well chosen locations and carefully designed settings. Special effects are more than acceptable for 1955. But perhaps the main feature is a well selected main cast.

    Kirk Douglas is the perfect choice for Ulysses and his performance is strong and convincing. Silvana Mangano renders a believable Penelope and Anthony Quinn is at his best playing the main pretender Antinoos ("the first in pride").

    It could be true that this picture inspired the sword and sandals sub genre that started a bit later with Steve Reeves's "Hercules", but you can be sure that fortunately this one doesn't belong to that category.

    A fine product in its genre.
    helpful•14
    1
    • ragosaal
    • Sep 23, 2006

    FAQ1

    • Will there ever be a restoration done for high-definition video and English language version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 1955 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • Italy
      • France
      • United States
    • Languages
      • Italian
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Odyssey
    • Filming locations
      • Ponti-De Laurentiis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Lux Film
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Producciones Ponti-de Laurentiis
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.66 : 1

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