Ulysses (1954)

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.

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:

...Actually filmed along the route Ulysses followed!

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Genres:

Adventure | Fantasy | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ulysses is a 1954 fantasy-adventure film based on ancient Greek author Homer's epic poem Odyssey.

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Goofs

There are inconsistencies of scale with the giant Polyphemus: for instance a human scale wineskin is nearly as big in his hand as the sailor he devours.

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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 offered to...
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Colgate Comedy Hour: Hosts: Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy; Guests: Harry Belafonte, Millard Thomas, Carol Ohmart, Bob William & dog Red Dust (1955)

User Reviews

Still good after all these years

I too first saw this movie when I was in my very early teens and still at school, but unlike my movie buff friend who wrote the first comment, I enjoyed this film when I saw it again many years later and still do some half a century after the first time.

Kirk Douglas and Anthony Quinn are excellent in their lead roles as one can imagine by their chequered careers, nevertheless I find Rossana Podesta' and Silvana Mangano very good on the eyes but rather pedestrian in their interpretations of the "forgotten women". I doubt a man like Ulysses would fall for such a verveless Circe.

Young Franco Interlenghi plays a suitable youthful Telemachus. The scenes with Polyphemus are good and the overall photography quite stunning. The final scenes when Ulysses rids his house of the unwanted suitors is very violent and gory but well performed. Unfortunately the English dialogue is dubbed and at times this is quite obvious, but after all this was an Italian production (I first saw it in the original language with my late father).

Details

Country:

Italy France USA

Language:

Italian English

Release Date:

October 1955 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ulysses

Filming Locations:

Ponti-De Laurentiis Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lux Film, Paramount Pictures, Producciones Ponti-de Laurentiis

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min 104 min (DVD) 104 min (Blu-ray)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1