HotToastyRag I rented this movie a few weeks back because I was preparing to honor Kirk Douglas on Hot Toasty Rag. I groaned and rolled my eyes during the first fifteen minutes. The production values weren't very good, some Italian actors had had their voices dubbed in English, and the acting style was extremely dated. As the scenes progressed, I started to get a sense of déjà vu. Halfway through, I started predicting what was going to happen! "If they meet a giant with one eye and get him drunk, I've seen this movie," I said to myself. Turns out, I saw the movie in a high school English class!My teacher had assigned Homer's works for required reading, but when the entire class flunked the test afterwards, she knew something was wrong. No one understood what had happened in the story! She tried explaining it and cited passages to help our little brains connect the archaic language to what she was saying, but again, it went over our heads. Finally, she knew there was only one way for us to learn Odyssey: she showed us the movie.The second time around-once I remembered I'd seen the film before-I was taken on a very enjoyable trip down Memory Lane. "There's the giant! There are the sirens! The pigs!" My review, as you can probably tell, is a little colored by my past. I have no idea how much I would have liked or disliked Ulysses if I'd seen it for the first time last month. You might turn it off and think it's ridiculous, or you might think it's a clear, understandable adaptation of a very dense classic poem. I consider this movie a sentimental favorite, like the first version of The Nutcracker my teacher showed the class in fourth grade. Plus, for half the movie, Kirk Douglas practically prances around in his underwear, so that's always fun.

Ross Care Like many here I remember seeing Ulysses when I was a kid, probably at the Colonial Theatre in Harrisburg, Pa. My memories are not as vivid as those of 7th Voyage of Sinbad, which I saw at the same downtown theater, but what kid could forget Ulysses' cannibalistic cyclops which was much more human and nightmarish than the one in 7th Voyage.The current Lionsgate DVD is welcome but something of a disappointment visually. I was somewhat put off by the dark opening scenes but when Ulysses' adventures kicked in I became quite involved.The story, based on a condensation of the Odyssey, moves along, cutting between episodes from the hero's adventures returning from the Trojan war, and his wife, Penelope, fending off greedy suitors on the home front.Clocking in at nearly 2 hours the film manages to evoke an epic feel on a modest budget. The special efx, credited to the German/American Eugen Schüfftan, a pioneer in the field of optical effects, are modest but effective, especially the cyclops and ship wreck scenes.The screenplay credits eight writers, including Americans Ben Hecht and novelist, Irwin (The Young Lions) Shaw. There are some effective dramatic scenes, particularly between Ulysses and the beautiful witch, Circe, when during their final confrontation they discuss the nature of life and death. (The DVD is dubbed into English with apparently only Douglas and Anthony Quinn speaking for themselves).Before the flashbacks of Ulysses' long journey home a prologue in Ithaca includes a brief scene from the Trojan war as background, though the famous wooden horse is not as spectacular as in another international production, Helen of Troy (1956). Interestingly, Rossana Podesta, who here plays Nausicaa, has the lead as Helen in that Robert Wise film. Silvana Mangano, who plays both Penelope and Circe, went on to become a major star in Italian cinema.Ulysses was among the early films to utilize American stars, usually males on the way up or down, from Clint Eastwood to Rory Calhoun, mostly in Italian films of the spaghetti western and sword-and-sandal variety.Ulysses, produced by Dino De Laurentiis and Carlo Ponti, is several steps above the typical s&s production. Kirk Douglas is an Americanized but quite the dashing Ulysses. I was never a big fan but he was certainly versatile, and here his cool beard and longer hair make him a much more attractive, even sexy hero than does the austere buzz cut look he sports in the later epic, Spartacus (1960).Cinematography is by Hollywood veteran, Harold Rosson, which raises hopes that a higher quality DVD (with a few extras) might appear sometime in the future.

ma-cortes Odysseus' journey told in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey. After fighting in the Trojan War, Odysseus spends years trying to return home to Itaka. This is the story of a man who left his home , his wife and his son to go away to war.. He destroyed the city of his enemies and started back home . But Neptune , protector God of the conquered people , pursued him with his anger and kept him murdering for ten years . It is the story of Ulysses who dared defy the god and continued his journey to Ithaca , his home, where his wife Penelope was waiting.. and waiting.. The dust of centuries has not dimmed the glories of Ulysses' heroic deeds. the cave of Pholiphemus still reverberates with the with the bellowing roars of the son of Neptuno . The sorrowful face of Penelope still gazes longingly across the open sea. And on a distant shore Circe still casts her spill . For the immortality that Ulysses refused of a goddess was later given to him by a poet ..And the epic poem that Homer sang of the hero's wanderings and of his yearning for home will live for all time .Good rendition deals with Ulysses on his Odyssey home to Penelope and Telemaco after the Trojan War . The classic version ever of Homer's epic produced by two greatest Italian producers as Carlo Ponti and Dino De Laurentis . Based on Homer's Odyssey adapted by seven writers ,including the American prestigious Irwin Shaw and Ben Hecht , Billy Wilder's usual. As a tale , the Odyssey is an unparalleled metaphor of the struggles of a man's life. The cast is brilliant and international with American as Kirk Douglas , Anthony Quinn and Italian actors as Silvana Mangano , Rossana Podesta and Franco Interlenghi. Silvana Mangano gives us a typical Greek tragedy style performance in a double role as Penelope and Circe , but most amazing is Kirk Douglas acting as the brave and valiant Ulysses , really good looking , impulsive and totally convincing, it seems the role was really written for him . Partially shot in natural locations in the Mediterranean and Ponti-Laurentis studios. The exteriors of this Lux motion picture were filmed on the Mediterranean coast and islands described in Homer's Odyssey . The sea and the sky are strikingly blue, the islands green and wild . Colorful and spectacular cinematography by Harold Rosson . Evocative and impressive original score by Alessandro Cicognini , well conducted by Franco Ferrara . The motion picture is professionally directed by Mario Camerini and some scenes by Mario Bava though uncredited . Rating : Better than average take on that will appeal to classic film lovers and Kirk Doglas fans . Another excellent adaptation results to be ¨L'Odissea¨ (1968) TVseries directed by Franco Rossi and also by Mario Bava with Bekim Fehmiu as Ulysses and Irene Papas as Penelope.

thinker1691 Any history class which desires to imbue students with imagination, needs this film in their library on Ancient Greece. In 1955 this movie on the wanderings of the Trojan Hero "Ulysses" made it's way across the country. In the professional opinion of many a history teacher, this movie fell far short of being historically accurate, but in it's basic rendition of Homer's classical, it proved a masterpiece. In this version, fans saw the Greek Ithican King as portrayed by Kirk Douglas. For his fans it was a perfect role and one which convinced us, he was indeed a true thespian. Through his legendary encounters with the Titan, Polythemeus, The Sirens of the rocks, and of course, Circe, the witch, he is pitted against all the ancient Gods. But it is his final challenge by the suitors who wish to claim his wife and throne, which is his greatest threat, for they are led by the champion Antinoos (Anthony Quinn), from the island of Encephelonea. Only through a special contest and with the help of Athena, can he regain his kingdom, his wife and his son. This is a classic in its own right and like our hero, has never been equaled. ****