Italian (Ulisse), 1955. Released in the U.S. by Paramount.

Directed by Mario Camerini (and Mario Bava, uncredited)
Written by Franco Brusati, Mario Camerini, Ennio de Concini, Hugh Gray, Ben Hecht, Ivo Perilli and Irwin Shaw
Based on The Odyssey by Homer
Produced by Dino DeLaurentiis and Carlo Ponti
Music by Alessandro Cicognini
Cinematography by Harold Rosson
Edited by Leo Cattozzo
Special Effects by Eugen Schüfftan
Production Design by Flavio Mogherini

Cast
Kirk Douglas (Ulysses)
Silvana Mangano (Circe/Penelope)
Anthony Quinn (Antinous)
Rossana Podestà (Nausicaa)

Reviewed by Paul McNamee

Like most peplum movies, it works fast and loose with its source material. Ulysses comes ashore as an amnesiac, and slowly recalls his harrowing adventures while staring out at the crashing surf. Many details and characters of the epic have been dropped—mainly Athena’s direct intervention and Calypso. But there are still enough aspects of the tale left to form a plot. The Trojan horse, Circe (played by Silvana Mangano, who also plays Penelope—giving Ulysses a haunting reminder of home), Polyphemus the cyclops, the Sirens—and the wonderfully violent expurgation of the freeloading suitors who have ravaged Ulysses’s home during his absence.

Yes, I still like this movie.

The budget, while not as low as other peplum movies to follow, is not at the level of Hollywood productions of the time, and the action doesn’t occur at breakneck speed, but the costumes and sets are rich and colorful. The filming was done in the Mediterranean and somehow that lends this movie a touch of extra credence. Anthony Quinn does a fine turn as Antinous, the chief suitor who arrives late and takes charge with complete confidence. It is a shame his role is so small, though.

For me, the highlight of this movie is Kirk Douglas. His portrayal of Ulysses is full of passion and fire. Occasionally he slips and Ulysses goes from being a clever ancient Greek to being a modern wise-guy, but for the most part his exuberance rubs off the screen and onto the viewer. He shows a real love for the men who follow him without question. There is an interesting argument between the hero and the witch, Circe, as they debate whether it is better to be immortal, or to live life as a man knowing death is waiting. Ulysses gets some wonderful lines of dialogue. Some particular lines that I enjoyed:

(After the Sirens taunt Ulysses in the voices of his wife and son) “The gods are playful and without pity. The tricks they play are merciless!”

(Remembering at last that he is Ulysses, king of Ithaca, and recounting his tribulations) “But I am here, undestroyed, looking out across the sea...”

(And my favorite; while killing a suitor with the head of a handle-less ax) “I warned you before. I never make a present of a man’s life a second time!” (Sounds like he would be right at home with Robert E. Howard’s Bran Mak Morn!)

Currently, Amazon.com offers used out-of-print VHS and DVD versions of this movie that were created in 1999. A new South Korean version is also available from Amazon.

It appears that the 1999 DVD version is a quick dump of the VHS, not remastered, with some scenes a little scratchy. That's unfortunate since the sets and costumes deserve touching up. In addition to the dubbed-in-English movie, the 1999 DVD includes an interactive menu. This menu contains selections for Scene Access, Subtitle Choices, Sound Choices, Production Credits, and Filmographies. No interviews, commentaries, or movie-making documentaries.

The South Korean DVD is being sold as new and is advertised as playable on US DVD players. It is listed as "officially licensed" (quotes added). The movie also is displayed with 4:3 Full Screen display and has Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo Sound in English, with optional subtitles. Howevr, nothing is mentioned in Amazon about the picture itself being remastered. And lastly, it contains a gallery of the cast and crew and movie stills.

You could do much worse than this movie. If you can find a copy, it’s a nice bit of mythic adventure for a rainy Saturday afternoon.