Ulysses (1954 film)
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Ulysses | |
---|---|
Produced by | Dino De Laurentiis Carlo Ponti |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Harold Rosson Mario Bava (uncredited) |
Edited by | Leo Catozzo |
Music by | Alessandro Cicognini |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (USA) |
Release dates | 6 October 1954 (Italy) October 1955 (USA) |
Running time | 117 min. |
Countries | Italy United States France |
Languages | Italian English |
Budget | ₤500 million (approximately $800,000) |
Box office | ₤1,800 billion (Italy) |
Ulysses (
In the film Silvana Mangano plays two roles, as Penelope, the faithful wife of Ulysses and the sorceress Circe. American star Kirk Douglas plays the Greek hero, Ulysses. Anthony Quinn plays Antinous.
Plot
The palace of
In the meantime, on the nearby island of Phaeacia, royal princess Nausicaa and her handmaidens find a shipwrecked man washed up on the shore. Due to his ordeal, the stranger has lost his memory, not even remembering his name. He is taken in by Nausicaa's parents, King Alcinous and Queen Arete, and in short time he and Nausicaa fall in love. Just on the day they are scheduled to be married, however, the stranger, longing to remember who he really is, returns to the shore and stares out to the sea. And as he does so, his lost memories begin to stir.
Gradually, the stranger remembers that he is Ulysses, who was lost at sea when his ship was blown off course in a storm during his return voyage to Ithaca, as a consequence of his desecrating Neptune's temple during the sacking of Troy. Going ashore on an unknown island to forage for food, they intrude on the cave of the cyclops Polyphemus, who locks them inside and then eats one of Ulysses' men. Upon the giant's complaint about the taste of human flesh, Ulysses suggests for Polyphemus to collect grapes for making wine. After Polyphemus leaves, Ulysses and his men prepare a stake to blind the cyclops after getting him drunk. The plan succeeds, and after Ulysses has taunted the blinded giant into removing the rock from the cave entrance, the Greeks make their escape.
Some time afterwards, Ulysses' ship passes the rock of the sirens. Eager to learn what they sound like, Ulysses has himself tied to the mast while his men plug their ears to resist their enchanting singing, and is tormented when the sirens speak to him with the voices of his family. After passing the rocks, a strange current pulls the ship towards another island. Leaving his men to explore, Ulysses returns to find them all missing, captured and transformed into pigs by the mistress of the island, the sorceress Circe. Circe, who has fallen in love with Ulysses after learning of his heroics, strives to keep him here, but Ulysses forces her to return his men to their original forms. Persuaded by Circe to stay for a while, he stirs resentment in his men, who want to return home. Ignoring Circe's warning that Neptune will strike them down if they leave, they set out to sea on their own and perish in a storm. Blaming Circe for allowing them to die, and determined to return to his family, Ulysses begins building a raft. Circe tries to make him stay and enjoy an eternal life by her side by calling forth the dead from the underworld, including Ulysses' crew and his lost comrades-in-arms from Troy. But then his recently deceased mother Anticlea appears before him, telling him of Penelope's plight. With Ulysses' resolve reaffirmed, the embittered Circe lets him go, daring him to defy Neptune's wrath.
With his memory fully restored, Ulysses reveals his identity and sets out for home, breaking Nausicaa's heart. Returning to his palace disguised as a beggar, he meets Penelope, pretending to be an old friend of her husband. Upon witnessing her despair and faithfulness for him, he suggests that she hold a contest to determine the suitor who shall marry her the next day: stringing Ulysses' hunting bow and fire an arrow through a dozen axe heads. As he turns to leave, he stops to pet his old hunting dog Argos. Telemachus, who has just returned, witnesses this, and he and Ulysses reveal themselves to each other.
The next day, Penelope stages the archery contest, with Ulysses attending in his disguise. When the suitors are unable to string the bow, Ulysses taunts them into letting him try and succeeds with his shot, thus revealing his identity. With the assistance of Telemachus and the servants still loyal to him, Ulysses locks down the feast hall and slays all the suitors. After the slaughter is complete, Ulysses reunites with Penelope to rebuild their long-strained bond.
Cast
- Kirk Douglas as Ulysses
- Silvana Mangano as Penelope/Circe
- Antinous
- Rossana Podestà as Nausicaa
- Jacques Dumesnil as Alcinous
- Eurylochus, 2nd in command on Ulysses' ship
- Eurycleia, Lady-in-waiting of Penelope
- Franco Interlenghi as Telemachus
- Elena Zareschi as Cassandra, Trojan prophet
- Evi Maltagliati as Anticlea
- Arete
- Tania Weber as Leucantho
- Piero Lulli as Achilles
- Ferruccio Stagni as Mentor
- Alessandro Fersen as Diomedes
- Oscar Andriani as Calops
- Umberto Silvestri as Polyphemus
- Gualtiero Tumiati as Laertes
- Teresa Pellati as Melantho
- Mario Feliciani as Eurymachus
- Michele Riccardini as Leodes
See also
- List of historical drama films
- Greek mythology in popular culture
- Peplum (film genre)
References
- ISBN 8860736269.
- ^ Dino de Laurentiis Obituary The Guardian 11 November 2010
External links
- Ulysses at IMDb
- Ulysses at Rotten Tomatoes