Story of movie Ulysses 1955 Film : This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) |
Ulysses (Italian: Ulisse) is a 1954 Italian fantasy-adventure film based on Homer's epic poem Odyssey. The movie was directed by Mario Camerini, who co-wrote the screenplay with writer Franco Brusati. The original choice for director was Georg Wilhelm Pabst but he quit at the last minute. The film's cinematographer Mario Bava co-directed the Polyphemus Cyclops segment (uncredited).
| Ulysses | |
|---|---|
American Press Book | |
| Directed by | Mario Camerini Mario Bava (uncredited) |
| Produced by | Dino De Laurentiis Carlo Ponti |
| Written by | Franco Brusati Mario Camerini Ennio De Concini Hugh Gray Ben Hecht Ivo Perilli Irwin Shaw |
| Starring | Kirk Douglas Silvana Mangano Anthony Quinn Franco Interlenghi Rossana Podestà |
| Music by | Alessandro Cicognini |
| Cinematography | Harold Rosson Mario Bava (uncredited) |
| Edited by | Leo Catozzo |
Production company | Lux Film |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures (USA) |
Release date | 6 October 1954 (Italy) 17 August 1955 (USA) |
Running time | 117 min. |
| Country | Italy |
| Language | Italian English |
| Budget | ITL 500,000,000 (approximately $800,000) |
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. The tremendous success of this film led to the making of Hercules (1957), which was credited with igniting the Italian peplum craze of the 1960s.
Screenplay
The story is about Ulysses' efforts to return to his home after the end of the Trojan war, and the adventures that befell him.
The movie begins with Eurycleia saying to some women in Ulysses' home that Penelope is in charge of the household. Eurycleia tells the women not to consort with the suitors. Penelope has promised under pressure to marry one of her many suitors, who squander the wealth and land of Ulysses. She holds them off by telling them she first wants to finish her tapestry, but she unweaves it every night to stall. Telemachus, the son of Ulysses and Penelope, is sick of the suitors' behavior and decides to search for his father. Ulysses has stranded in the land of Alcinous and is found by Nausicaa.
- Silvana Mangano as Circe/Penelope
- Kirk Douglas as Ulysses
- Anthony Quinn as Antinous
- Rossana Podestà as Nausicaa
- Jacques Dumesnil as Alcinous
- Daniel Ivernel as Eurylochus, 2nd in command on Ulysses' ship
- Sylvie as Eurycleia, Lady-in-waiting of Penelope
- Franco Interlenghi as Telemachus
- Elena Zareschi as Cassandra, Trojan prophet
- Evi Maltagliati as Anticlea
- Ludmilla Dudarova as 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
- List of historical drama films
- Greek mythology in popular culture
- Peplum (film genre)
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