1954 Ulysses on DVD
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.
score 8/10
rbcare-care 26 June 2017
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw3739867/35198
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