Ulysses (1955 film)

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.
Language	Italian English
Budget	$500,000

Ulysses is a 1954fantasy-adventure film based on Homer's epic poem Odyssey. The movie was made by director Mario Camerini, who co-wrote the screenplay with writer Franco Brusati. The original choice for director was Georg Wilhelm Pabst who quit at the last minute. The cinematographer Mario Bava co-directed it (uncredited).

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 (1958), which was credited with igniting the Italian peplum craze of the 1960s.

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.