‘Ulysses’ — Seriously Bewitched?
Mario Camerini’s ‘Ulysses’ (1954) doesn’t get off to the most promising of starts with the first 25 minutes or so consisting of nothing more than a lot of standing about and talking. But that’s okay as this gives us time to mentally process the fact that this telling of Homer’s tale was co-written by Ben Hecht and shot by Harold Rosson, the cinematographer for ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939) and ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ (1952), so if, like me, you’re only familiar with the more cheap and cheerful Italian Peplums you might be quite surprised by the presence of such prestigious Hollywood talent here.
But back to that beginning.
Queen Penelope of Ithaca (an unfeasibly beautiful Silvana Mangano) is under pressure to marry one of the many suitors who have taken residence in her palace. It has been many years since her husband, Ulysses (Kirk Douglas), sailed to claim Troy and he still hasn’t returned… and they’re all starting to get rather horny.
Meanwhile, a ship-wrecked Ulysses washes-up on the shores of Phaeacia. Having lost his memory and with no idea of who he is or how he got there he is taken in by the King where he soon falls in love with the princess Nausicaa.
To be honest, it’s not that compelling so it’s a blessed relief that the movie is downright gorgeous to look at. If only the narrative could be as arresting. Then, one day, Ulysses gazes out across the ocean and we’re treated to an hour long flashback as Ulysses’ memory returns and he remembers all the obstacles and adventures he encountered on his voyage home, as well as how he lost his crew and memory.
And it’s a lot of familiar fun involving defying the gods, outwitting the cyclops, resisting some sirens and escaping a sorceress. Sure, there’s still a few moments when everything threatens to grind to a halt (they usually tend to involve Anthony Quinn) but on the whole this is an engaging version of the well known story (incidentally, stick with the original Italian rather than the American dub).
What also helps is that an already ravishing looking picture becomes even more so as events progress, and anyone that’s a fan of Italian genre cinema won’t be surprised to discover Mario Bava had an uncredited hand in the shooting. Indeed, when Ulysses arrives on Circe’s island it practically might as well BE a Mario Bava movie with his distinctive green and red lighting dominating the sequence to a spectacular extent. And if Silvana Mangano already looked indescribably beautiful as Penelope she’s even more striking as the sorceress (her costume!). How is that possible?! Unlike Ulysses I’m not sure I’d have been able to summon up the willpower to leave her island.
The film culminates with Ulysses returning home and… brutally murdering everyone in sight?! It’s a shockingly violent climax with, at one point, a wide-eyed, crazed Douglas destroying someone’s head with a bloodied axe. Goodness!
It might take a bit of time to grab the attention but ‘Ulysses’ is a delightfully entertaining and visually intoxicating ride. It’s far from perfect but if you can open yourself up to its luring and bewitching call then you could very well find yourself utterly hypnotised.
