DIE FAHRTEN DES ODYSSEUS - MOV [Blu-ray] [1954]

My dad saw this dvd cover in London and said he saw this movie when it was first out! I had never heard of Kirk Douglas doing a Ulysses movie so I bought it for dad's birthday for us both to enjoy.It is the basic Odyssey story with Ulysses lost on his way home to his wife Penelope. In this version there is a curtailing of his adventures due to budget constraints but he does meet the Cyclops and is seduced on an exotic island.The photography and colour are good for the 1950's, some scenes are filmed in the islands of the Med where Ulysses was suppossed to have got lost.Kirk Douglas makes a great hero, not entirely sympathetic as he is a hard nosed battle hardened warrior. Anthony Quinn is in a very small part but it makes the Italian production seem a bit more Hollywood style.A good budget film with sadly no extras.

This is a very nice movie narrating the adventures of the Greek king Odysseus on his home voyage from Troy after the sacking of the city. The part of Odysseus is played by the brilliant actor Kirk Douglas(Spartacus). A true asset to the Dvd- collection of any real fan of adventure movies based on Greek mythology....

I was completely unaware of this 1954 Italian-American co-production of Homer's Odyssey before I came across it while web surfing the other day doing research into 1950s-1960s epics (a genre I'm very fond of). Seeing it starred Kirk Douglas, I was immediately keen to see it and found this German edition.Variously titled 'Odysseus' or 'Ulysses' depending on release territory, this is a fairly faithful adaptation of Homer's epic poem that acts as a sequel to 'the Iliad' (which of course follows the Trojan War with Greece). All the major plot points are covered, starting with Odysseus' destruction of the statue of Neptune/Poseidon after the successful Trojan Horse Gambit, followed by the long hegira that Odysseus and his crew suffer as they are subject to the sea-god's wrath and blown off course beyond Crete (where Odysseus' is king, his wife Penelope waiting his return while numerous suitors beseech her to marry them), Encountering Polyphemus the cyclops, the Sirens and witch-goddess Circe, who offers to make Odysseus immortal (his name would then by Ulysses), our hero manfully makes his name in the classical world of the Mediterranean.Arguably the film isn't really an epic as it's relatively short compared to the likes of 'Ben Hur', 'The Ten Commandments' and 'Fall of the Roman Empire' and it clearly has a smaller budget. However, it predates all of these - it is presented in 1.37:1 and was release in 1954, at which point I think widescreen was not an option or had only just appeared. It is, however, very entertaining despite being quite literal and being without modernistic acting/dialogue being used, so it retains a charming fabular, mythic flavour.Interestingly, this teaming of Douglas and Anthony Quinn of course predates their magnificent pairing in 'Lust For Life' and of course this is KD in swashbuckling mode long before 'The Vikings' and 'Spartacus'. While not on the same level as these, it's a fun film and should be seen by all of KD's fans. Generally speaking, the Italian actors are not in the same class as American and British character actors who would have fulfilled the supporting roles had this been less of an Italian production, but Silvano Mangano (who plays Odysseus' abandoned wife and Circe) is actually billed above Quinn as the excellent gallery of poster art and lobby cards on the bluray reveals. She is a great looking actress and as Circe really excels - she's very otherworldly, seductive and imperious and very good-looking to boot.This 2 disc edition presents the film in a 105 minute theatrical cut on the BD in a stunning 4K restoraation -one of the finest I've seen in a feature of this vintage. Lovely colours, great locations, excellent costumes and imaginative sets and lighting give this gem the polish it deserves, despite as I've said some of the supporting actors lacking gravitas. Audio options are in German, Italian and English with removable subs for all three in German and English. The English audio when the Italian actors are speaking isn't as good as the Italian audio but if going for the latter option one loses Douglas and Quinn's fine voices, so I watched in English. As Italian films were always dubbed later until quite recently, there's the usual minor lip-synth issue whatever option one takes. Now and then on the English version, the odd subtitle pops up unbidden for one line, but this isn't too annoying.The DVD - which I haven't watched yet - is 4 minutes longer at 109 minutes and apparently includes scenes cut from the theatrical release before the film was premiered, so I guess they're being seen here for the first time. Overall the film felt long enough at 105 minutes, the Polyphemus sequence seeming quite slow and literal.On the fantastic aspects of the film, it;'s worth comparing the encounter with Polyphemus with the opening Cyclops scenes of '7th Voyage of Sinbad', the celebrated Ray Harryhausen dynamation feature made some years later. While the effects can't hope to match Harryhausen's stopmotion genius, it is interesting to see how the pure classical source of the Cyclops influenced the script and shooting of the Sinbad vehicle. Sadly we don't get to see the Sirens - only hear them - but Mangano's stunning performance as Circe in her lair is superb: all black veils, the kind of florid costuming and lighting that the likes of Bava and Argento would bring to giallo thrillers and horror a decade after this film are hinted at here. Mangano really looks gorgeous in this sequence and is as chilling as she is beautiful.While this is never going to be regarded as one of the best epics ever, it is a reminder of the power of Homer's storytelling genius, characterisation and emotional impact, even if at times this feels like a children's film. Shame that Harryhausen never attempted a version and that the definitive cinematic Homer is yet to appear.Overall, a superb 2 disc set that all fans of 50s cinema, epics and Italian movies will want to own. 4 stars only as the film itself isn't quite as classical as its source!

The product is as described and the transaction of high standard.Many many thanks.

Arrived in perfect condition brilliant movie with great performances and effects as well and a great cast well worth buying

This was a film i always wanted but being region two i could only get it to play on my computor no problem it is a great film.

Great film and really glad to have this in my home collection at last!Thank you seller.

Remember the old DVD version I have to not be terrific picture quality in truth though it is a while since last viewing it, when seeing it advertised on Blu-ray format with the claim that it had had a 4k upscale I became both curious and indeed sceptical.However, having now watched it I have to admit to being pleasantly surprised, the picture quality is indeed so much better than I remember it being.Telling the story of Odysseus (Ulysses) played by the legendary Kirk Douglas who is found on the shores of Phaeacia, the only survivor of his ship by Princess Nausicaa (Rossana Podestà)When he recovers from his ordeal he has no memory of either who he is or indeed his deeds.When sacking Troy Odysseus and his men destroyed the Trojan temple of Poseidon and became cursed, they were told that they would never return home and after some years indeed perish at sea.Meanwhile back in Ithica Odysseus's wife Penelope (Silvana Mangano) has spent years since the fall of Troy plagued by suitors, playing for time in the hope of her husband's return, the suitors eager to not only to marry Penelope but to take over Odysseus's kingdom.The many suitors are joined by the very confident Antinous (Anthony Quinn) who believed himself the most likely to win any contest to gain Penelope's hand.Back on nearby Phaeacia close to marrying the beautiful Nausicaa, Odysseus wanders down to the shore and gazes out to sea which triggers memories of the long and perilous journey after leaving Troy, he remembers trying to navigate the fury of the seas, his and his men's encounter with the Cyclops which was indeed a threat to all, his insistence on being tied to the ships mask to hear the tempting Sirens who drew ships to the rocks and indeed his months falling under the spell of the witch Circe who appears to him in the vision of his wife most importantly Odysseus remembers who he is and knows he must get back to Ithica and his wife and son.He returns dressed as a beggar so he'd not be recognized, however, his old dog seems to know him.Marriage choices have now come to a head for Penelope, she decides that a competition that only her husband had successfully won in years gone by would be held, all the suiters fail to bend Odysseus's bow, the beggar asks if he can try, the suitors mock him, but not for long.Obviously, the film doesn't enjoy the benefits of today's technology and in terms of script and some of the acting does look dated, however, the film is as enjoyable to watch as was it in years gone by...a golden-oldie.

Enjoyed movie at good price and value.

La película es un peplum italiano de bajo presupuesto que si bien no se acerca al tamaño de grandes producciones como por poner un ejemplo a Espartaco, si encontramos a un Kirk Douglas soberbio y en plenitud, totalmente espectacular en esta Adaptación de la Odisea de Homero. El episodio con Polifemo, aunque ya le pesan mucho los años, sigue siendo muy memorable.Quede gratamente sorprendido con la imagen, imaginaba iba a estar imposible de ver, llena de granos y brincos de imagen, pero en general esta bastante limpia y se disfruta sin problema. El sonido para reconocerse.Si tú al igual que yo llegaste aqui por una casualidad, no dudes en comprarla, es muy difícil conseguirla y será una buena adquisición a tu colección tanto si eres como no fan de Kirk Douglas o del cine clásico Épico y Fantástico. Por el lado de los extras, no hay mucho, prácticamente nada por parte de Liongate.Viene con audio en Inglés y Subtitulos en Español.

Mehr Worte braucht es dazu nicht.

This is a many told tale of Ulysses returning from Troy but he has pissed off Poseidon/Neptune God of the Oceans and is screwed over big time on his sea voyage back home. Kirk Douglas plays the staring role and does a good job. And it is a great story with lots of action.

Une belle édition avec le BD du film, version italienne, anglaise et allemande mais pas de version française présentésdans un horrible boitier double que je me sui empressé de le remplacer par un boitier OR autrement plus esthétique !L'ensemble se trouve inséré dans un étui carton, la jaquette ne comporte pas le logo FSK en la retournant, ce qui estappréciable ! Bref, un produit recommandable malgré quelques les défauts signalés ci-dessus !