The word ‘epic’ has become an overused adjective in these modern times, used to describe anything great or awesome. At its simplest definition, that use isn’t incorrect, but it’s not as correct as when used to describe a story charting the journeys of a hero like Odysseus (Ulysses) or Gilgamesh. But when the dust settles, Ulysses may lay claim to the title of the definitive epic. Homer’s celebrated retelling of Ulysses’s voyage home following the events of the Trojan War (as told of in the Iliad) has had countless film, stage and novel incarnations. Of particular note is Mario Camerini’s 1954 version which captures perfectly the feel and style of the adventure serials of its time – but not without its share of shortcomings.
Ulysses (Kirk Douglas) leads his soldiers back towards their homeland of Ithaca only to find their passage rife with deadly obstacles and treacherous enemies. Presenting allegories on prudence, temptation and other values, the story of the homeward bound adventurers manages to play out in a way that keeps the audience interested with top-tier class performances amidst campy scenery and effects (most likely considered quite impressive in their time). Awaiting Ulysses in Ithaca are his wife Penelope (Silvana Mangano) – and the countless men (including Antinous as played by Anthony Quinn) seeking to be her suitor since learning of the hero’s supposed death at sea/in battle/etc. Who hasn’t heard the tale of the mythical sirens luring sailors to their doom on rocky shores? Many popular elements of Greek mythology make appearances in Ulysses’s tale, and it’s a testament to the strength of the ancient tale that even with cinematography issues, the film seems to fly by.
The entire film is a sweet reminder of old time adventure flicks which concerned themselves more with the story than its presentation. The slew of veteran actors smattering the screen makes the experience memorable. Before Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis, the man to hire when action was called for was Kirk Douglas. To a lesser extent than John Wayne, Douglas was a film icon of manhood – the Duke may have capitalized on the title, but Douglas was equally deserving in the roles he took. When Kirk took on the lead-role in Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus, he proved beyond a shadow of a doubt what he introduced in Ulysses: the man is a dynamo of charisma and testosterone. As Ulysses, Douglas carries the film on his back with a cocksure attitude that makes his character a charismatic leader and yet easy to scorn as he learns the lessons of his journey.
Now, as easy as it is to lavish such a classic cinematic tale with praise, the technical aspects of the film and its DVD transition leave so much to be desired as to make it nigh impossible to recommend this DVD release. The audio dubbing on the film is utterly atrocious with dialogue seldom matching up with the lips of actors onscreen. At times too little is said to accompany the lip movement, and at others not a single mouth moves as a character relates the current peril of the crew. How the DVD’s audio could be authored so poorly will flabbergast the seasoned DVD consumer. There have been plenty of old films whose DVD transfers have gone without a hitch, but Ulysses is almost insufferable. Sadly, the video isn’t much better. I’m left thinking that the negative must have been destroyed or degraded to a point where it’s unusable in future reproduction because – and I mean this is no uncertain terms – after watching this copy no one will question that a new digital copy needs to be made of the negatives. At times the picture will fluctuate as if it will burst out of its frame at any moment, and at others flickers of dirt and bad celluloid are easily visible.
What possessed Lionsgate to release such an ill-prepared DVD copy of such a classic film?
DVD Bonus Features
There’s nothing, but considering the picture and audio quality of the film itself, you shouldn’t be surprised that further work wasn’t put into extras.
"Ulysses" is on sale August 4, 2009 and is rated NR. Adventure, Drama. Directed by Mario Camerini. Written by Homer and Franco Brusati & Mario Camerini. Starring Kirk Douglas, Silvana Mangano, Anthony Quinn.
