Ep. 104 - The GREAT ITALIAN ODYSSEYS: Ulysses (1954) v. The Return (2024)

We’re gargling out the taste of comic book fare on our 104th episode yet still swimming the turbulent oceans of their inspiration, the source of their epic power and mystery: Homer’s Odyssey!

Yes we’re going to compare and contrast two versions of the Odyssey as seen through the eyes of Italian filmmakers starting with 1954’s Ulysses directed by Mario Camerini and starring Kirk Douglas, Silvana Magano and Anthony Quinn up against 2024’s The Return directed by Uberto Pasolini and starring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Charlie Plummer and Marwan Kenzari. 

My guests today are my two stodgy, nose-in-the air, advanced-degree holding, cohorts, kid sis and lit major Roseanne Caputi and Master Thespian, the mellifluous voice behind the most famous Hard Mountain Dew Code Red spot of all time, Gordon Alex Robertson! 

Before we dig in, the synopses:

Ulysses (1954): A mythical adventure following the Greek hero Ulysses as he embarks on a perilous journey home after the Trojan War, encountering mythical creatures and divine beings before coming back to his wife Penelope. 

The Return (2024) delves into the emotional journey of Odysseus returning to Ithaca after his long absence in the Trojan War, finding his kindome in ruins, a strained relationship between him and Penelope and his son Telemachus, and the challenges of reintegrating into family life after years of war and separation.

Which is the grandest telling of the classic poem?

Find out! 

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