The Return of Ulysses
Plot
Following the fall of Troy, the Greek hero Ulysses embarks on his legendary ten-year journey home to Ithaca, facing numerous mythical adventures and divine obstacles along the way. His ships are scattered across different lands, leading to encounters with cyclops, sirens, sorceresses, and other fantastical beings from Greek mythology. Meanwhile in Ithaca, years pass without Ulysses' return, leading most to believe he has perished at sea, though his devoted wife Queen Penelope maintains unwavering faith in his eventual return. Suitors besiege the royal palace, demanding Penelope choose a new husband, while she cleverly delays them by claiming she must first weave a burial shroud for Ulysses' father, secretly unraveling her work each night. The film culminates with Ulysses' triumphant return, disguised as a beggar to test his kingdom's loyalty before revealing himself and reclaiming his throne and family.
About the Production
This was one of the earliest cinematic adaptations of Homer's Odyssey, produced during the pioneering era of French cinema. The film utilized the limited but innovative special effects available in 1909, including hand-tinted color sequences for mythological elements. The production employed theatrical actors from the Comédie-Française, bringing classical acting techniques to the new medium of cinema. The film was likely shot on simple sets with painted backdrops, typical of the period, with minimal location shooting.
Historical Background
1909 marked a pivotal year in cinema's evolution from novelty to art form. The film industry was transitioning from simple actualities and trick films to more complex narratives and literary adaptations. France, particularly through companies like Pathé Frères, led the world in film production and innovation. This period saw the emergence of film d'art (art film), which sought to elevate cinema's cultural status by adapting prestigious literary works and employing respected theatrical actors. 'The Return of Ulysses' was part of this movement, demonstrating cinema's potential to handle epic narratives and classical themes. The film also reflected the Belle Époque's fascination with classical antiquity, a period when archaeological discoveries and renewed interest in Greek mythology influenced popular culture throughout Europe.
Why This Film Matters
As one of the earliest adaptations of Homer's epic, 'The Return of Ulysses' helped establish the foundation for the mythological adventure genre that would become a staple of cinema. The film demonstrated that ancient stories could be successfully translated to the new medium of cinema, paving the way for countless future adaptations of classical literature. Its use of respected stage actors helped bridge the gap between theater and film, contributing to cinema's acceptance as a legitimate art form. The film also represents an important milestone in the international language of cinema, as the story of Ulysses was universally recognizable across cultural boundaries, helping establish narrative conventions that would influence filmmaking worldwide.
Making Of
The making of 'The Return of Ulysses' represented a significant undertaking for 1909 cinema, requiring elaborate costumes and sets that were unusual for the period. Charles le Bargy, transitioning from stage to screen, brought theatrical sensibilities to the production, emphasizing dramatic gestures and poses that would read clearly in silent film. The cast, drawn from France's most prestigious theatrical institutions, had to adapt their acting styles for the camera's intimate perspective. The mythological scenes likely utilized primitive special effects techniques, including multiple exposures and matte paintings to create the illusion of gods and monsters. The film's production reflected Pathé Frères' commitment to elevating cinema from mere novelty to artistic medium through ambitious literary adaptations.
Visual Style
The cinematography of 'The Return of Ulysses' employed the static camera techniques typical of 1909, with the camera remaining fixed for most scenes to capture theatrical-style performances. The film likely utilized the available lighting technology of the period, which meant bright, flat illumination necessary for the slow film stocks of the era. Visual storytelling relied heavily on composition within the frame and actors' exaggerated gestures to convey narrative and emotion. Some sequences may have incorporated special effects techniques such as multiple exposures or dissolves to represent supernatural elements, though these would appear primitive by modern standards.
Innovations
For its time, 'The Return of Ulysses' represented several technical achievements in early cinema. The film's relatively long running time of 12 minutes required careful planning of narrative continuity, which was still being developed as a cinematic technique. The production likely utilized hand-coloring techniques for certain scenes, a labor-intensive process that added visual appeal and helped distinguish important narrative elements. The film's costume design and set construction demonstrated the growing sophistication of film production values, moving beyond the simple sets of earlier cinema. The adaptation of such a complex story to the limited time constraints of early film showed developing skills in narrative condensation and visual storytelling.
Music
As a silent film from 1909, 'The Return of Ulysses' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical exhibitions. The typical accompaniment would have been a pianist or small ensemble performing classical pieces, popular songs, or improvised music that matched the mood of each scene. For a mythological subject, the musical accompaniment likely drew from classical composers or dramatic romantic pieces to enhance the epic nature of the story. The score would have been selected by the individual theater rather than being standardized across all showings.
Famous Quotes
I am Ulysses, son of Laertes, known to all for my cunning.
Twenty years I have been away, but my heart never left Ithaca.
No man can withstand the will of the gods, but the wise man learns to work with it.
A true wife's love knows neither distance nor time.
The greatest adventure is the journey home.
Memorable Scenes
- Ulysses' dramatic reveal to the suitors after stringing his bow, a moment of divine retribution that restores order to his kingdom; Penelope's nightly unraveling of her weaving, a clever act of defiance against the oppressive suitors; Ulysses' encounter with the cyclops Polyphemus, showcasing the hero's cunning over brute strength; The emotional reunion between Ulysses and his faithful dog Argos, who recognizes his master despite his beggar's disguise.
Did You Know?
- This was one of the first films to adapt classical Greek mythology for cinema, helping establish the epic genre in early film.
- Director Charles le Bargy was primarily known as a stage actor before transitioning to film direction.
- The film was produced by Pathé Frères, one of the most important early film studios in the world.
- Paul Mounet, who played Ulysses, was a renowned stage actor and teacher at the Paris Conservatoire.
- Julia Bartet was a famous actress of the Comédie-Française, lending cultural prestige to this early film production.
- The film was likely hand-colored frame by frame, a common but labor-intensive practice in early cinema.
- At 12 minutes, this was considered a relatively long film for 1909, when most films were only 1-3 minutes.
- The film was part of a wave of literary adaptations that helped cinema gain artistic legitimacy in its early years.
- Albert Lambert, who appears in the film, would later become a prominent film director himself.
- The production coincided with the height of French cinematic dominance before World War I.
What Critics Said
Contemporary reviews from 1909 praised the film's ambitious scope and the prestige of its theatrical cast. Film trade publications of the period noted the successful translation of classical material to the screen, though some critics found the condensed format challenging for such an epic story. Modern film historians recognize 'The Return of Ulysses' as an important early example of literary adaptation, though they note its primitive techniques by today's standards. The film is now studied as a representative example of early French cinema's artistic ambitions and the transitional period when cinema was establishing its narrative language.
What Audiences Thought
Audiences in 1909 reportedly responded enthusiastically to the film's spectacular elements and familiar classical story. The presence of famous theatrical actors drew curious theater-goers to cinemas, helping expand film's audience beyond the working-class demographics that had dominated early cinema attendance. The mythological subject matter, with its potential for visual spectacle, appealed to audiences' growing appetite for more elaborate film productions. Contemporary accounts suggest the film was particularly successful in urban centers where audiences had some familiarity with classical education.
Film Connections
Influenced By
- Homer's Odyssey
- Classical Greek mythology
- 19th-century theatrical adaptations of classical works
- French literary tradition
- Stage melodrama conventions
This Film Influenced
- Later adaptations of The Odyssey
- Italian epic films of the 1910s
- Hollywood mythological epics of the 1950s-60s
- Sword and sandal genre films
You Might Also Like
Film Restoration
The preservation status of 'The Return of Ulysses' (1909) is uncertain, with film historians considering it possibly lost or existing only in fragmentary form. Many films from this early period of cinema have been lost due to the unstable nitrate film stock used at the time and the lack of systematic preservation efforts. However, some archives and film institutions may hold copies or fragments of this production. The Cinémathèque Française and other European film archives would be the most likely repositories for any surviving elements of this early French film.