Synopsis

The legend of Odyseeus. Rl.1. Main title (20). Odysseus takes leave of his wife Penelope, his son Telemach and his fatehr Laertes. With his family he leaves the palace and is greeted by his subjects. At the beach he goves instructions to his captain and gets ready to board his ship. Believing Odysseus to be dead the local chiefs call on Penelope to choose a new husband, they are seen outside the palace feasting. During the day Penelope weaves a cloak for the now dead Laertes. When the suitors call she says she cannot wed until the cloak is complete. However, at nigt she unravels her day's work. She is observed by a maid who calls the suitors in, they reproach her. The fall of Troy: the citizens run in terror as the Greeks invade; Odysseus rides into the city in his chariot with his men and the city is razed. From his ship Odysseus observes the destruction of Troy by fire. Odysseus and his crew land at the idland of the Cyclops Polyphemus, Odysseus leads a number of his men to fetch water. In a cave they observe the arrival of the Cyclops who closes the door. The Cyclops sees the men and seizes two of tehm, smashing them to the ground. While the Cyclops sleeps, Odysseus organises his men to carry a large log and burning one end they attack and blind the giant. He runs to the door and opens it (580). Rl.2. Odysseus and his crew make their escape from the cave of the Cyclops by hiding under the sheep as the Cyclops let the herd out to graze. All escape to the ship and set sail. As they sail past a headland, the Cyclops hears them and throws a rock, missing them. The Cyclops rages on the shore. In order to sail past the Sirens the crew block each other's ears with wax and bind Odysseus to the mast so he can hear the song but will not be drawn to his death. The ship sails past the dog-headed monster, Scylla where Odysseus loses more of his men. The ship arrives in Sicily. The crew find the holy bull of Zeus and eat it despite Odysseus' protestations. Odysseus pleads forgiveness fromZeus. However, while at sea, Zeus takes his revenge and strikes the ship with a thunder bolt, which sets the ship on fire. Odysseus is then seen walking through a garden with Calypso. Later he begins to build himself a raft. Calypso helps him by bringing rope and an axe, and later a sail. As Odysseus stes sail on his raft Calypso stands and weeps. While at sea, Odysseus sails into a storm created by Neptune, father of the Cyclops. Odysseus is washed up onto the shore of Scheria. Tired and injured he drags himself onto land and falls asleep. A group of maidens arrive on the scene and discover Odysseus. Nausicaa, daughter of Alcinous, King of the Phaeacians, comes to Odysseus' aid and brings him fresh clothes (877). Rl.3. Nausicaa escorts Odysseus to her fatehr's palace. Odyseeus is impressed by the palace and wanders around its grounds. In the throne room Odysseus tells his story. Impressed, the King offers Odysseus riches and a ship to return home. Odysseus is carried from the ship and set on the beach. The Godess Pallas Athene appears to Odysseus and helps disguise him as a beggar. Odysseus takes bread at the home of Eumaeus. Telemach is also there and with the help of Pallas Athene, Odysseus reveals himself as Telemach's father. In his beggar's disguise, Odysseus arrives at his palace to the suitors encamped in the courtyard. He is ill-treated by the suitors. Odysseus is awakened by the suitors' carousing and he watches them go off with maidens into the woods. Odysseus and his son remove the weapons from the courtyard. penelope announces from the palace that she will marry the suitor whocan pull Odysseus' bow. The suitors try and fail, Odysseus still in disguise pulls the bow and fires an arrow. Pallas Athene appears and changes Odysseus into his royal robes, He at once sets upon the suitors killing them all. Penelope and Odysseus are reuinited (1127). (2584ft) Note: The scenes with the Cyclops are created by the superimposition of Odysseus and his crew in one corner of the frame. Note: The Sirens are women standing in water with mermaid tails attatched to their waist giving the impression of swimming. Note: Intertitles are numbered 1-47; 3 and 7 are missing. Note: Main title reads Die Abenteuer des 'Odysseus' nach der Dichtung von Homer Die Odyssee/ Die Abreise des Odysseus. Note: The film was re-released in 1914. References: Aldo Bernardini. Archivio del cinema Italiano: Vol 1 Il cinema muto 1905-1931, p.282. Herbert Birett. Das Filmangebot in Deutschland 1895-1911, no.7022. Herbert Birett. Verzeichnis in Deutschland gelaufner Filme: Filmzenzur 1911-1920, p.673, no.5165. (Shotlist)