The title comes from a poem by the 16th century writer Du Bellay extolling the simple country life. Ulysses had participated in the sack of Troy and had travelled all around the world, but was not happy until he returned to his Ithaca home, his wife, and his son.
Final released feature of Fernandel who next started shooting 'Don Camillo e i giovani d'oggi' (1970) which remained unfinished when he died quite abruptly from cancer.