The Vikings
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Movie Reviews of The Vikings
Movie Review: An epic Odin himself would approve!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are not many historical films made about the vikings (a silly adventure called "The Norseman" (1979) with Lee Majors comes to mind replete with an oil tanker clearly visible in an opening establishing shot!), but this is perhaps one of the best--as it should be. Directed by Richard Fleischer and produced by Kirk Douglas, this is an epic story of rivalry, power, ambition, and love.
Meticulously researched by Felischer and inspired by a vacation the director took to the fjords of Norway and in production for over one year, this film, as a model of production design, earns high marks from the accurate portrayals of the viking villages right down to the swords and scabbards used by Curtis and Douglas.
Often as with such historical epics produced in the 50's and the early 60's, the story takes a backseat to the impressive sets and a cast of thousands, but that is not the case here where bitter hatred divides two brothers Prince Einar (Douglas) and Prince Eric (Curtis), the latter the[...]son of King Ragnar (Borgnine) and an English queen. Both brothers vie for the love of a kidnapped princess Morgana (Leigh, then Curtis' real life wife), determining the brothers' fate as well as the English throne.
The acting, despite the typical Hollywood treatement films like this typically receive, is quite good and manages to hold the viewers interest throughout. For Borgnine, this was a role he was meant to play; Douglas and Leigh are the consummate professionals, and for Curtis (who had just completed one of my favorite films of all time, "Mister Cory" in the same year), this role certainly expanded his range with his Bronx accent decidedly muted! It obviously worked, for two years later he would act and fight Douglas to the death yet again with Douglas in Kubrick's masterpiece, "Spartacus".
Digitally remasterd and in brilliant technicolor, the film is presented in 16:9 widescreen format with an almost spotless transfer. Likewise, a 30 minute featurette live interview with director Richard Fleischer is most informative including candid stills from pre-production and post-production making for a very insightful look into fimmmaking both the casual fan and novice filmmaker would enjoy.
Movie Review: Great action/adventure with Douglas and Curtis
Summary: 5 Stars
The Vikings is a great historical epic that is just a lot of fun to watch. Viking chief, Ragnar, leads a raid on the British coast and rapes an English woman who births a child, Eric. However, upon his birth Eric is sent away and captured by Vikings where he is brought up as a slave. Flash to 30 years later, with Eric all grown up. After a brief battle with his unknowing half-brother, Einar, the hatred between the two begins to grow. Along the way, the Vikings kidnap the princess of Wales, Morgana, whom both of the men fall in love with. Eric and Einar must fight it out not only for the love of the beautiful Morgana, but must also worry about their attack on the English king, Aella, to avenge the death of Ragnar, the father of both warriors. This movie has a plot that drifts along, but the whole thing is fun to watch. The cast does great, the action scenes are spectacular, especially the Viking attack on the english castle), and the cinematography is beautiful. As well, the Vikings theme by Mario Nascimbene is perfect for the movie with its horns and trumpets. This is a great movie full of action and adventure that should not be missed.Kirk Douglas gives an excellent performance as the ultimate Viking warrior, Einar. With his blond hair and scarred face complete with milky left eye, Douglas looks and acts like a Viking would have. Tony Curtis is also very good as Viking slave, Eric, who unbeknownst to him is Einar's half-brother. The beautiful Janet Leigh plays Morgana, the woman who is loved by two men who despise each other. Ernest Borgnine is great as Viking chief, Ragnar, the loud, boisterous father of Eric and Einar. While watching the movie, it looks like the cast had a lot of fun making the film. The Vikings also stars James Donald as Egbert, Alexander Know as Father Godwin, Frank Thring as Aella, Eileen Way as Kitala, and Edric Connor as Sandpiper. The DVD offers the widescreen presentation, making of featurette/photo gallery with director Richard Fleischer, and a theatrical trailer. Filmed mostly in the fjiords of Norway, the movie looks great, especially in the letterbox format. For a great action adventure with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis, don't miss The Vikings!
Movie Review: Kingdom Crushers
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Vikings" was a cinematic remake of a book of the same title and depicts, in Hollywood style, a little known event in English/Viking history. An English king has slain a Viking chief in a foul and duplicitous manner. In the actual history, if I can recall rightly, a Viking envoy to the English kingdom, is seized and murdered. In the movie, the chief is 'rescued' from a shipwreck and fed to a pit of wolves. No matter. The Vikings now have a cause and attack the English fortress, prevail and kill the Saxon king. The true history is probably more grim than this. The King is captured and, reportedly, 'the eagle is cut from his back' i.e. the skin of the back is incised to the spine; ribs are cut centrally and pulled back and laterally. When the operation is over, the victim, who now has 'wings', looks something like a bloody eagle, hence the name.
Anyway, this is a thoroughly entertaining film...if...you can get over the fact that Tony Curtis with his Bronx accent is sorely miscast. Douglas, Borgnine and Janet Leigh make up for this cinematic blunder and carry us back into another time with all the color and spectacle it deserves. I especially liked Kirk Douglas who makes a very effective Viking, indeed. 'Prepare a funeral for a VIKING.' Douglas' burning ship 'burial' is beautiful and tragic and we watch Douglas going to Valhalla in a blaze of glory.
Interestingly, although ship burials [in the ground] were reasonably common and although we have records of chieftains' corpses being immolated in ships parked on land, we have only one story of a cremation of a chieftain in which the ship is floating on the sea...and...this tale is mythological. The Norse God Baldur is slain by the foul mechanizations of the evil Loki. Baldur is incinerated in a floating ship burial. Did it happen in real life? My guess is 'yes' but, as yet, we have no evidence for it.
Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--'Skull Rack' and 'Hummingbird God'--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico
Movie Review: "Hail Ragnar and hail Ragnar's beard!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is probably one my favorite films made in 1957,I saw this onchannel 9 repeatedly the 70's and I still own all the different versions
that MGM/UA put out in vhs tape. The DVD version is the perfect way
to see this film over again. The story based partly on actual event
concerns the tale and plight of the mighty viking clans as they set
out on their missions of invading nearby english lands.
One such invasion concerns to rape of an English queen by Ragnar
the viking chief. With her king's death and no heir to the king's
thrown the evil Prince Egberg takes control.But the queen IS with
child, Eric the unborn son of Ragnar. Fearing for the child's
safety she sends him away where later as a man he becomes a slave
and by faith crosses paths with Icnar, son of Ragner. The viking
half brothers get into it from the first moment and an incident
occurs that ruins Icnar's face and subjects Eric to certain death
Known more for it's lush Cinematography on actual Norway Location
The Viking's is great"old style" entertainment with a great cast
including Kirk douglas,Tony Curtis,Ernest Borgnine & Janet Leigh
Kirk's oar walk,The ax braid toss and storming of the castle are
are a few of the highlights, but for me it will always be finale
sword fight between Eric and Icnar overlooking the stunning view
of the coastline.My favorite duel behind Adventures of Robin Hood
The disc brings out all the film's widescreen technicolor wonder
for the first time with a clearness unmatched by that of the old
vhs standard.
The featurette also lends ear to the great detail
of the ships design and the hardships of working on locale in no
too favorable conditions. Someday MGM/UA will stop being so lazy
and start putting in inserts like they use to (example:Vera Cruz)
"Odinn,Odinn send the wind and change the tide!"
Movie Review: A HISTORICAL ACCOUNT OF "THE VIKINGS" HOLLYWOOD STYLE
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Vikings" is one of the finest medieval period pieces ever filmed. Great location shots of Norway and the Technicolor is sumptuous. Ernest Borgnine plays the leader of a Viking village and the father of two strong willed sons. Kirk Douglas is his legitimate son by his Viking wife and Tony Curtis is he illegitimate son by an English noble woman, who he raped during a raid. The beautiful Janet Leigh plays the love interest of both brothers, who at the end, fight for her to the death. The story consists of Borgnine scheming to find a way across the ocean, especially through the dense fog, and land his Viking troops on the English coast. When Tony Curtis' character is a baby, his mother sends him away for safekeeping, however, the Vikings over take his guardians and he is raised as a slave. Borgnine and Douglas are unaware that he's their son and brother, and treat him badly. Janet Leigh is the beautiful daughter of a rich nobleman, and is pledge to marry the King. While traveling across the ocean, she is abducted and taken to the Viking village, by Kirk Douglas, who falls in love with her. Douglas is harsh and treats her rough, and she vows that she hates him. She meets Tony Curtis and as the story progresses, they fall in love. Some critics have reviewed this movie to be very bloody, however, the only blood seen is when a hawk attacks Kirk Douglas. And by today's standards, it's very mild. I highly recommend "The Vikings," as a historical entertainment piece that does more than just simply entertain. It sweeps the viewer into a medieval tale that is adventurous, romantic, and gloriously lived by its' talented cast. The dvd received a clean transfer and the sound is superb. The "making of" feature is a nice addition with some info on Kirk Douglas' involvement in making the movie and tidbits on Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, who were at-the-time a married couple. "The Vikings" would make a great addition to any adventure buff's dvd library.