The Vikings | | Cast : | Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis | | Director : | Richard Fleischer | | Studio : | MGM | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | June 28, 1958 | | DVD Released Date : | May 07, 2002 | | Language : | Spanish (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | NR (Not Rated) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | April 14, 2005 | | Summary | Screen legends in very beautiful film | Content
 | Okay, Hollywood has never been strong on history. I mean you have current day Randall Wallace proudly saying, "History should never get in the way of a good story." Well, maybe. May not. Movies are for entertainment, but history, real history can be honored while giving a good rousing story. I am still hoping someday someone will get this through their brains, and film The Bruce's tale with the big budget of Braveheart. His story is more amazing than any Randall Wallace screenplay.
So here is another Hollywood costumer, another historical vehicle for Leigh-Curtis, studio darlings of the era, so should you expect much? Surprisingly, yes, this film had an eye for details that was generally missed in most costumers of this period. Right off the bat - notice no horned Viking hats that are forever etched in our minds. They get BIG points for that! The costumes as a whole are very impressive. I was surprised at the care given. There are strong bits of real Viking lore, such as their mistrust of the fog, that really caught me and had me admiring this film. It is quite clear (and the DVD extra footages details this) they went to great lengths to really make this feel as true as they could.
So what you are left with in the end? Screen legends, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Ernest Borgnine (yeppers than is Ernie under the long hair and beard playing Kirk's Da!!) There are some beautiful location work, not the typical Hollywood backlot feel to the movie. Jack Cardiff's score is dead bang on for the film, underscoring the mood of this Epic. Sharp direction and breathtaking scene blocking add to the power of the tale, with the vivid color used to give this a sweeping style what few costumers of the period had.
There story is basic, Ragnar (Borgnine), Viking King has two sons Einar (Douglas) and Eric (Curtis). Douglas is daddy's boy, the best at everything. Neither Einar or Eric know they are half-brothers. Douglas kidnaps the Welsh bride Morgana (Leigh) of an English King to holds her for ransom. Naturally, in short order both of Ragnar's sons fall for her. Leigh is positively radiant here! But hey ladies, so are hunky Curtis and Douglas. While helping her to escape, Curtis, Leigh and Ragnar are taken by the English. The English king tosses Ragnar into the wolf pit, but not before Curtis defies the king and gives Ragnar a sword to die a Viking's death.
The walking of the oars, the siege scenes are just done so well, that it really sets this film above the typical Hollywood costumers and is well worth a second, and third look. It's sad the film didn't get the credit it deserves at that time. We smart little people can now relish this on the beautiful DVD transfer and appreciate a great film that was too quickly dismiss decades ago.
Hollywood cinema magic at it's peak, the prime of three Hollywood stars that have moved on to screen legends makes this one great Viking Saga. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 25, 2005 | | Summary | Looking for the soundtrack | Content
| Hello,
Does the Soundtrack for "The Vikings" exist on CD ? |
| Rating | | | Date | March 14, 2005 | | Summary | A Masterpiece of Cinematic Art. | Content
| Believe it or not, I didn't see "The Vikings" until December, 2004. I TRIED to watch it a couple of times before that but always gave up after about 25 minutes or so. Why? I suppose because I found the characters so unlikable.
When I finally watched it I found out that it took a good 45 minutes for the story to really grab ahold of you. By the end of the film I was TOTALLY BLOWN AWAY! Trust me, if you like adventure movies, especially historically rooted ones, you will get a big thrill out of this flick.
THE STORY: Einar (Kirk Douglas) and Eric (Tony Curtis) are -- unknowingly -- half-bothers, the sons of Ragnar (Earnest Borgnine), the Viking leader. Eric is a Viking slave (no one knows he is the son of the chief) and Einar despises him, especially since he causes him to lose an eye and get his face all scarred up. Both half-brothers are interested in an English princess (Janet Leigh); she despises Einar, but developes a great love for Eric. The story wraps up with a powerful viking raid on an English castle.
I'm thinking, this flick was made in 1958, so how good can it possibly be? Yet there's a 30-minute documentary on the dvd that details the great vision, research and hard work that went into creating such a powerful film. It took a year of preparation before filming even started (!). An actual Viking village was built on location in a Norwegian fiord; there's even a magnificent waterfall in the background. An actual castle was used for the ending castle raid scenes. Trust me, the film is worth watching just for the scenery alone.
An actual Viking ship was used as the blueprint for the three ships made for the film. Plus the Viking costumes, helmets and weapons are as authentic as possible. Viewing this picture is the next best thing to going back in time and seeing real Vikings.
Here are some Miscellaneous thoughts on the picture:
The film is very brutal: hands get chopped off, faces get mutilated, people are thrown into a pit of wolves, etc.
I never knew how beautiful Janet Leigh was until I saw this movie (she doesn't appear very attractive, for instance, in "Psycho").
Watch out for Kirk Douglas' "running of the oars" scene. It's great fun, and, I gather, something practiced by real Vikings.
Seeing the three Viking ships make their ominous trek to England is magnificent (the various depictions of the ships -- at dawn, in the mist, etc. -- are great).
The arrival in England and the taking of the castle is nothing short of breathtaking. The score during this scene is just a constant, primal drum. It's very fitting.
Speaking of the score, I hated the hokey Viking horn melody at first, but then it really grew on me, sorta like certain kinds of cheeses. It's dorky, trust me, but I now can't imagine the film without it.
If you like Vikings and heavy/epic music, be sure to pick up Bathory's "Hammerheart" on CD, you WILL NOT be disappointed. If interested, check out my detailed review of this musical masterpiece at Amazon.
FINAL ANALYSIS: "The Vikings" is cinematic art at its finest. If you like authentic historical adventure, you won't be disappointed. I'm so thankful I gave it another chance. "The Vikings" now ranks up their with my all-time favorite flicks. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 10, 2005 | | Summary | The Wild Bunch | Content
| This epic is worth watching for the spectacular cinematography of the Norwegian fjords alone, as well as to see the authenticity of how life from the time of the Vikings has been meticulously recreated, and it will enhance one's appreciation to watch the fascinating interview with director Richard Fleisher before viewing the film. It also shows the untamed and unruly nature of the people, who were daring and adventurous, and built beautiful ships to wander the seas and plunder and ravage distant lands.
The script is rather laden with grunts and growls, and the best lines go to the witchy woman Kitala who casts the runes (played well by Eileen Way) who says things like "love and hate are horns on the same goat".
Kirk Douglas is perfect as Einar, with his scarred face and daring stunts, in fine form as he "runs the oars" like an expert athlete, and fills his drinking horn from the enormous vat of frothing brew that is in the center of the raucous dining hall.
Others in the cast are a hairy and wild Ernest Borgnine as Ragnar, the king and father of Einar, Tony Curtis as Eric the slave, and Janet Leigh looking lovely as Morgana. Leigh and Curtis were married and the toast of Hollywood at the time, and their daughter Jamie Leigh Curtis was born in 1958, the same year this film was released.
The story is very operatic and uses as a plot device (like Verdi's "Il Trovatore" for instance) two enemies who are in love with the same woman, and do not realize they are actually half-brothers. Einar and Eric are both sons of Ragnar, and battle each other with a ferocity that makes for some good screen fights, including a marvelous sword duel.
Well-paced direction by Richard Fleisher, glorious cinematography by Jack Cardiff, a fine score by Mario Nascimbene and narration by Orson Welles, as well as many terrific performances make this film well worth viewing; total playing time is 116 minutes.
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| Rating | | | Date | February 09, 2005 | | Summary | Kirk in his first "Norwegian" film.... | Content
| In 1928 MGM released the film "THE VIKING" starring Donald Crisp, a Technicolor silent... Though it told the saga of Leif Erickson, it was a giant flop... In 1999, "The 13th Warrior" also proved not so great at the box-office.
But the 1958 "THE VIKINGS" became a champion at the box-office. Beautifully shot in Norway and with the guidance of Norwegian Viking historians, the ships, set design and costumes were admirably executed.
However! What is a great effort from the cast and crew in the first half, turns into a dissapointing routine finale and it looks cheap and made for cable-TV... The fighting scenes at the Aella castle is alarmingly amateurish... Whether it is the fault of the extras or how it was shot, I can`t decide...
It`s a pity, because the star power is great and so real(compared to MGM`s glossy IVANHOE from 1952.... Sadly... in MY MIND.. the last 30 minutes is a letdown and mind u: It could easily have been a trifle longer... the final scenes are much to hurried...
The featurette with Richard Fleischer is interesting, but sadly lacking behind-the-scenes footage... It looks that is was made in a hurry. |
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