The Vikings (1958)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Edison Marshall (novel)
Dale Wasserman (adaptation)

Release Date:

28 June 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Tagline:

Mightiest Of Men... Mightiest Of Spectacles... Mightiest Of Motion Pictures!

Plot:

Einar and Eric are two Viking half-brothers. The former is a great warrior whilst the other is an ex-slave...

Plot Keywords:

Warrior | Princess | Viking | Funeral Pyre | Stabbed In The Chest

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Sun. Nov. 22

10:00 PM

TCM

Cast

Kirk Douglas	...	Einar
Tony Curtis	...	Eric
Ernest Borgnine	...	Ragnar
Janet Leigh	...	Morgana
James Donald	...	Egbert
Alexander Knox	...	Father Godwin
Maxine Audley	...	Enid
Frank Thring	...	Aella
Eileen Way	...	Kitala
Edric Connor	...	Sandpiper
Dandy Nichols	...	Bridget
Per Buckhøj	...	Bjorn

Also Known As:

:The Vikings: (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:16 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Brittany, France

Company:

Brynaprod S.A.

Trivia:

Stuntmen had practiced for weeks for the oar walking scenes. Kirk Douglas told director Richard Fleischer that he could do it and did several times. At one point when he did fall in the icy water he calmly swam over to the camera boat and asked if they had gotten good shots. He then swam back to the Viking longboat. Fleischer noted they were watching and filming an activity that had not been done in a thousand years.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Einar jumps into his small rowboat at night, the boat is still tied to the wharf, yet in the next shot it is untied and sailing properly.

Quotes:

Eric: Let's not question our flesh for wanting to remain flesh.

Movie Connections:

Edited into Totem (1999) (V)

An excellent film with marvelous scenery and terrific acting.

Ernie Borgnine, playing the viking father of Kirk Douglas but actually very close in age, does a marvelous job in this film. I have seen this film many times and each time I am more impressed than the last time. Also, the beautiful scenery sets a background for the sea scenes and the home location of the Vikings. The Fjords, hills and waterfalls are so very beautiful. I especially enjoyed the final battle scene where Einar and Eric are fighting on the top of a castle tower where it looked as if any slight false move would have both of them and the camera operator tumbling down to an awful demise. I highly recommend this film to those who enjoy watching Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Ernest Borgnine and the others.