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Amazon.co.uk Review
Kirk Douglas produced the trendsetting barbarian epic The Vikings and took the showiest, most aggressive role: lusty Viking Prince Einar, the "only son in wedlock" of King Ragnar (a cackling, wild-eyed Ernest Borgnine). With jagged scars down his face and a milky-white blind eye that almost glows in his skull, Douglas has a rowdy time battling defiant slave Tony Curtis (the long-lost heir to the British throne) for the hand of the beautiful princess Janet Leigh. It's pure Hollywood hokum, sure, but spectacular hokum: the great cinematographer Jack Cardiff turns his Norway locations into a lush Valhalla on earth. Faced with an absurd story, journeyman director Richard Fleischer goes for the gusto in brawling Viking parties, furious sieges, and clanging broadsword battles. An enormous hit, the film spawned a huge wave of Viking movies, some perhaps smarter but none as much fun. --Sean Axmaker
Special Features
English
Region 2
Region 2
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In many ways this film was ahead of its time. Kirk Douglas took a talented cast including Tony Curtis (on top form), Ernest Borgnine (proving why he won an oscar for Marty) Janet leigh (in screaming form)out to England and Norway to film this extensive epic. And what a treat this adventure is. from the mock Bayeau Tapestry opening. Rapes, Battles, Intrigue, Bags of Testostrone conflict and a tremendous morality tale of how a mans misdeeds can wreck his family. This film is full of scenes that stick in the mind. Viking homecomings and departures. A witch turning the tide by calling on Odins Valkyries. Ragnar literally forced to the pit. Limb lopping. Classic Boddice Ripping, Odins test for faithless wives and a great battle staged over a real castle.
its bloody! Its harsh! and its totally entertaining.
its bloody! Its harsh! and its totally entertaining.
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I saw this film at the cinema when I was seven or eight years old. It set me on along a path in which history has dominated my life. In time I became a teacher of history and now own and operate a holiday company that specialises in historical tours. A few years ago I happened, by pure chance, to visit a castle in Northern Brittany and suddenly realised that this was where the final fight scene from "The Vikings" had been filmed. After forty-odd years I had come full circle. So, do I like the film? Well it is very corney and inaccurate, but seeing it as a little boy inspired my love history. Enough said.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
What a rattling good yarn this is. And not just that - a rattlingly well-made yarn, too. What the plot lacks in originality, it makes up for in detail. It was a pet project of Kirk Douglas who produced and made room for friends, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis is the cast. Stunning location photography from the great Jack Cardiff makes the most of locations in Norway (Geiranger Fjord?) for the Vikings home village, Brittany for the anachronistic castle used for the siege at the end of the film, and Germany. Richard Fleischer is the excellent director who keeps things moving at a cracking pace and makes the most of the set pieces. He spent more than a year on pre-production, seeking to get historical authenticity into the film (at least by Hollywood standards). They even built three 'authentic' longboats and these almost become extra starring members of the cast. Fleischer had worked with Douglas before on 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and was to work with Curtis later on the Boston Strangler
Kirk Douglas and Ernie Borgnine give rip-roaring, scenery-chewing performances as the Viking royalty. Douglas looks inordinately pleased with himself, doing his own stunts like running along the oars of the longboat. Tony Curtis has the slightly more thankless role of Erik, but acquits himself well without any resorts to the likes of his famous "Yonder lies the cassle of my fadder"! His wife, Janet Leigh, has little to do but to look pretty (successful) and Welsh (less successful). The Australian actor, Frank Thring, is wonderfully oily and cowardly as the English King, Aella. The upright Senior British Officer from the Great Escape, James Donald, is here the duplicitous Saxon, Egbert. Was this movie an early example of Hollywood finding the English the easiest people to make the villains of a piece?
The film, though discreet about blood, is actually pretty violent for its time. It's all in the direction and the editing, but eyes being ripped out, hands lopped off, etc. are quite strong stuff. The set-piece battles, particularly the vertiginous climactic sword-fight at the end, are classics. The top-shot of Einar's body being walked round the ramparts of the castle seems like a homage to the finale of Olivier's Hamlet, but none the less effective for that. And his traditional Viking funeral as the burning longboat sails into the sunset was surely at the back of John Boorman's mind when he shot the end of Excalibur.
There are many worse ways to while away a couple of hours than this classic 50's swashbuckler.
Kirk Douglas and Ernie Borgnine give rip-roaring, scenery-chewing performances as the Viking royalty. Douglas looks inordinately pleased with himself, doing his own stunts like running along the oars of the longboat. Tony Curtis has the slightly more thankless role of Erik, but acquits himself well without any resorts to the likes of his famous "Yonder lies the cassle of my fadder"! His wife, Janet Leigh, has little to do but to look pretty (successful) and Welsh (less successful). The Australian actor, Frank Thring, is wonderfully oily and cowardly as the English King, Aella. The upright Senior British Officer from the Great Escape, James Donald, is here the duplicitous Saxon, Egbert. Was this movie an early example of Hollywood finding the English the easiest people to make the villains of a piece?
The film, though discreet about blood, is actually pretty violent for its time. It's all in the direction and the editing, but eyes being ripped out, hands lopped off, etc. are quite strong stuff. The set-piece battles, particularly the vertiginous climactic sword-fight at the end, are classics. The top-shot of Einar's body being walked round the ramparts of the castle seems like a homage to the finale of Olivier's Hamlet, but none the less effective for that. And his traditional Viking funeral as the burning longboat sails into the sunset was surely at the back of John Boorman's mind when he shot the end of Excalibur.
There are many worse ways to while away a couple of hours than this classic 50's swashbuckler.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
wrong ratio on box
love this film and was a little concerned about the film ratio it says on the box its a 4.3 fullframe which in todays widescreen world is.. to put it bluntly crap... Read more
Published 24 days ago by movieman
A must have!!
I had this classic on VHS, but it was getting worn out as it was well used-DVD is now the must have!! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. M. K. Johnson
A Right & Enjoyable Rollicking!
To my mind, The Vikings features some of the most sumptuous and atmospheric cinematography ever put onto celluloid. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tim Kidner
The Vikings
I spent a very good afternoon watching the Vikings. For my father it was great nostalgia and the rest of the family enjoyed watching it with him.
Published 4 months ago by murray field
Rugged pillaging in the offering.
Unknown to both men, warrior Einar and disgraced slave Eric, are in fact half-brothers. As the kingdom of Northumbria becomes ripe for the taking, both men, with a fancy for... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Spike Owen
MYyodel shipping amazon products = fail
I am a long time buyer from amazon and have just learned that ANY products that ship from Jersey depot will be using MyYodel as the shipping company which is 'useless' they tell... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. S. gilbert
A Classic Adventure
The Vikings is a fantastic adventure with a great cast, including Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Ernest Borginine. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mrs. Marilyn A. Rice
The Vikings (DVD) 1958
Konnichiwa
Great Story, Great Acting, Great Music, Great Action - lots of stars - a GREAT Film!
The best film made about the Vikings - dont miss it.
Sayonara
Great Story, Great Acting, Great Music, Great Action - lots of stars - a GREAT Film!
The best film made about the Vikings - dont miss it.
Sayonara
Published 15 months ago by Adam
The Vikings Hollywood Style.
This is a good time filler if you don't take History too seriously, Holywoods attempt to bring to life a rather nasty piece of England and Norways past. Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by A. Tomlinson
Brilliant
I just love this film, always have and time does not deminish this. Great acting, brilliant story and wonderful locations - what more can you ask for.
Published on 22 Jan 2010 by GG
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