Mightiest Of Men... Mightiest Of Spectacles... Mightiest Of Motion Pictures!
Einar, brutal son of the viking Ragnar and future heir to his throne, tangles with clever slave Eric, for the hand of a beautiful English maiden.
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Character
Classical in form, effortless, resolved and earnest.
- classical in formformally daring
- effortlessdemanding
- resolvedopen-ended
- earnestironic
- unpretentiousprestige
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“Is Kirk Douglas the best thing in The Vikings?”
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“Is this Richard Fleischer's best work?”
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“Would The Vikings hit harder if it came out today rather than in 1958?”
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- CinemaSerfon TMDB · Jun 20247/10
This is one of these films that I can watch time and time again - it is Hollywood at it's best. Historical shmorical, that doesn't matter - it is a quickly paced action adventure with a strong cast delivering an enjoyable to watch drama. It all starts when some marauding Vikings deprive the English of their King. That leaves their kingdom in the hands of the malevolent King "Aella" (Frank Thring) who cottons on quite quickly that he has traitor in his midst - and that'd be "Egbert" (James Donald) who manages to flee to King "Ragnar" (Ernest Borgnine) and his handsome son "Einar" (Kirk Douglas) for who he promises to draw maps facilitating further raids on the terrified English. It is whilst showing off his hawking skills to their new guest that Douglas encounters the slave "Eric" (Tony Curtis) and after a tussle involving who's got the best bird - he becomes "one-Einar" and but for a timely intervention from Odin, that could have been the end for the young slave... Meantime, the maps have provided their first harvest - the Princess "Morgana" (Janet Leigh) who is betrothed to "Aella" and so is a valuable hostage. Curtis manages to escape with the young woman and her feisty handmaide
Read the whole review on TMDB - John Chardon TMDB · Jan 20198/10
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 Princess Morganna, are heading for the revelation right in amongst their bitter rivalry. Kirk Douglas (Einar) and Tony Curtis (Eric) would both re-team for Spartacus two years after this sword and sandal swasher had hit the screens in 1958. That Spartacus is considerably a better film all told is a given, but The Vikings stands up well as an entertaining precursor to that Thracien slave classic. Based on the novel of the same name written by Edison Marshall, The Vikings makes up for what it lacks in authenticity with sheer gusto enhanced sword swishing adventure. These Vikings may not totally convince as mead swigging, women chasing, pillagers of England, yet running along side Mario Nascimbene's terrific score and Jack Cardiff's excellent photography (the Norway location scenes are breath taking), it doesn't take much for the discerning genre fan to get swept away in it all. Douglas and Curtis give it a good blast, while Janet Leigh as Morganna perks her breasts out and actual
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Cast
- Kirk DouglasEinar
- Tony CurtisEric
- Ernest BorgnineRagnar
- Janet LeighMorgana
- James DonaldLord Egbert
- Alexander KnoxFather Godwin
- Maxine AudleyEnid
- Frank ThringAella
- Eileen WayKitala
- Edric ConnorSandpiper
Crew
- Richard FleischerDirector
- Calder WillinghamScreenplay
- Edison MarshallNovel
- Jack CardiffDirector of Photography
- Mario NascimbeneOriginal Music Composer
- Jerry BreslerProducer
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
The Black Pirate 192688% alikeBoth classical in form, earnest, resolved.
Dodge City 193984% alikeBoth classical in form, resolved, earnest.
The Comancheros 196184% alikeBoth classical in form, resolved, earnest.
The 13th Warrior 199983% alikeBoth classical in form, resolved, earnest.
The Professionals 196683% alikeBoth classical in form, effortless, resolved.
Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger 197783% alikeBoth classical in form, resolved, earnest.
Mackenna's Gold 196982% alikeBoth classical in form, earnest, grave.
Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. 195181% alikeBoth classical in form, resolved, earnest.
Astro Boy 196380% alikeTelevision · Both classical in form, earnest, effortless.
ULTRAMAN 201975% alikeTelevision · Both classical in form, resolved, epic.
Often watched with
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