The Vikings (1958)

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Calder Willingham (screenplay)
Dale Wasserman (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

28 June 1958 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | War

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:

Viking | Warrior | Princess | Main Character Dies | Duel

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

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
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Almut Berg	...	Pigtails (uncredited)
Kelly Curtis	...	Young Girl (uncredited)
Peter Douglas	...	Young Boy (uncredited)
Georges Guéret	...	Viking Warrior (uncredited)
Paul Préboist	...	Extra (uncredited)
Orson Welles	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Fleischer

Writing credits
Calder Willingham		(screenplay)
Dale Wasserman		(adaptation)
Edison Marshall		(novel "The Viking")

Produced by
Jerry Bresler	....	producer
Lee Katz	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Mario Nascimbene

Cinematography by
Jack Cardiff		(photographed by)

Production Design by
Harper Goff

Makeup Department
John O'Gorman	....	makeup artist
Gabriella Reggiani	....	hair stylist
Vasco Reggiani	....	hair stylist
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Julien Derode	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
André Smagghe	....	assistant director (as Andre Smagghe)
Elmo Williams	....	second unit director

Sound Department
Joseph de Bretagne	....	sound (as Jo de Bretagne)
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Stunts
Ken Buckle	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Cooper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Powell	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Sharpe	....	stunt double: Tony Curtis (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Walter Wottitz	....	photographer: second unit
George Pink	....	technicolor technician (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Elmo Williams	....	editorial supervisor

Music Department
Franco Ferrara	....	conductor: orchestra
Mario Nascimbene	....	music arranger
Gerard Schurmann	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Harper Goff	....	assistant to producer
Christian Ferry	....	location manager (uncredited)
Lucie Lichtig	....	continuity (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Bavaria Film
• Brynaprod S.A.
• Curtleigh Productions

Distributors

• United Artists (1958) (USA) (theatrical) (as A United Artists Release)
• United Artists (1958) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1958) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1964) (USA) (TV) (original airing) (pan/scan)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• United Artists Films (1959) (Finland) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• UPA Pictures Inc.  animation prologue by (as UPA Pictures Inc)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:A (original rating) (passed with cuts) | UK:PG (tv rating) | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 (re-rating) | Norway:16 (original rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:PG (video rating) (1993) (1994) | West Germany:12 (nf) | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Bavaria Filmstudios, Geiselgasteig, Grünwald, Bavaria, Germany

Company:

Bavaria Film

Trivia:

The three Viking ships in the film were designed using blueprints for an actual Viking ship salvaged from the water and restored by a Viking museum in Norway. It turned out that the boats built for the film were too accurate, because the modern actors were taller than their historical counterparts. Every other oar hole had to be plugged so the modern men would have room to row with a full oar stroke. Otherwise, they would hit the backs of the oarsmen seated in front of them when pushing the oar handles forward to start each new stroke.

Goofs:

Continuity: When tony Curtis is about to face down Aella, he drives his sword into a Briton, which comes back up into shot covered in blood. Immediately afterwards he charges into the tower, but his sword is clean..

Quotes:

Einar:Hail Ragnar! And hail Ragnar's beard!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Creating the Ultimate Beowulf (2008) (V)

An exciting, rugged, unusual film presented with zest and thoughtfulness.

When I was a kid, I loved this film. I saw it again as an adult and was surprised by how well it held up. It may not be technically correct in some details, but I really believe it captures the spirit and flavor of the times it depicts better than most films of this genre. The plot is intricate, the script is well-written, the acting is delightful, the direction absolutely solid. The characters are complex and the actors were not afraid to represent people who are flawed, but for that very reason you end up liking them all the more. Beautifully filmed and with an evocative musical score. From the very beginning of the credits, you know you're going to love it. It's the kind of action film that they do not make anymore. Why is this film NOT available? That is a shame when there are so many less worthy films around.