Gli invasori (1961)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Mario Bava

Writers:

Mario Bava (story)
Oreste Biancoli (story)

Release Date:

12 June 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Plot:

In the 9th Century, two Viking children, separated since their early childhood with one raised by the British and the other by Vikings...

Plot Keywords:

Viking | 9th Century | Beach | Castle | Violence

Cast

Cameron Mitchell	...	Eron
Alice Kessler	...	Rama
Ellen Kessler	...	Daya
George Ardisson	...	Erik, Duke of Helford (as Giorgio Ardisson)
Andrea Checchi	...	Sir Rutford
Jean-Jacques Delbo	...	Olaf (as Jacques Delbò)
Franco Giacobini	...	Rustichello
Raf Baldassarre	...	Blak (as Raffaele Baldassarre)
Enzo Doria	...	Bennet
Gianni Solaro	...	Ranco
Franco Ressel	...	King Lotar
Livia Contardi	...	Hadda
Folco Lulli	...	Harald, Viking king
Françoise Christophe	...	Queen Alice (as Françoise Cristophe)

Also Known As:

Erik the Conqueror (USA)
Fury of the Vikings (UK)
La ruée des Vikings (France)
The Invaders

Runtime:

90 min | France:80 min | Italy:98 min | Spain:85 min | UK:89 min | USA:81 min

Country:

Italy | France

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (uncut) (1974) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1963) | West Germany:12 (f) (cut version) | West Germany:16 (nf) (original rating) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Titanus Appia Studios, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Galatea Film

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the vine bridge breaks, Eron grabs the vines and swings toward the rocky wall of the chasm. At the moment of the impact, the "rocky" surface wobbles visibly.

Quotes:

Eron: In death, I have but one companion: my sword.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Il trionfo di Ercole (1964)

Bava's Epic Viking Masterpiece!

ERIK THE CONQUEROR is a superb Viking saga set in the year 786 off the rocky coast of the British Isles. Anglo-Saxon protectors have vanquished the Scandinavian hordes with utter treachery & ferocity led by the evil Duke Helfort (a villainous portrayal by Andrea Checchi). Two tiny blond boys, Aaron & Erik, are left floundering on the sandy beach. One of them (Erik) is taken away by the English Queen (he lovely Francoise Christophe). The other, Aaron, is left to be raised by fellow Norsemen. The two boys bear identical dragon tatooes. Twenty years later the Vikings decide to avenge themselves, led by the now-adult Aaron (Cameron Mitchell at his finest!) Erik (Giorgio Ardisson at his finest!) has been crowned monarch of England and must face the feared Vikings for supremacy. Though Helfort is somewhat older he still covets power and attempts to sway the outcome of the final battle in his favor. Mario Bava is at his best as director and cinematographer in this, his first film since the celebrated BLACK SUNDAY. Art direction on this film is outstanding with sets basking virtually in golds, neon crimsons, icy cobalt blues and forest greens (color by Technicolor!) In an interview with the distinguished film historian David Del Valle, Cameron Mitchell related many stories about the making of ERIK along with declaring Bava's genius at trick photographic effects. Required viewing for Bavaphiles and aficionados of epic cinema. Dazzling!