Erik the Viking (1989)

Director:

Terry Jones

Writer:

Terry Jones (written by)

Release Date:

22 September 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Adventure | Fantasy

Tagline:

Be there... or beheaded!

Plot:

Erik the Viking gathers warriors from his village and sets out on a dangerous journey to Valhalla, to...

Plot Keywords:

Viking | Gods | Father Son Relationship | Betrayal | Blacksmith

Cast

Tim Robbins	...	Erik
Mickey Rooney	...	Erik's Grandfather
Eartha Kitt	...	Freya
Terry Jones	...	King Arnulf
Imogen Stubbs	...	Princess Aud
John Cleese	...	Halfdan the Black
Tsutomu Sekine	...	Slavemaster
Antony Sher	...	Loki
Gary Cady	...	Keitel Blacksmith
Charles McKeown	...	Sven's Dad
Tim McInnerny	...	Sven the Berserk
John Gordon Sinclair	...	Ivar the Boneless
Richard Ridings	...	Thorfinn Skullsplitter
Freddie Jones	...	Harald the Missionary
Samantha Bond	...	Helga

Also Known As:

Erik viking (Sweden)

Runtime:

107 min | 79 min (director's cut)

Country:

UK | Sweden

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #29792) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12/9 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | West Germany:12 | UK:15 (video rating) | UK:12 (original rating) | Finland:S (cut version) (video release)

Filming Locations:

Lee International Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

KB Erik the Viking

Trivia:

First cinema film of Samantha Bond.

Goofs:

Continuity: Erik runs through waist-deep water to get on shore to get the Cloak Invisible. When he arrives in Aud's bedchamber minutes later, his pants are completely dry.

Quotes:

Erik: Ooh! Scary! Scary! Don't we look mean? You can't see me! But I can see you!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Comedy Connections: Ripping Yarns (#6.4)" (2008)

Beautifully done!

Right, so judging by the 5.7 score this film has, I realise I'm in a minority here... Well I'm sorry, but this is such a wonderful film! The story is great, the cast is fantastic, effects are good, soundtrack is lovely, and excluding the first fifteen minutes, which are crucial for the storyline, it is hilarious throughout! Unlike other Python films, this one is real, with no silly cartoon bits in the middle and a much more intelligent humour. Much better than The Holy Grail, that had a rubbish end to it.

Well done Terry, it's a great shame that not more viewers have come across Eric The Viking, or didn't like it as much (I have a feeling that many of them were expecting a typical Python film).