Erik the Viking (1989)

Erik the Viking and his men travel across the sea to find Valhalla to ask the gods to end the Age of Ragnarok.

Director:

Terry Jones

Writer:

Terry Jones

Stars:

Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Erik the Viking gathers warriors from his village and sets out on a dangerous journey to Valhalla, to ask the gods to end the Age of Ragnorok and allow his people to see sunlight again. A Pythonesque satire of Viking life.

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Plot Keywords:

viking | gods | ragnarok | written and directed by cast member | sinking ship | 

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Taglines:

Be there... or beheaded!

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Genres:

Comedy | Adventure | Fantasy

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

UK Sweden

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

22 September 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Erik el vikingo

Filming Locations:

Lee International Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Gross:

$1,932,642 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

KB Erik the Viking, Prominent Features, Svensk Filmindustri (SF)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min 79 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Writer/Director Terry Jones is also the author of a children's novel called 'The Saga Of Erik the Viking', although the plot lines of the movie and the book have nothing more in common than the same-named titular characters.

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Goofs

As the ship is flung a great distance by the dragon, some of the Vikings fall out. This wouldn't happen, since they're following the same parabolic trajectory as the ship.

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Quotes

Halfdan the Black: [to his henchmen] Er, just cut his hand off.
Prisoner: Oh, Thank you my lord! Thank you a million thanks yous. You can cut them both off if you want! Thank you very much.

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Crazy Credits

This film also does not involve SPAM. This will hurt Hormel's sales.

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Connections

Referenced in Behind the Director's Son's Cut (2007)

User Reviews

Lots of fun and a little bit of hidden depth

In true Python alum fashion, this movie is rewatchable (despite what Maltin says) and a lot of fun each time you watch it. Tim Robbins does his usual good job in a light-hearted but sensitive role; and possibly the best line of the movie is John Cleese's reaction to Robbins when Robbins *believes* himself to be invisible, declaring: "Now you see me, now you don't!" Cleese's reaction has me laughing out loud every time.

Behind all the fun and games, though, Terry Jones has done some pretty darn clever commentary on belief systems and epistemology; the fact that you can only be affected by that particular brand of magic in which you believe is a strong idea which rings nicely throughout the movie. (The addition of the priest character drives the point home nicely.) Interesting ideas, which I'd bet are ignored by most people just out for a good time (which is okay too, since it's a funny movie).