The Viking (1928)

Vikings compete for power and the love of a woman.

Director:

Roy William Neill (as R. William Neill)

Writers:

Jack Cunningham (screen play), Ottilie A. Liljencrantz (based on the novel by: "The Thrall of Leif the Lucky")

Stars:

Donald Crisp, Pauline Starke, LeRoy Mason

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Donald Crisp	...	Leif Ericsson
Pauline Starke	...	Helga Nilsson
LeRoy Mason	...	Alwin
Anders Randolf	...	Eric the Red (as Anders Randolph)
Richard Alexander	...	Sigurd
Harry Woods	...	Egil (as Harry Lewis Woods)
Albert MacQuarrie	...	Kark
Roy Stewart	...	King Olaf
Torben Meyer	...	Odd
Claire McDowell	...	Lady Editha (as Claire MacDowell)
Julia Swayne Gordon	...	Thorhild

Storyline

Yes, it's true, an all color silent movie! The title refers to Leif Ericsson, who leaves Norway to search for new lands west of Greenland. On the way he vies for the love of Helga with his companion Egil and Alwin, an English slave. More conflict arises when he stops at the colony of his father (Eric the Red) in Greenland, for Leif has converted to Christianity, which his father hates. He also has to deal with the unrest of his crew, who fear falling off the edge of the Earth.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to thor | crucifix | reference to eric the red | reference to leif ericson | slave | 

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Taglines:

A 100% Technicolor production. (Herald).

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | History

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 1928 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Teufel der Nordsee

Filming Locations:

Newport Tower, Newport, Rhode Island, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$325,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Technicolor

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Silent (music score and sound effects)

Color:

Color (2-strip Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the film opened at the Embassy Theatre in New York City 28 November 1928 it was still silent and was accompanied by a live orchestral accompaniment. In December 1928 a musical score was recorded, sound-on-disc, and this was the version distributed by MGM in 1929.

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Goofs

Viking women did not shave their underarms, nor wear the strapless bustiers shown in the film.

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Quotes

Leif Ericsson: Helga Nilsson - you should know better than to whip a man like that!

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Crazy Credits

The title card bills the three stars in the order Pauline Starke [top billing], Donald Crisp [second billing], and Le Roy Mason [third billing]. But the opening credits end with "The Players" listed in the order: first "Leif Erickson ... Donald Crisp," second "Helga . . . Pauline Starke, third "Alwin . . . Le Roy Mason," etc. The characters appear on screen in the order Alwin, Helga, and Leif Erickson.

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Soundtracks

Steersmen's Chorus
From "The Flying Dutchman"
Music and lyrics by Richard Wagner
Sung on board Leif Ericsson's Viking ship

User Reviews

The Original Rhode Island Reds

"A thousand years ago, long before any white man set foot on the American shore, Viking sea rovers sailed out of the north and down the waterways of the world." "These were men of might, who laughed in the teeth of the tempest, and leaped into battle with a song." "Plundering - ravaging - they raided the coast of Europe - until the whole world trembled at the very name… "THE VIKINGS!"

"Looking out upon the North Sea from the cliffs of England, stood the castle of young Lord Alwin, Earl of Northunbria." Here, good-looking young LeRoy Mason (as Alwin) and his subjects hope their Christian faith will protect them from Viking marauders - but the Lord has other plans for this group (and, you'll know what God has in mind when you see the placement of Christian crosses in North America). The looting and killing Vikings ravage Mr. Mason's English castle. Valuables are taken to Norway, where able-bodied men and women are sold into slavery.

Mason is purchased, for three pieces of silver, by beautiful red-haired "sea rover" Pauline Starke (as Helga Nilsson). The comely Viking lass is obviously buying slave Mason with sexual pleasures in mind, and throws him some lusty looks. Mason proves to be too spirited and independent for Ms. Starke to control, and he is given to guardian Donald Crisp (as Leif Ericsson), the famed Viking leader. A courageous Christian-converted warrior, Mr. Crisp hopes to claim Starke as his bride. But, handsome Harry Lewis Woods (as Egil the Black) is also in love with Starke.

This love quadrangle goes on Crisp's great seafaring adventure to discover, and claim, the "New World" for European conquerors - at the risk of falling off the edge of what they thought might be a very flat Earth. "The Viking" (it should have been titled "The Vikings") is briskly directed by R. William Neill, with moderate action throughout. Either he or Starke should be complimented (or condemned, if you will) for the movement of her character's legs, upon introduction; you don't see this often - and, it's… IN COLOR!

Specifically, "Technicolor" - which is this film's mail calling card. While not perfect, the color is strikingly well-preserved. As a bonus, it was made during the "silent film" era, and survives with its original synchronized sound effects score. This level of coloring was painstakingly produced, and was quite expensive. "The Viking" represents a peak in the art of color filmmaking.

******** The Viking (11/2/28) Roy William Neill ~ LeRoy Mason, Pauline Starke, Donald Crisp, Harry Woods