Rating: 
Summary: Overlooked Classic Action Film finally on DVD
Review: "The Vikings" is one of the most overlooked and underrated historical action flms of all time. Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh and Ernest Borgnine star; Richard Fleischer ("Soylent Green", "10 Rillington Place", "The Boston Strangler", "Tora! Tora! Tora!", "Fantastic Voyage", "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea", "The Narrow Margin") directed; Jack Cardiff did the spectacularly breathtaking photography on location in Brittany and Norway; and there is an incredibly haunting score by Mario Nascimbene that I've never forgotten in the over 40 years since I first saw this film in a theater. And Orson Welles provides some astute narration to set the scene.
Ragnar (Borgnine) rapes British Queen Enid during a blood raid; she later gives birth to Eric, rightful heir to the throne. To protect Eric, Enid sends him away and he grows up to become a proud slave (Tony Curtis), and also the half brother of Einar (Douglas). Both fall for Princess Morgana (Leigh) and the inevitable climactic duel occurs atop a castle dizzingly staged and photographed by the aforementioned pros. But not before several bloody raids, gory battles and vulgar Viking rituals keep the action non-stop. Top this off with a heroic and moving Viking funeral and you've got everything an action fan could ask for. ... You are in for a real treat!
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Fun, not lots of plot.
Review: This is a movie that is a pleasure to see. Watching this film for the first time in years (and the DVD for the first time ever) I find myself comparing it to the latest star wars movie. ... Here we see great performances (particularly Ernest Borgnine then again I can't think of any role he didn't shine in.)not much of a plot and a Viking village built actually in Norway. We see Vikings at their drunken best and worst. We see comedy, ("Mine isn't too tight.") we see action, we see wild eyed witches with hair blowing in the wind. What is there not to like? The only disapointment I had was my own fault. It always seemed the picture was missing a scene or two, (particularly when Curtis first gets to England) I always figured the scenes were cut to fit into the TV's running time. Guess not. Much like the Crimson pirate, don't spend a lot of time thinking about this picture. Just watch and enjoy it. You'll be hard pressed not to.
Rating:
Summary: "Odin! Odin! Bring the wind and turn the tide!"
Review: I remember as a small child watching this magnificent epic adventure on the big screen at Rockefeller Center in New York, in 1958. The music in this film is truly magnificent and effectively reinforces the audience's emotional reactions to dramatic scenes. Three musical high points are particularly potent. First, when a Viking utilizes a mammoth tusk as a horn to welcome returning warriors; next: when a Valkarie's voice heralds the coming of the North Wind to save an important character; and finally, when an unseen choir sings the triumphant welcome of another important character into heavenly Valhalla.
Rating:
Summary: Superior Swashbuckler
Review: Historically, 'The Vikings' is largely nonsensical, from its title sequence misapprhension of the centuries-later Bayeux Tapestry to its hash of the succession to the throne of Northumberland. But this film is great good fun! - a superior swashbuckler with a sound plot, breathtaking art direction, costuming, sets, & cinemaphotography, & solid acting & direction. Kirk Douglas gives a menacing yet humane portrayal of the Viking prince Einar whose falcon-disfigured milky eye inspires fear & loathing. Tony Curtis is, as far as looks go, perhaps a bit miscast but his energetic, seething performance amply redeems his presence. Ernest Borginine's Ragnar is fabulous - and one should keep in mind that Borgnine gave Ragnar life long before this sort of Borgnine role later turned him into a caricature of himself; Ragnar gives the film terrific heart & vitality. Janet Leigh is just...beautiful, despite the script's relegation of her female lead role into what is chiefly a plot device to motivate the action scenes. James Donald succeeds at fleshing out his character, but some of his lines are the only clichés in the script & yet he manages to rise above them with his careful elocution. And the ever-malevolent, narrow-eyed Frank Thring (Pontius Pilate in 'Ben-Hur', & a creep in 'Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome') does yeoman service as the conniving, spineless pretender to the throne. Alexander Knox's small role as the priest isn't much dramatically, but it's pivotal in the plot development, & his diction is at its customary excellence. Also memorable is the rune-reading Viking woman saga-teller whose moonlit face & sepulchral voice in the tidal crab-nibbling scene give the plot & its Norsemen their spiritual anchor. The DVD's special features are interesting, informative, & enjoyable. The supporting cast of Norwegian unknowns, all of them hulking & sweaty & masculine & lusty, lends a muscular depth to the action sequences & even, suprisingly, to the dramatic ones. Norwegian fjords & their sparkling waters & towering precipices provide a majestic setting for the action. And the dénouement at the English castle is one of the finest mediaeval assault & swordplay sequences on film, rarely rivalled, as for example, by those in the Charlton Heston film 'The Warlord'. Most of all, who can forget the long ships? Painstakingly recreated from the best archaelogical evidence available at the time of filming, these rakish craft are in themselves stars of 'The Vikings' & they give ample evidence to why the Norsemen dominated the seas. The 'walking of the oars' sequence is not only unique, but it's one of the most enjoyable bits of all of cinema's swashbucklers. 'The Vikings' isn't history, but it sure is top-shelf entertainment chock full of style & panache. Kids & grown-ups will all enjoy its scenic majesty & full-blooded characerizations.
Rating:
Summary: Blimey! It's the Vikings!
Review: As many reviewers have observed, the best reaction to this movie is to sit back and enjoy it. Douglas and Borgnine are just great as comic-strip Vikings. Why Tony Curtis, perfect as "the cookie full of arsenic" in The Sweet Smell of Success, was ever thought suitable to play a slave-boy in sword epics like this and Spartacus, completely beats me. Janet Leigh, perfect in Psycho, is a little too 20th century for all this more general kind of blood and guts, but everything else is terrific, and most of it is almost authentic. A lot of the dialogue is superb: "I'm a lady, and I just won't row a boat to save my life". I can't remember the exact words. The scene where the wimpy Anglo-Saxon peasants vamoose the fields, crying "It's the Vikings, It's the Vikings" has remained memorable for 45 years. The DVD quality is excellent.
Rating:
Summary: UNDERWHELMING ACTION - NICE LOOKING TRANSFER!
Review: For some reason "The Vikings" is fondly remembered as one of the bloodiest films in cinema history - certainly from the 1950s. That's odd, because aside from Kirk Douglas getting his eye pecked out by a hawk (which is rather violently depicted) there are no other moments of extreme bloodshed in this film. Yes, there are epic battles, but these are all shot through the glamor and gauze of pre-Braveheart euphoria for guts and gruesome carnage. Douglas stars as Einar, an "I'm too sexy for my breast-plate" pin-up of a viking, whose way with the ladies is forever shattered when his face is deliberately disfigured by Eric's (Tony Curtis)pet bird. This attack stirs up a life-long hatred that is strengthened by both men's love of the princess (Janet Leigh). You would think with Norsman and kidnapped royalty the plot would be rather vibrant but actually its dull and uninspiring from this point onward.
TRANSFER: MGM gives us a handsome looking transfer. Colors are rich and vibrant. The travelogue footage of the Fiords is surrealisticly gorgeous. Black levels are solid. Contrast levels are bang on. Only occasionally does the original negative betray the vintage of the film. Age related artifacts are kept to a bare minimum. There is no edge enhancement, pixelization or shimmering of fine details in this presentation. The audio is MONO (I thought all Cinemascope films were stereophonic?!?)and somewhat of a disappointment. The audio is generally balanced though there are occasions where it seems muffled and lacking in treble tone.
EXTRAS: A featurette with the director, Richard Fleischer that is remarkably useful and engaging - if all too short.
BOTTOM LINE: It's not a great film but it is a fairly wonderful looking transfer. And hey, any film with Kirk Douglas is never all bad!
Rating: 
Summary: "Erik, he's your brother!!"
Review: While not a cinematic masterpiece, "The Vikings" does the job. My only problem is, in typical 50's fashion, it woefully over-simplifies things ("Vikings are simple, happy people who churn beer and flirt with their serving girls!") But whatever... it's still fun. Surprisingly, I first saw this movie when I was about twelve and it's actually a pretty good educational tool -- I learned a little bit about Norse gods (how can you not when they mention "Odin" every five minutes), what "Valhalla" is, and even a bit about the Vikings and their raiding techniques. The plot: Early in the movie, we see the Vikings pillage an English town (as the Vikings often did, along the English coast). Their chief, Ragnar, rapes the English queen and impregnates her. Since the baby (a boy) is illegitimate, the queen hands him over to a monk who can raise the child. Years later, we catch up with the son (Tony Curtis) who is now a full-grown man. He's been raised by monks but was captured while at sea and sold into slavery. Now, he is a slave of the Vikings. Erik is noble and proud. Einar (Kirk Douglas) is the spoiled, arrogant (yet somewhat likeable) son of the Viking chieftain, Ragnar. Erik and Einar are similar in age and their personalities clash. This group of Vikings soon kidnaps a Welsh princess (Vivian Leigh) in order to ransom her. However, Einar, having his pick of Viking "wenches", is intrigued by princess Morgana's rejection of his advances, not to mention her stunning beauty. Simultaneously, Eric also falls for her, and she for him, despite their "class" differences. HOWEVER, this wouldn't be a fun 50's time-piece without a dramatic twist! Remember that Eric is no mere slave, he is a prince and, even better, does not know it! (The necklace he wears, given to him by his mother, proves it.) The story picks up from here and I won't ruin the ending but it culminates in the classic line uttered by an anguished Morgana: "Eric, he's your brother!!!" Enjoy! P.S. The acting is A standard...
Rating:
Summary: "Hail Ragnar and hail Ragnar's beard!"
Review: This is probably one my favorite films made in 1957,I saw this on
channel 9 repeatedly the 70's and I still own all the different versions
that MGM/UA put out in vhs tape. The DVD version is the perfect way
to see this film over again. The story based partly on actual event
concerns the tale and plight of the mighty viking clans as they set
out on their missions of invading nearby english lands. One such invasion concerns to rape of an English queen by Ragnar
the viking chief. With her king's death and no heir to the king's
thrown the evil Prince Egberg takes control.But the queen IS with
child, Eric the unborn son of Ragnar. Fearing for the child's
safety she sends him away where later as a man he becomes a slave
and by faith crosses paths with Icnar, son of Ragner. The viking
half brothers get into it from the first moment and an incident
occurs that ruins Icnar's face and subjects Eric to certain death Known more for it's lush Cinematography on actual Norway Location
The Viking's is great"old style" entertainment with a great cast
including Kirk douglas,Tony Curtis,Ernest Borgnine & Janet Leigh
Kirk's oar walk,The ax braid toss and storming of the castle are
are a few of the highlights, but for me it will always be finale
sword fight between Eric and Icnar overlooking the stunning view
of the coastline.My favorite duel behind Adventures of Robin Hood
The disc brings out all the film's widescreen technicolor wonder
for the first time with a clearness unmatched by that of the old
vhs standard. The featurette also lends ear to the great detail
of the ships design and the hardships of working on locale in no
too favorable conditions. Someday MGM/UA will stop being so lazy
and start putting in inserts like they use to (example:Vera Cruz)
"Odinn,Odinn send the wind and change the tide!"
Rating:
Summary: Based on history-but who cares?
Review: This is a "popcorn" movie- one of those movies you just see and enjoy. In other words, don't think too much about the plot or the accuracy of what you are seeing. The story of the movie is based on an old saga- or legend to be rest accurate. There was a real Ragnar. He lived around 850 A.D. He was said to have been captured and executed by an English king- supposedly a king of Northumbria by the name of Aiella- just like in the movie. Ragnar's sons came to England to get revenge- just like in the movie. Unlike the movie, the sons were Ivar the Boneless (rather than Einar), Halfdan, and Ubbe. They were real- they were part of the Great Army that took over half of England and which was finally stopped by Alfred the Great. The ships in the movie are beautiful. (We have a "real" one in Geneva, IL- a replica of one of the ships that is now in the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo. The replica was actually part of the Norwegian exhibit at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.) Unfortunately, there are only three ships in the movie. Too bad the movie wasn't made today. Computer graphics could have turned three ships into 300! (-which is probably closer to what the real Einar (Ivar) had.) The castle is out of place- stone castles didn't come to England until the Normans in 1066. (The Normans were actually "transplanted" Vikings= Normandy is really the land of the Nor(se)men.) The only "castles" in England before the Normans were made of earth and wood. The assault on the castle is spectacular, though, and the Vikngs are shown as an inventive people- which is consistent with history. Michael Douglas is actually in this movie! He's one of the children who flee to the castle when the Vikings land. All those nice Viking warriors were real Norwegians who trained for months to handle the longships- part of the movie was actually filmed in Norway. A good part of the way into filming, the Vikings demanded a raise. Kirk asked his people if they had enough footage to complete the movie. They did- so Kirk packed up his company, and went back to England, and left behind some very surprised Norwegians! After the movie came out, Kirk had all of those cool swords and shields and other props left over, so he decided to produce a TV series= "Tales of the Vikings". It was on the air, I think, in 1959 or 1960= lasted one year. Now that's something I'd like to see on DVD! Obviously, I'm a big Viking history buff. As I said, the movie isn't really historically accurate, but it's still one of my favorite movies.
Rating:
Summary: Take Your Magic Elsewhere, Holy Man
Review: You might pause before watching a movie featuring Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis and Ernest Borgnine as Vikings... I know I did before my old pal Sean MacFalls turned me on to this fabulous little epic. This movie has it all: wicked royalty, a damsel in distress, castles to be stormed, long boats cruising through stunning widescreen fjords, and a rousing, majestic score. Kirk Douglas is especially fine as the good/bad protagonist (he was on the career streak that started with "Lust for Life" and ended with his beautiful work in "Strangers When We Meet"). Whether shrugging off a torn-out eye or skipping across the oars of a Viking ship, he does what only a great actor can: he shows the nobility in savagery and makes you laugh along with him. A great, great movie.
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