THE VIKINGS (1958)

[Scott]

Just viewed THE VIKINGS (1958) starring Kurt Douglas, Tony Curtis, Earnest Borgnine, and Janet Liegh. Its in color and not bad, but I just couldn't get into it last night. You get a good taste of Viking life with some nice ships and a castle battle at the end. Its seems to be filmed in Norway or somewhere in Scandinavia and I think Douglas also directs or produced it in some way. I had to rent it because of a scene I remembered as a youth were they are coming through the fog in their ship and I always wanted to know more about the film. Not sure this is the film even, but it probably is. Can anyone think of any other Viking films of this cinema time period?

[BoyScoutKevin]

Yeah, that's the one. ". . . of this cinema time period?" Are you talking about Viking movies made around 1958 or just Viking movies in general?
If you are talking about the former, there is "Prince Violent" and "Saga of the Viking Women . . ." The title goes on from there. Neither of which I have seen.
If you are talking about the latter, there is . . . and in the order in which I enjoyed them "Prince Valiant," 1954 version; "The 13th Warrior;" "Island at the Top of the World," which is reviewed at this site; "Prince Valiant," 1997 version; "Erik the Viking," a comedy; "The Long Ships;" and "The Norseman."
The last is a really bad, "bad" movie. You know it is bad, when it stars Lee Majors playing a Viking called Thorvald. Other then that, it has a pretty decent cast in Cornel Wilde, Mel Ferrer, Jack Elam, Christopher Connelly, Deacon Jones, Denny Miller, and Fred Biletnikoff.
Enjoy, them all, including "The Norseman."
Kirk Douglas has acted as producer and/or director on some of his films, but, as far as I can tell, he only acted in this one.
As for filming locations, yes, it was filmed in Norway, also Germany and Brittany, France, more specifically, Fort La Latte, Cotes d'Armor.

[Scott]

Thanks BoyScoutKevin. I think I have seen part of the Lee Major viking movie. I'll keep my eye out for the others as well. 13TH WARRIOR is a good film in my opinion. ISLAND AT THE TOP OF THE WORLD sounds interesting. I have always liked reading or seeing something about vikings.

[Gerry]

Hey!  I just got this DVD for Christmas!  Great movie.  Lots of good action scenes.

Who knew Ernie Borgnine could do such a great job as a Viking Chief/King/Whatever?

The only objection I have to it is that Tony Curtis wears short-shorts for most of the movie.  Ew!

[Scott]

You can hardly tell that is Borgnine and Curtis in this movie. Borgnine most notably.

[Gerry]

Except of that distinctive voice.  Funny thing was I had just seen Borgnine in THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, so I kept thinking--'that's not Ragnar...that's Rogo!'