The Vikings (1958)

7.0Approved112 minDirector: Richard Fleischer

1958 film by Richard Fleischer

The Vikings is a 1958 American epic historical fiction swashbuckling film directed by Richard Fleischer, filmed in Technirama, and printed in Technicolor. It was produced by Jerry Bresler and Kirk Douglas (who also starred in the film), through Douglas' Brynaprod company. It is based on the 1951 novel The Viking by Edison Marshall, which in turn is based on material from the sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok and his sons. Other starring roles were taken by then husband-and-wife Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh as well as Ernest Borgnine. The film made notable use of natural locations in Norway. It was mostly filmed in Maurangerfjorden and Maurangsnes, captured on film by cinematographer Jack Cardiff, although Aella's castle was the real Fort-la-Latte in north-east Brittany in France.

Despite being derisively called a "Norse Opera" by New York Times critic Bosley Crowther, the film proved a major box office success and spawned the television series Tales of the Vikings, directed by the film's editor, Elmo Williams, which included none of the original cast or characters.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Vikings about?
The Vikings (1958) — Einar and Eric are two Viking half-brothers. The former is a great warrior whilst the other is an ex-slave, but neither knows the true identity of the other. When the throne of Northumbria in Britain becomes free for the taking, the two brothers compete against one another for th
Is The Vikings based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Vikings scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is The Vikings (1958) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex