Movie "The Vikings"

[DaGOOSExyz]

TCM ran the movie "The Vikings" the other night. It came
out in the late 50's or early 60's I believe. I had seen it a
couple of times but it has been a very long time. I had forgotten
what a good movie it is. All of the actors in it are very good
and so are the stunts and trick photos. All done long before
it was done by computers. I wish they still made movies like that. I also like the music from it.

 

[Alpo]

Loved the theme.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gays7kImkT4

 

[Texas Star]

I saw that years ago and liked it. But is this the Viking movie where they didn't have scabbards for the swords? That seemed like a poor way to save money on the budget and made the show seem inauthentic. And unsafe to make!

I saw a couple of those films and may be wrong about this being that one.

I judge period movies partly by the authenticity of the swords. If they don't get that right or have the blades improperly sheathed, it largely ruins the movie for me.

I do have books on swords through the ages, so it's easy to tell.

The longship looked good coming up that fjord (?) though, didn't it?

 

[max]

I agree, it was a great movie.

 

[mtgianni]

Is that where kirk Douglas is buried up to his neck and the older woman chants "Odin, send the wind and turn the tide"?
As a child I was always confused by that scene, how you could attempt to kill someone, then follow them as a leader.

 

[Alpo]

There are many confusing things in movies.

El Dorado - John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. When it starts, Bob walks into the bathroom, where Duke is washing. Points a rifle at him. Duke starts to ease over to his pistol and Bob stops him.

My feelings are you don't point a gun at someone unless you have no problem with shooting them. Enemy. But these two are bestest buddies.

Makes no sense. I'll cut Duke some slack for being nice to the Rifleman's kid, when he gut-shoots him accidentally. I'll cut him some slack for not getting too upset when the girl shoots him, 'cause she thought he murdered her brother. But Mitchum? That's his best friend, and he's ready to kill him? Got some serious head-scratching going on.

 

[PDL]

That was Tony Curtis who was tied to a stake in the tidal pool.
Kirk Douglas loses an eye to a hunting hawk and Tony loses a hand later.
Lots of body parts damaged. Not to mention Ernest Borgnine jumping into a pit of starving wolves.
Great old movie.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I remember the movie quite well. I liked the scene where Kirk Douglas leaps from outstretched oar to oar on the outside of the boat. I think he actually did this, as this was before the age of digital manipulation.

I also liked the scene where the first mate on the boat told the oarsmen that he had good news and bad news. He said the good news is that they could all rest in place for a spell, and then there would be a ration of grog all around - plenty for everyone.

There was a lot of cheering. Then one of the guys in the back yelled "What's the bad news?"

The first mate said "After your grog, the captain wants to go water skiing."

John

 

[VictorLouis]

Check out the TV series 'Vikings', produced by the History Channel. Third season coming-up soon. It's based on the real exploits of viking Ragnar Lothbrok (spelling varies).

free-tv-video-online.me/internet/vikings

 

[gaucho1]

One of my favorites as a kid.

But it REALLY pissed me off when the punkish Tony Curtis

stabs the manly and fierce Kurka Dugalus with an unworthy

broken sword.

This was the start of the feminization of heroes in my eyes.

Janet Leigh looked darn good though....

 

[jimmyj]

For the life of me I could not understand why the Viking ships did not have deck guns ??

 

[semperfi71]

I saw it as a kid. I watched it again in great expectations and then had to shut it off halfway into the movie for some reason now forgotten. I was not happy!

Yes, I'm sure Kirk did his own "paddle-stunt". He was a circus acrobat (I think) before his movie carrier. Watch him in "El Dorado" with John Wayne.

 

[the ringo kid]

Is that where kirk Douglas is buried up to his neck and the older woman chants "Odin, send the wind and turn the tide"?
As a child I was always confused by that scene, how you could attempt to kill someone, then follow them as a leader.

Twas: Tony Curtis buried up to his neck in the water--Kirk was the one who banished him there.)

 

[Frank237]

I remember seeing it in the movies as a nine year old. Saturday Kiddie Matinee. 1959 or 1960 at the latest.

Really liked the scenes where they threw the axes into the drawbridge, to allow Kirk Douglas entry to the castle.

Also recall... "Why were Janet Leigh's breasts SO POINTY"?? Worse pointy bra in a movie ....ever. LOL.

Then....went home and tried to stick an ax, ala Kirk Douglas, into some planks I stood up, at the back of our garage. Upon my umpteenth attempt the little hand axe came back and hit me just to the left of my right knee cap. Have the scar to this day. Amazing I don't have scars from the tanning my Dad gave me.

"The Vikings" and "Prince Valiant" were two that the movies played a lot as Kid's shows for some reason. It was fun to get reacquainted with "The Vikings" last week.

FN in MT

 

[the ringo kid]

There are many confusing things in movies.

El Dorado - John Wayne and Robert Mitchum. When it starts, Bob walks into the bathroom, where Duke is washing. Points a rifle at him. Duke starts to ease over to his pistol and Bob stops him.

My feelings are you don't point a gun at someone unless you have no problem with shooting them. Enemy. But these two are bestest buddies.

Makes no sense. I'll cut Duke some slack for being nice to the Rifleman's kid, when he gut-shoots him accidentally. I'll cut him some slack for not getting too upset when the girl shoots him, 'cause she thought he murdered her brother. But Mitchum? That's his best friend, and he's ready to kill him? Got some serious head-scratching going on.

Nothing cofusing about the bathroom scene. See--Mitchum knew that Duke was paid to come to town to assess the situation to see if he was going to do that "hit job" but Mitchum was cautious as he had t be--just to be sure. So since Duke said he wasnt going to do it--and Mitchum was reassured that Duke was actually his friend for sure-then told him where to go to give back the money he had been advanced already.

 

[the ringo kid]

I remember the movie quite well. I liked the scene where Kirk Douglas leaps from outstretched oar to oar on the outside of the boat. I think he actually did this, as this was before the age of digital manipulation.

I also liked the scene where the first mate on the boat told the oarsmen that he had good news and bad news. He said the good news is that they could all rest in place for a spell, and then there would be a ration of grog all around - plenty for everyone.

There was a lot of cheering. Then one of the guys in the back yelled "What's the bad news?"

The first mate said "After your grog, the captain wants to go water skiing."

John

He actually did do that oar-to-oar scene--1st take too.

RAGNAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[the ringo kid]

One of my favorites as a kid.

But it REALLY pissed me off when the punkish Tony Curtis

stabs the manly and fierce Kurka Dugalus with a unworthy

broken sword.

This was the start of the feminization of heroes in my eyes.

Janet Leigh looked darn good though....

Actually, Tony Curtis was no wimp in real life. He was able to stab Douglas because Douglas paused which allowed it to happen.He paused because he finally realized Curtis was indeed his brother.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Not a bad movie, but I would rather see Warlord with Charlton Heston.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

For the life of me I could not understand why the Viking ships did not have deck guns ??

These were the Viking Cruse Lines original ships, and every body knows you don't have guns on cruse ships! Ivan

 

[sub-moa]

WADR, I believe it was Burt Lancaster who was actually the professional acrobat .

And, Ernest Borgnine...not Kirk Douglas, banished Tony Curtis to the "slop pool" to die. He was originally going to have him killed quickly because "he was a good slave", but the soothsayer put a stop to that plan when she told them the Gods wouldn't permit it. Ernest Borgnine came up with the bright idea to "let the sea kill him"...hence the slop pool .

Great flic ...

The History Channel Vikings Series is great as well, Season 2 was just released on DVD .....