Kirk Douglas in The Vikings Movie (1958)
Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Ernest Borgnine Co-Star in Adventure Film
Billed as the "mightiest of spectacles," director Richard Fleischer's The Vikings invaded movie theaters to thunderous applause in 1958. Kirk Douglas starred as the one-eyed Norseman Einar, with Tony Curtis, Janet Leigh, Ernest Borgnine and James Donald in principal support.
Based on the Novel by Edison Marshall
The Vikings was based on the novel The Viking by Edison Marshall (1894-1967). Numbering 380 pages, The Viking was published by Farrar, Straus and Young in 1951.
Screenplay, Director, Music
Produced by Kirk Douglas' Bryna Productions, The Vikings was written for the screen by Calder Willingham and Dale Wasserman.
Richard Fleischer directed, with Mario Nascimbene providing the original music score.
The Vikings Cast
Kirk Douglas had the starring role of Einar, with Tony Curtis as Eric. Other cast members included Ernest Borgnine (Ragnar), Janet Leigh (Morgana), James Donald (Lord Egbert), Alexander Knox (Father Godwin), Maxine Audley (Enid), Frank Thring (King Aella), Eileen Way (Kitala), Edric Connor (Sandpiper), Dandy Nichols (Bridget), Per Buckhoj (Bjorn) and Almut Berg (Pigtails).
Budget, Filming, Props
The Vikings was originally budgeted at $2.5 million, but that figure eventually doubled to $5 million.
The Vikings was filmed on location in Norway, France, Germany and Croatia. In Norway, the production company leased an entire fjord, as well as building a replica of a Viking village nearby.
Three Norse longships were constructed for use in the movie using the specifications from an actual salvaged Viking ship in Norway. The construction proved to be too accurate, as the 20th century actors soon found themselves in cramped quarters due to their larger stature. Every other oaring station hole was then eliminated in order to accomodate the bigger, modern-day thespians.
The famous walking on the oars scene was expertly executed by stuntmen, who had practiced for weeks. The athletic Kirk Douglas, who had been a champion wrestler in college, even took a turn himself, doing quite well until he slipped and plunged into the icy water.
Not all filming went according to plan, with one archer jumping the gun in the magnificent Viking funeral scene at the end. Fortunately, the man's arrow completed a perfect arc, hitting the black sail of the ship and setting it afire. More flaming arrows followed, making for one of the most spectacular conflagrations in motion picture history.
Viking Raids, English Princess, Funeral Ship
The Vikings is set in the Ninth Century, with King Ragnar leading his fellow Norsemen on periodic raids against Northumbria. On one foray, Ragnar rapes the terrified English queen, which later results in the birth of a Viking slave named Eric.
Eric later engages in a duel with Ragnar's other son, Einar. During the struggle Eric utilizes his pet falcon, who on command attacks Einar and rips out his left eye.
In between Norse revelry (including a scene where a drunken Einar severs a Viking woman's blond pigtails with several well-placed throws of an axe) and divine intervention by Odin himself, The Vikings features more guts and glory action.
The movie reaches its climax with a fight to the death between Einar and Eric. During the duel the English princess Morgana informs Einar that Eric is his half-brother, resulting in a slight hesitation which leads to Einar's death.
As befitting a proud Viking king, Einar's body is then cremated aboard a funeral ship, which is set afire with flaming Norse arrows lighting the way to Valhalla.
Premiere, Publicity Campaign, Reviews
The Vikings premiered in New York City on June 11, 1958.
As part of the movie's publicity campaign, seven Norwegians sailed a Viking longship from Oslo to New York. In addition, another longship was hoisted onto the theater marquee during the film's premiere and Viking dagger letter openers were sent to movie reviewers as gifts.
"Spectacular, rousing and colorful..." said Variety (5/21/58).
"One of the bloodier bores of the season..." reported Time (6/30/58).
The Vikings Box Office, DVD
The Vikings grossed $6.283 million at the box office, claiming the #7 position on the list of the top moneymaking films of 1958.
The Vikings is available on DVD from MGM (2002).
"What man ever had a finer son? Odin could have sired him, but I did!" the conceited Ragnar says of Einar.
Proud words, but then Ragnar ended up in a pit with wild wolves. At least the old boy went down swinging -- with a sword in his hand and a smile on his face...
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