This movie is NOT high art. Nope. It's a "guy picture" that will doubtless be looked down upon by SERIOUS cinephiles. However, despite all the silly stuff thrown into it (and this movie has Everything), you find yourself really enjoying the movie. Sometimes mindless adventure is what everyone needs.
The music, though repetitive, is very haunting and will probably become stuck in your brain. The cinematography is great, too, as the director and producer chose to film on location in Norway.
Now the plot--it has so much it's almost overwhelming: 1. An opening scene of murder, pillaging and,...yes, rape (though nothing is shown here). 2. Drinking and more drinking and wenching with a giant Viking toga party. 3. A trained hawk being thrown into Kirk Douglas' face. Subsequently, his face appears torn apart and is blinded in one eye. 4. For this crime, Tony Curtis is thrown into a pool where he is to be drowned and eaten by crabs. 5. A traitor helps the Vikings plan an abduction of a sexy princess (Janet Leigh). Once she is stolen, Douglas decides to keep her for himself. 6. Tony Curtis (not eaten by crabs, miraculously) steals Leigh and takes here back to Britain. In chasing them, Ernest Borgnine (the Chief) falls into the water and is taken prisoner by fleeing Curtis. 7. Curtis gives Borgnine to the evil English king. The king will throw Borgnine into a pit of wolves. Borgnine objects, as a REAL VIKING MUST die with a sword in hand. The king declines to assist him, but Curtis takes pity and gives him a sword. Borgnine then willingly jumps into the pit and is mauled. 8. For helping Borgnine, Curtis has his hand cut off by the jerk of a king. 9. Somehow Curtis makes it back to Norway to get the Vikings' help to exact revenge (and help him get into Leigh's skirt). 10. The Vikings storm the castle and all the English are killed. 11. This sets the stage for a final showdown between Douglas and Curtis. They have a rousing fight on the castle parapets. 12. Curtis' sword breaks but Douglas pauses before killing him--as he has learned that Curtis is actually his HALF-BROTHER!!! 13. Due to the hesitation, Curtis plunges the broken sword into Douglas' gut. Before dying, he lets out a cool yell. 14. Douglas' body is placed on a Viking ship and set ablaze (I'd like to go that way). Somehow, in the confusion, the other Vikings forget to murder Curtis for all his treachery. Fade out.
Wow--that's enough stuff for 2 movies! Give it a try and be ready for a fast-paced roller-coaster adventure.
FYI--Despite all the salacious qualities of the film, it actually is exceptional from a historical point of view. No where in the film do Vikings wear horned helmets and their life is typical of many Vikings in the Middle Ages. Heck, it's decent enough that's I've used clips of it in my history classes.
The music, though repetitive, is very haunting and will probably become stuck in your brain. The cinematography is great, too, as the director and producer chose to film on location in Norway.
Now the plot--it has so much it's almost overwhelming: 1. An opening scene of murder, pillaging and,...yes, rape (though nothing is shown here). 2. Drinking and more drinking and wenching with a giant Viking toga party. 3. A trained hawk being thrown into Kirk Douglas' face. Subsequently, his face appears torn apart and is blinded in one eye. 4. For this crime, Tony Curtis is thrown into a pool where he is to be drowned and eaten by crabs. 5. A traitor helps the Vikings plan an abduction of a sexy princess (Janet Leigh). Once she is stolen, Douglas decides to keep her for himself. 6. Tony Curtis (not eaten by crabs, miraculously) steals Leigh and takes here back to Britain. In chasing them, Ernest Borgnine (the Chief) falls into the water and is taken prisoner by fleeing Curtis. 7. Curtis gives Borgnine to the evil English king. The king will throw Borgnine into a pit of wolves. Borgnine objects, as a REAL VIKING MUST die with a sword in hand. The king declines to assist him, but Curtis takes pity and gives him a sword. Borgnine then willingly jumps into the pit and is mauled. 8. For helping Borgnine, Curtis has his hand cut off by the jerk of a king. 9. Somehow Curtis makes it back to Norway to get the Vikings' help to exact revenge (and help him get into Leigh's skirt). 10. The Vikings storm the castle and all the English are killed. 11. This sets the stage for a final showdown between Douglas and Curtis. They have a rousing fight on the castle parapets. 12. Curtis' sword breaks but Douglas pauses before killing him--as he has learned that Curtis is actually his HALF-BROTHER!!! 13. Due to the hesitation, Curtis plunges the broken sword into Douglas' gut. Before dying, he lets out a cool yell. 14. Douglas' body is placed on a Viking ship and set ablaze (I'd like to go that way). Somehow, in the confusion, the other Vikings forget to murder Curtis for all his treachery. Fade out.
Wow--that's enough stuff for 2 movies! Give it a try and be ready for a fast-paced roller-coaster adventure.
FYI--Despite all the salacious qualities of the film, it actually is exceptional from a historical point of view. No where in the film do Vikings wear horned helmets and their life is typical of many Vikings in the Middle Ages. Heck, it's decent enough that's I've used clips of it in my history classes.