Plot: What’s it about?
Einar (Kirk Douglas) is a vicious, savage warrior, the son of a ruthless Viking chieftain and proud heir of the Viking empire. His half brother Eric (Tony Curtis) is a former slave who has in him the blood of Einar’s father and an English Queen, but neither man is fully aware of the circumstances that surround them. A fierce competitive streak runs between them, but it has never been pushed to the extremes it will soon reach, when a powerful position is thrown into the mix. The throne of Northumbria, a British area has become vacant and the first to claim it, putting aside his enemies in the process, can seize control of the throne. Of course, both men seek to overtake that kind of power, but each has their own reasons & motives behind their efforts. In addition, a beautiful young princess (Janet Leigh) becomes involved in the rivalry and of course, she also becomes a power piece for which the half brothers compete. But when tempers flare to extreme degrees, which of the brothers will come out as the new ruler? Or will they both expend so much power & effort in the battle, that neither can survive to claim the throne?
You can never have too many sweeping adventures pictures, especially ones themed around Vikings. As such, MGM’s release of The Vikings is excellent news. This is the kind of widescale adventure movie that was fairly common in past eras, but never touched upon in modern cinema, which is a real shame. As directed by Richard Fleischer (Soylent Green, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea), The Vikings is a grand tale of Norse warriors, which stars such heavy hitters as Kirk Douglas, Janet Leigh, and Tony Curtis. The visuals are incredible, thanks to gorgeous locations, terrific costumes, and great set pieces, all of which enhance the realism, which is important in any period piece, to be certain. The film is brash, violent, rude, and ruthless, which equals great fun if you’re interested in the Viking lore, as all the usual Viking elements can be seen. The acting is ham handed at times, but I think the overdone moments are effective still, so no need for concern there. In short, this is a fun, wild adventure movie, the kind that can make you forget about your troubles for a while, like a Saturday Matinee, where you almost start to feel like a Viking yourself. I give this release a high recommendation, as MGM has put together a nice package and made it so affordable, those interested simply cannot refuse.
In a large scale adventure movie like this one, you need visuals that are as grand as the premise, or else the film could fail to reach its full potential. As an audience, we need to feel like we’re out on the high seas, clashing swords, and storming the castles, that is what we expect from an adventure movie, after all. In this case, the masterful skills of Jack Cardiff are present and that means we’re never left out of the scenes. Cardiff is able to conjure up the needed visuals to bring the Viking world to life and then pull us inside of it, so that we can feel like we’re right beside the brutes every step of the way. The action scenes place us right in the path of harm, while the at sea sequences make us feel like we’re a member of the crew, simply magic at times. Other films photographed by Cardiff include Black Narcissus, Girl on a Motorcycle, Pandora and the Flying Dutchman, and of course, The Red Shoes. The cast here includes Kirk Douglas (Spartacus, Champion), Tony Curtis (The Great Race, Sweet Smell of Success), Ernest Borgnine (Escape from New York, The Dirty Dozen), and Janet Leigh (Touch of Evil, Scaramouche).
Video: How does it look?
The Vikings is presented in a 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. I had hopes for a clean print and sharp image here, but MGM has gone beyond my expectations and offered up one terrific visual presentation. The print used has some minor grain in places, but looks very, very clean and shows little sign of age, very impressive work. The colors look bold when needed, but within a natural scope, where brown and green hues dominate. I had very little complaints as I watched, as the colors were well presented, flesh tones seemed on the mark, and black levels were as sharp as a tack. I commend MGM for taking such care with this catalog picture, as some studios might have rushed out a transfer, especially at such a low price point.
Audio: How does it sound?
The mono option used here might seem a little limited at times, but on the whole, it seems to have aged well and is up to the task. A new surround mix might open up the battle scenes and such, but could also compromise some moments and if you ask me, this mono track is solid enough not to worry about a remix. The materials have minimal defects to speak of, as hiss and distortion are minimal, so all the elements come through as they should. No problems with the music, sound effects, or dialogue, as far as a 1958 mono track is concerned. This disc also includes Spanish and French language options, as well as subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A very informative retrospective is included here, in which director Richard Fleischer speaks about the film, the production, and various memories. As he discusses the topics, we’re shown a selection of behind the scenes photos, sketches, and other materials, which add a lot to the presentation, to say the least. The piece runs just under half an hour and is not to be missed, even by those with just a casual interest. This disc also includes the film’s theatrical trailer, which is a good one, with tons of action and madcap moments.
