MovieChat Forums > Beowulf & Grendel (2006) Discussion > One Viking Movie we FORGOT!!!

One Viking Movie we FORGOT!!!

posted 15 years ago by Meryllevykryza
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Does anyone remember "THE LONG SHIPS", 1964, directed by top British cinematographer Jack Cardiff?
Richard Widmark, Russ Tamblyn (Amber's dad, head "JET, West Side Story) and Sidney Poitier ( no, he didn't play one of the Vikings-- even for a great actor like him, it would have been a ...stretch)
Very Tongue-in-Cheek in parts-- if you can think of a Viking outing as a fun ride---great music score

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] pol-edra 15 years ago

Never seen it. Will try to. Thanks for the suggestion. ;)

I'm a Sidekick and proud of it.

[–] Meryllevykryza 15 years ago

...Well...
I don't know if I'm SUGGESTING IT--just mentioning it!
It is good silly fun though, in a 1960ish sorta way.

It came from what was supposed to be a very well done historical novel, according to a posting on IMDB

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

[–] ContinentalOp 15 years ago

Yes, it is based on 'Red Orm' (or 'Röde Orm' to be more correct) by Frans Gunnar Bengtsson; the film isn't much like it!

I would suggest the film as it is fun, has a nice soundtrack and features a great (and differemt) performance by Sidney Poitier as a likeable villain.

"Jai Guru Deva, Om"

[–] Blueghost 14 years ago

by Meryllevykryza (Tue Feb 17 2009 20:59:58)
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Does anyone remember "THE LONG SHIPS", 1964, directed by top British cinematographer Jack Cardiff?
Richard Widmark, Russ Tamblyn (Amber's dad, head "JET, West Side Story) and Sidney Poitier ( no, he didn't play one of the Vikings-- even for a great actor like him, it would have been a ...stretch)
Very Tongue-in-Cheek in parts-- if you can think of a Viking outing as a fun ride---great music score

Beware the dreamers of the day, for they would enact their dreams with open eyes-Lawrence of Arabia

One of my favorite films of all time. :-)

[–] nerowolfgal 7 years ago

I saw "The Longships" when I was about ten, and it had a huge effect on me. I badgered my older brother into taking me to see it three times, even digging into my piggy bank to pay for the tickets.

As an adult I watched it a few years ago and was just in agony at how totally it just chucked about a thousand years of history, clothing, religions into a blender and turned it all into a completely improbable mush. And watching Sidney Poitier forced to go leering around as an evil black sultan lusting after the blonde, white-skinned Viking virgin was really painful.

However, as a ten year old I completely loved it, and dreamed about setting sail in a longship to find adventure and treasure. BUT I had nightmares about the "Iron Mare" for weeks.

"The Longships" did give me a lifelong fondness for Viking and Norse history, and Viking movies, and that is how I came to watch "Beowulf and Grendel".

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