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| ~The Viking~ 1928 |
| Directed by: Roy William Neill Written by: Jack Cunningham - Screenplay Randolph Bartlett - Titles Based on novel "The Thrall of Leif the Lucky," by Ottilie A. Liljencrantz |
| ~Cast~ Donald Crisp ... Leif Ericsson Pauline Starke ... Helga LeRoy Mason ... Alwin Anders Randolf ... Eric the Red (as Anders Randolph) Richard Alexander ... Sigurd Harry Woods ... Egil (as Harry Lewis Woods) Albert MacQuarrie ... Kark Roy Stewart ... King Olaf Torben Meyer ... Odd Claire McDowell ... Lady Editha (as Claire MacDowell) Julia Swayne Gordon ... Thorhild Iron Eyes Cody ... Indian (uncredited) Frank Ellis ... Gives Sword to Alwin (uncredited) Francis McDonald ... Viking Friend of Leif (uncredited) Lon Poff ... Friar Slain by Vikings (uncredited) Angelo Rossitto ... Viking Dwarf (uncredited) Dick Sutherland ... Viking (uncredited) |
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SilentHollywood.com Discussion Group on Facebook Internet Movie Database Allmovie.com Turner Classic Movies American Film Institute |
| ~Remaining Credits~ Production Company: Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation Distribution Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Produced by: Rerbert T. Kalmus Music by: William Axt Cinematography by: George Cave Film Editing by: Aubrey Scotto Supervising Art Director: Carl Oscar Borg Associate Artist: André Chotin Associate Artist: Jack Holden Color Art Director: Natalie Kalmus Associate Artist: Lewis W. Physioc Presenter: Herbert T. Kalmus Manger of Production: J.T. Reed Length: 9 Reels Runtime: 90 Minutes Released: November 2, 1928 |
| ~Plot Synopsis~ |
The Technicolor "spectacular" The Viking was loosely based on the exploits of Norwegian explorer
Leif Ericsson. Using O. A. Liljencrantz' highly fanciful novel Leif the Lucky as its guide, the film
weaves a delightfully inaccurate account of Ericsson's bold journey from Scandinavia to the coast of
America. Sporting a Snub Pollard mustache, Donald Crisp stars as Ericsson, while the love interest
was left in the hands of Pauline Starke. The villainy was handled by Anders Randolf, cast as
Ericsson's treacherous first mate. Highlights include the Vikings' attack on England, with raping and
pillaging aplenty; a mutiny fomented by the villain, which is thwarted through sheer force of will by
Ericsson; and the Viking captain's sudden conversion to Christianity. Although the improved
Technicolor process was stunning and the production values first-rate, The Viking was an expensive
flop -- precisely the sort of picture MGM didn't need during the chaotic switchover to talkies.
Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson, AllMovie.com
Leif Ericsson. Using O. A. Liljencrantz' highly fanciful novel Leif the Lucky as its guide, the film
weaves a delightfully inaccurate account of Ericsson's bold journey from Scandinavia to the coast of
America. Sporting a Snub Pollard mustache, Donald Crisp stars as Ericsson, while the love interest
was left in the hands of Pauline Starke. The villainy was handled by Anders Randolf, cast as
Ericsson's treacherous first mate. Highlights include the Vikings' attack on England, with raping and
pillaging aplenty; a mutiny fomented by the villain, which is thwarted through sheer force of will by
Ericsson; and the Viking captain's sudden conversion to Christianity. Although the improved
Technicolor process was stunning and the production values first-rate, The Viking was an expensive
flop -- precisely the sort of picture MGM didn't need during the chaotic switchover to talkies.
Plot Synopsis by Hal Erickson, AllMovie.com
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