The magnificent voice of Orson Welles certainly gives this narration character and atmosphere, and then the score by Mario Nascimbene, in conjunction with the superb cartoon titles, makes of this film an iconic masterpiece.
The music, the scenes and the storyline that followed a book by Edison Marshall have stayed with me since childhood. My father took us to a drive-in movie theater to see this. Though I've seen it many times since in movie theaters and on TV, I'll never forget the sounds and the story and sharing this movie with my father & brother.
I was ten years old the first time I saw this prologue and heard the voice of Orson Welles, in the early summer of 1958. This movie introduced me to the Vikings as historical people in Northern Europe. I was completely enthralled and transported back in time. It was the last movie I would ever see with my childhood friend, Dean, and a badly needed escape from the turmoil at home. This movie holds a special place in my imagination.
They had a special stone that let them travel in fog and overcast. Sunstone, or Icelandic Spar, was used to get a compass bearing on the sun within a degree even when it was hidden.
We hear about the heyday of the Vikings in the 7-9th centuries. Then, the raids stop by the tenth century or thereabouts and the Viking Reign of Terror is over. But what happened to their culture? Did they just keep on as shipbuilders, living in their villages, and eventually Christianity replaced the old gods and goddesses, and they joined the middle class? (The Vikings, not the deities, that is.) I'd appreciate any information.
@@wynfrithnichtwo8423 Thanks for your reply. I'm fascinated by the "Dark Ages" between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Norman Invasion and not much is written about them. I would've thought that those master shipbuilder Vikings might have been innovators of ocean-crossing vessels like the caravelle that put Portugal on the map about 400 years after the Viking heyday was over. I have a fantasy of the 50-times great grandson of Ragnar tracing his roots with Henry Louis Gates.
their culture lives on, first kind of law, danelaw,..so much is absorbed in todays society, ...just look for it, wodinsday, wednesday, axe me another c;
similar ' blank spots' in history, ie for the early britons and or celts and druid, most written accounts are from the roman scribe ' tacitus' . , google, or wiki, early roman empire. as for vikings, look more to history of iceland, greenland, newfoundland, and anywhere in northern europe,
Think the Normans who were originally Norseman that had settled in France hence the similiarity in names saw off their raids after the Norman conquest and they became farmers and ship builders instead.
The magnificent voice of Orson Welles certainly gives this narration character and atmosphere, and then the score by Mario Nascimbene, in conjunction with the superb cartoon titles, makes of this film an iconic masterpiece.
one of the best films ever !
The music, the scenes and the storyline that followed a book by Edison Marshall have stayed with me since childhood. My father took us to a drive-in movie theater to see this.
Though I've seen it many times since in movie theaters and on TV, I'll never forget the sounds and the story and sharing this movie with my father & brother.
That is the voice of the one & only Orson Wells
I was ten years old the first time I saw this prologue and heard the voice of Orson Welles, in the early summer of 1958. This movie introduced me to the Vikings as historical people in Northern Europe. I was completely enthralled and transported back in time. It was the last movie I would ever see with my childhood friend, Dean, and a badly needed escape from the turmoil at home. This movie holds a special place in my imagination.
Music and narration to stir your heart.But the viking funerat at the end allways makes me weep.
Fantastic movie, this opening is superb from the score to the narration and even the words themselves.
could not agree more.nothing like this today.....
Maybe the best film intro ever. LIMBO! C; Odin, turn the wind to turn the tides, classic stuff . They don't make em like that anymore
My gran said that she went to see this as a 12 year old girl in the cinema in 1958,
And I'm Half Orcadian myself through my biological father 🇳🇴
Yes it was one of the top 10 best movies of all time. Top notch all the way.
I've always loved Kirk Douglas. Spartacus and The Vikings are the two of my favourite movies of his. Love the theme music to this movie.
MAGNIFICOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Great voiceover by may man Orson.
How can 2 people not like this?
must be saxons
I had the Goonies growing up, this film was my dad's Goonies.
RIP Kirk...see you in Valhalla.
They had a special stone that let them travel in fog and overcast. Sunstone, or Icelandic Spar, was used to get a compass bearing on the sun within a degree even when it was hidden.
My favourite Kirk film ❤️
this must be the only film,that gives you a brief history lesson at the start......
Ernest Borgnine in Ragnar's Navy.
borgine,who played Kirk's father in the film,was only about five years older than kirk.makeup helped.
Ooooodin Ooooodin
RAGNAR!
Hi does anyone know what the music is called? Thanks
it's mentioned in the final credits,the arrangement,and the orchestral composer....
Caused many an OMG 1% Bikie MC to form...
We hear about the heyday of the Vikings in the 7-9th centuries. Then, the raids stop by the tenth century or thereabouts and the Viking Reign of Terror is over. But what happened to their culture? Did they just keep on as shipbuilders, living in their villages, and eventually Christianity replaced the old gods and goddesses, and they joined the middle class? (The Vikings, not the deities, that is.) I'd appreciate any information.
lemorab1 basically yes, plus new ships with a higher castle come about putting an end to the Viking ships ability to effectively wage naval warfare.
@@wynfrithnichtwo8423 Thanks for your reply. I'm fascinated by the "Dark Ages" between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Norman Invasion and not much is written about them. I would've thought that those master shipbuilder Vikings might have been innovators of ocean-crossing vessels like the caravelle that put Portugal on the map about 400 years after the Viking heyday was over. I have a fantasy of the 50-times great grandson of Ragnar tracing his roots with Henry Louis Gates.
their culture lives on, first kind of law, danelaw,..so much is absorbed in todays society, ...just look for it, wodinsday, wednesday, axe me another c;
similar ' blank spots' in history, ie for the early britons and or celts and druid, most written accounts are from the roman scribe ' tacitus' . , google, or wiki, early roman empire. as for vikings, look more to history of iceland, greenland, newfoundland, and anywhere in northern europe,
Think the Normans who were originally Norseman that had settled in France hence the similiarity in names saw off their raids after the Norman conquest and they became farmers and ship builders instead.
Перевод.на.русский.
What do English speaking countries know about the culture, mentality, music, and faith....? Nothing..!!!