THE LONG SHIPS may not be the most historically accurate of films - but it sure is a whole lot of fun. The film sees Richard Widmark playing a Viking in search of a legendary golden bell, while Sidney Poitier stars against him as a Moorish prince equally intent on getting said bell for himself.
What follows is an often rousing and entertaining adventure filled with all manner of seafaring, scrapes and beautiful women. Jack Cardiff's direction is assured, the music is splendid, and if it ends up as a load of old conkers at the end, then - so what? I found this was one of those film that gets better as it progresses. The opening scenes are a little slow and the characters difficult to get to like, but around the halfway mark things really pick up. Poitier puts his all into the rare bad guy role and Widmark enjoys hamming it with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Things reach a high with an implausible but visually spectacular torture device nicknamed the 'Mare of Steel' which wouldn't be out of place in CALIGULA. They eventually culminate in some splendid pitched battles, the outcome of which will surprise nobody but which scream entertainment value nonetheless.
THE LONG SHIPS may not be a classic - but it certainly entertained this viewer.
What follows is an often rousing and entertaining adventure filled with all manner of seafaring, scrapes and beautiful women. Jack Cardiff's direction is assured, the music is splendid, and if it ends up as a load of old conkers at the end, then - so what? I found this was one of those film that gets better as it progresses. The opening scenes are a little slow and the characters difficult to get to like, but around the halfway mark things really pick up. Poitier puts his all into the rare bad guy role and Widmark enjoys hamming it with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Things reach a high with an implausible but visually spectacular torture device nicknamed the 'Mare of Steel' which wouldn't be out of place in CALIGULA. They eventually culminate in some splendid pitched battles, the outcome of which will surprise nobody but which scream entertainment value nonetheless.
THE LONG SHIPS may not be a classic - but it certainly entertained this viewer.