How a 1964 Viking Epic Became a Comedic Spectacle in Yugoslavia
In short: The Long Ships was intended to be a grand adventure, yet it evolved into a self-aware comedy. Filmed in Yugoslavia with a mixed international cast, the production faced political condemnation, casting disputes, and a reluctant star. Beneath the spectacle lay a chaotic journey that mirrored the film's own troubled history.
Released in 1964, The Long Ships was a Technirama adventure directed by Jack Cardiff. The plot follows a Norseman named Rolfe who, alongside his brother Orm, becomes entangled with a Moorish king named Aly Mansuh. Mansuh is obsessed with finding a legendary golden bell called the Mother of Voices, which the Vikings eventually discover is actually the dome of a chapel. The film was loosely adapted from the two-volume Swedish novel Röde Orm by Frans G. Bengtsson, though it significantly altered the source material by adding Rolfe as the protagonist.
The production was marked by significant friction. Originally budgeted at £2 million in 1959, the project saw multiple shifts in leadership and casting. Director José Ferrer initially planned the film but eventually dropped out, replaced by Cardiff, who had previously served as cinematographer on the 1958 film The Vikings. Star Richard Widmark later described the shoot as an unhappy experience, while Cardiff admitted that the film became a comedy because the subject matter could not be taken seriously, noting that the mixed cast prevented it from feeling authentic.
Beyond the set, the film faced external pressures. The American Legion condemned the production, labeling it immoral and detrimental to the interests of the United States, largely due to its financing and filming in Yugoslavia. Despite these controversies and a mixed critical reception, the film performed well commercially, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it was among the ten most popular films of 1964. It earned $1,930,000 in rentals across the United States and Canada, leaving behind a legacy that included recycled sets and a reputation as a curious relic of 1960s international co-productions.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: The Long Ships (film)
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