A film full of rough-and-tumble raiding. Unbeknownst to Einar, a warrior, and Eric, a disgraced slave—who are actually half-brothers—the kingdom of Northumbria appears vulnerable. Both men, vying for the attention of Princess Morganna, are destined to discover their familial connection amidst their intense competition. Kirk Douglas (as Einar) and Tony Curtis (as Eric) would later reunite for Spartacus two years after this sword and sandal film appeared in 1958. It’s generally accepted that Spartacus is a superior work overall, but The Vikings holds up well as an enjoyable precursor to that celebrated slave epic. Based on Edison Marshall's novel of the same name, The Vikings compensates for any lack of historical accuracy with a vigorous and exciting adventure. These Vikings might not entirely convince as mead-drinking, womanizing raiders of England, yet alongside Mario Nascimbene’s excellent score and Jack Cardiff’s superb cinematography (the scenes filmed in Norway are stunning), it doesn't take much for fans of the genre to get caught up in everything. Douglas and Curtis deliver solid performances, while Janet Leigh as Morganna presents herself with a certain appeal and becomes believable as a woman desired by two rough-edged men. However, The Vikings doesn’t rank among the best sword and sandal films ever made, something that bothered both Douglas and director Richard Fleischer and led to friction between them in subsequent years. Production was complicated by bad weather, injuries to actors, and even a strike by Norwegian oarsmen. Putting those difficulties aside, it seems Douglas's disappointment was justified, as Fleischer’s approach felt misjudged for the material. He opted for a lighter, almost comic book style, which unfortunately diminished the earthy grit and realism that the film needed after Orson Welles' impressive opening narration had promised a sweeping sword-slashing spectacle. The director isn’t lacking in skill when it comes to action sequences, though. With credits including Fantastic Voyage, 20000 Leagues Under The Sea & 10 Rillington Place, he was clearly a director of considerable talent. Here, he impresses with the way he stages the fast-paced sword fights, and the attack on Northumberland Castle (which is actually Brittany, France, captured beautifully by Cardiff’s camera) is brilliantly conceived and really gets your heart racing. The film contains violence and some memorable genre moments (Einar losing his eye, Ragnar and the Wolf Pit, The Running the Oars tradition), while it's also rewarding to see a director who oversaw careful research that highlights the craftsmanship involved in Viking treasure hoards. Ultimately, it’s a good and entertaining genre picture that is arguably more fun than dramatic masterpiece, a film that many people enjoyed years ago. The shortcomings and minor frustrations are apparent when viewed with older and wiser eyes, but regardless, one should grab a drink and enjoy the raw energy of it all. 8/10

Source on TMDB