The Viking (1928 film)
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- This article is about a 1928 film. For the professional wrestler, see John Nord.
| The Viking | |
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| Directed by | Roy William Neill |
| Produced by | Herbert Kalmus |
| Written by | Randolph Bartlett (titles - uncredited) Jack Cunningham Ottilie A. Liljencrantz (novel) |
| Starring | Pauline Starke Donald Crisp LeRoy Mason Anders Randolf |
| Music by | William Axt (uncredited) Richard Wagner (uncredited) Edvard Grieg (uncredited) |
| Cinematography | George Cave |
| Editing by | Aubrey Scotto |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | November 2, 1928 (USA) |
| Running time | 90 min |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
| IMDb profile | |
The Viking (1928) was the first feature-length Technicolor film in an improved process which used dye-imbibition to achieve a more vibrant color. It was the second color feature with a soundtrack (a music score without dialogue), being released only a day after The Cavalier (1928) which had been the first color sound feature. At the time, the film was considered the finest use of color cinematography to date. The film still survives and remains an impressive example of early color film. It was based on the novel The Thrall of Leif the Lucky (which was itself to some extent based on Viking history), written by Ottilie A. Liljencrantz.
Technicolor President Herbert Kalmus later wrote,
- There seemed to be two principal troubles with The Viking, both of which I suspected but without certainty. First it came out among the very last silent pictures in 1929, and second, whiskers. Lief Ericson, the Viking hero true to character had a long curling mustache, whereas American audiences prefer their lovers smooth-shaven. At times the whole screen seemed filled with Viking whiskers.[1]
The film critic for the New York Times agreed, noting that "the figures often look as if they had stepped out of an opera comique," and, "The make-up of the players is often more than a trifle overdone, especially when the villain reveals on close inspection his mouse-colored eyelids."[2]
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[edit] Production Technology
The sound was provided by an optical Movietone track and the color was by Technicolor in their two-component dye transfer process. The film was produced by Technicolor, but was distributed by MGM, after production chief Irving Thalberg became impressed with the technology. As such it carries the MGM Leo the Lion logo in color.
[edit] Synopsis
The storyline was based on traditional legend concerning Leif Ericson and the first Viking settlers to reach North America by sea.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- The Viking at the Internet Movie Database
- Technicolor - a history of the colour process, including information about The Viking.
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