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The Long Ships [1963] (REGION 1) (NTSC)
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Our Price: £8.67 (subject to change)
Infantile racist nonsense.
Review date: 2008-03-10 Rating: 2 out of 10
There is nothing remotely appealing or entertaining about this dreadful movie.
The plot relies on the notion that white skinned people are good and dark skinned people are bad. None of the human relationships in this film are believable, nor is anything in the plot.
I could be picky and highlight the idiocy of gold that floats on water and maelstroms in the calm Mediterranean Sea. I could be even more picky and ask why the Moorish women have Italian accents and why the Moors who were accomplished sailors are presented as land lovers. But that would be missing what is really wrong with this movie.
The message of this movie is that gold is to be stolen, women to be raped and Africans are to be belittled and slaughtered.
Gordon Jackson complete with Scottish accent, is included in the Viking crew. Why? because it is supposed to funny for a Viking to want to be sensible about money and why miss an opportunity for more stereotyping.
This film is trying to cash in on the deserved box office success of "The Vikings [1958]". Jack Cardiff, the cinematographer for "The Vikings" is giving the opportunity?? as director for this film. The similarities end there.
The title is taken from the popular Swedish epic novel "The Long Ships" by Frans G. Bengtsson. The plot bears no resemblance to the book. Like I said, "the book" was popular.
The final insult is that this is listed as a British production. Don't be deceived by this. It is an American production with American actors and sensibilities. Post World War II, profits from films shot in Europe were not supposed to leave Europe, so American producers formed companies in the U.K. to get around this ristriction.
Bad writing, bad casting, bad acting, bad direction, poor locations, ...
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Reviews
the Long ships
Review date: 2007-07-06 Rating: 8 out of 10
Far, far more enjoyable than The Vikings! A romp from start to finish - I saw this as a child years ago and have always loved it! The harem scene, the bell, the whirlpool .... YES! Buy this and laugh! And if you can ever find 'The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood' get that, too, it's equally superbly silly!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Russ Tamblyn
Richard Widmark
Rosanna Schiaffino
Sidney Poitier
Oskar Homolka
Creators:
Richard Widmark (Primary Contributor)
Sidney Poitier (Primary Contributor)
Christopher Challis (Cinematographer)
Geoffrey Foot (Editor)
Denis O'Dell (Producer)
Irving Allen (Producer)
Berkely Mather (Writer)
Beverley Cross (Writer)
Frans G. Bengtsson (Writer)
Director(s):
Recording label: Columbia TriStar
Manufacturer: Columbia TriStar
EAN: 9780767821643
Binding: DVD
ISBN: 0767821645
Number of items: 1
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Colour, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC,
Release date: 2003-06-24
Universal product code (UPC): 043396121195
Aspect ratio: 2.20:1
Region code: 1
Running time: 126 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1964-06-24
Language: English (Original Language)
Language: Spanish (Original Language)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: Japanese (Subtitled)
Language: Georgian (Subtitled)