The Vikings kicked off the boom of Viking films in the late ’50s and early ’60s, and even spawned an unofficial remake by Mario Bava Erik The Conqueror. Kirk Douglas originated the project as a starring vehicle with his own production company, Bryna Productions. However, the executives demanded an additional star, hence the appearance of Tony Curtis playing his half-brother.

The film has a fairly convoluted plot. A Viking prince, Einar (Douglas), has a rivalry with the slave—who is unbeknownst to him his half-brother Eric (Tony Curtis). Their conflict starts when Eric’s hawk savagely destroys Einar’s eye, and continues when they eventually fall in love with the same princess, Morgana (Janet Lee). However, they soon have a mutual enemy, so can the rivals manage to unite and fight?

The film was directed by Richard Fleischer, who was one of the greatest “directors for hire” Hollywood ever produced. The French critics who…