Product Description: Blonde giants, thirsty for blood and eager for conquest! In the long-unseen classic from legendary director/cinematographer Mario Bava, Viking hordes invade Britain in an orgy of violence, vengeance and virgins. Cameron Mitchell (KNIVES OF THE AVENGER) stars with Andrea Checchi (BLACK SUNDAY), George Ardisson (HERCULES IN THE HAUNTED WORLD) and the luscious Kesslar Twins in this epic of ferocious color and design, bursting with more chained maidens and shocking violence than any other Viking movie of the era. ERIK THE CONQUEROR also known as FURY OF THEVIKINGS and THE INVADERS has been fully restored from original European vault materials and is now presented uncut and uncensored for the first time ever on DVD.
Mr. Mario Bava really outdoes himself with this story of two brothers separated in infancy, who grow to be rival leaders in a battle between Scandanavia and Britian.
This yarn, replete with monumental battle sequences on both land and sea, magnificent coastal and interior castle settings, and bravura use of color simply amazes in its ambitious achievements.
The film opens with a battle sequence on the seashore, by turns both thrilling and horrifying as the soldiers meet with death by spear while the nearby coastal village is burned, with women and children scattering to their doom.
With this breathless sequence, Mr. Bava introduces the audience to a breakneck pace that never lets up.
The story such as it is, is played engagingly on the level of an Errol Flynn film, intelligent enough for adults, but close enough to a comic book for whatever youngsters may be in the audience.
It is, however, the visuals that linger in the mind: a grotto with an enormous twisted tree upon which are bound two captured adulterers, bathed in that phosphorescent green light that Mr. Bava was so adept at casting; a stunning vista of the seashore at twilight with two women in billowing robes silhouetted against a sky banked with tempestuous cloud formations, Georges Ardisson and his mother flanked by flaming braziers, amidst tall stalagmites, in a setting that might be from Dante's Inferno, (and recalls a similar setting in Orson Welle's "Macbeth" and countless others.
Mr. Bava painted his masterpieces not on canvas but on celluloid.
The cast is both attractive and serviceable, with Mr. Ardisson and the luscious Kessler Twins deserving of special commendation. Indeed the Misses Kessler, (as Vestal Virgins) perform a sword dance with such delicacy and intricate footwork that it is easy to see why their cabaret act was once the toast of Europe.
Highly enjoyable for fans of the genre.
a work of art! This is a beutifully made epic,directed (and photographed) by italian movie genius Mario Bava.It stars the magnificent Cameron Mitchell,the beutiful Kessler sisters,Alice and Ellen,and a great italian actor,George (Giorgio) Ardison. Mitchell and Ardison, had allready starred in another viking epic "The last of the vikings" Fairly good,but not as near as good as this one. The dvd features a superbly restored ,uncut version of the film.Get it!
Christian Karlsson,Sweden
Excellent transfer The transfer from the original Italian master is great, the color and image is sharp and very clear. Be careful to set the language to English or you get the original Italian with sub titles. Is it a masterpiece, no, but it is a fine specimen of the early 1960's sword and sexy women epics.
Erik The Great! Erik the Conqueror is a great film in TWO languages.
`Erik the Conqueror', directed by Mario Brava, explores the destinies of two young Viking sons, Erik and Eron. Separated as young men during a British raid by the forces of Queen Anne, the brothers live in two different worlds. Queen Anne raises Erik as her own son, while Eron lives a bitter life. Growing to adulthood, the two men become enemies when Eron leads a Viking horde against the British commanded by Erik. Behind the scenes, a malevolent Sir Rutford, plots to take the throne via marriage, or villainy.
A great battle ensues as the Norsemen attack England, and one death strike short of victory, the two brothers discover each other and declare peace as Rutford plays his card. `Erik the Conqueror' is a stirring action film, filmed on rugged coasts, and executed splendidly in Italian and English!
Cameron Mitchell stars as Eron, while Alice and Ellen Kessler star as Daya and Rama, love interests for the two brothers. George Ardisson, Andrea Checchi and Francoise Christophe round out the well cast film adding realism and romance to this 1961 cult film.
The return of `Erik' to american audiences includes an audio interview with Cameron Mitchell, film trailers, and the option to watch the film in Italian or English. Try the Italian, and read the titles, you'll find the story tells itself.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tailipoe
Trevor
