THE NORSEMAN
US, 1978, 86 minutes, Colour.
Cornel Wilde, Lee Majors, Mel Ferrer, Jack Elam.
Directed by Charles B. Pierce.
The Norseman is routine matinee adventure with more serious intentions. It was written, produced and directed by Charles B. Pierce, a maker of small budget serious-minded stories in the '70s (Winter Hawk, The Bootleggers, The Evictors). His son, Chuck Pierce Jun., appeared in several of his films including this one as the young Erik.
The film was co-produced by Lee Majors who takes the central role of the Viking Thorvald. A Viking, he is not. His performance is poor - more designed for a contemporary television show. The acting of the principals is not notable - including Cornel Wilde, Mel Ferrer. Jack Elam is better as the ambiguous wizard.
The film has an interesting story - a Viking expedition to the New World, Vine Land, and an encounter with the Indians.
1. Entertaining matinee material? Routine? An original story? A variation on Indians vs. enemies?
2. Panavision photography, the 11th. century, the Viking ships, armour, the Indians, American locations? The pageant score?
3. The title and the focus on Thorvald? On Norsemen in general? The Viking tradition? New worlds? The clash with the Indians?
4. The voiceover and the point of view of Erik, the story of the father, the expedition, the events? The later perspective? The inclusion of the flashbacks to explain what happened to the King and the Vikings?
5. Thorvald as hero, the expedition, his command, clashes with Ragnar, concerned for Erik? Clashes with the wizard? The prophecies? The battle, the defeat? Going down the river, the Indian girl, the attack on the camp, the rescuing of the Vikings? The battles with the Indians? The build-up to the climax and the finale?
6. Ragnar as the second-in-charge, determined and single-minded, clashes with Thorvald, the clashes with the wizard, the fights, the ship sailing?
7. The wizard and his falcon (and the irony of blinding the Indian brave)? His prophecies, not seeing his face, reverence on the ship, Erik seeing his face? His fears? The worship of Odin and the gods? The religious beliefs of the King and his sons?
8. The King, the expedition, the carousing with the Indians, the jealousy, the blinding of the Vikings, their imprisonment, torment? Their decision to break out, taking their captors, the rescue and reconciliation?
9. The Vikings and their armour, arrows, brute force vs. the Indians? The Indians and their way of life, in harmony with the land, warriors, the clash with the Vikings and their defeat?
10. The Indian girl, the jealousy, her seeing the Vikings, helping them, telling Thorvald, leading him to safety, on the ship at the end? The woman at the camp, her dominance?
11. The warrior and his vengeance, leading the braves, the losses in battle, his final blinding?
12. A matinee glimpse of the days of the Vikings, early exploration, clashes between cultures?
