Erik the Viking ** (1989, Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Terry Jones, Imogen Stubbs, John Cleese) – Classic Movie Review 12,574

Writer-director Terry Jones’s soft and silly 1989 British comedy fantasy film Erik the Viking stars Tim Robbins, Mickey Rooney, Eartha Kitt, Terry Jones, Imogen Stubbs, and John Cleese.

Ex-Python Jones’s daft Norse saga is more miss than hit in the jokes department, but, after a slow start, it does finally get going when Erik sets sail to find the home of the gods.

Tim Robbins is a so-what hero as Erik, but there are funny cameos from Eartha Kitt as Freya, Terry Jones as King Arnulf and particularly John Cleese as Halfdan the Black. Its heart is in the right place, and a lot of loving care has gone into it, but, in retrospect, what seems most valuable about it now is the lovely cast.

Also in the cast are Tsutomu Sekine, Anthony Sher, Gary Cady, Charles McKeown, Tim McInnerny, John Gordon Sinclair, and Freddie Jones.

Though it is inspired by Jones’s 1983 children’s book The Saga of Erik the Viking, weirdly the plot is completely different.

The artwork is by Tolkien artist Alan Lee, and the score is composed by Neil Innes.

It was shot at Shepperton Studios in England, with some filming in Norway and Malta.

It runs 107 minutes.

A 2006 Director’s Son’s Cut edited by Jones’s son Bill runs  75 minutes, with re-ordered scenes, faster pacing and a remixed and re-dubbed soundtrack.

The cast are Tim Robbins as Erik, Mickey Rooney as Erik’s grandfather, Eartha Kitt as Freya, Terry Jones as King Arnulf, Imogen Stubbs as Princess Aud, John Cleese as Halfdan the Black, Antony Sher as Loki, Charles McKeown as Sven’s Dad, Tim McInnerny as Sven the Berserk, John Gordon Sinclair as Ivar the Boneless, Richard Ridings as Thorfinn Skullsplitter, Freddie Jones as Harald the Missionary, Samantha Bond as Helga, Danny Schiller as Snorri the Miserable, Gary Cady as Keitel Blacksmith, Matyelok Gibbs as Erik’s Mum, Jim Broadbent as Ernest the Viking, Jim Carter as Jennifer the Viking, Graham McTavish as Thangbrand, Neil Innes as Hy-Brasilian, Allan Surtees as Thorfinn’s Dad, Simon Evans as Odin, Matthew Baker as Thor, Tsutomu Sekine as Slavemaster, and John Scott Martin as Ingemund The Old.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,574

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