The Viking

Plot

In this sweeping historical adventure set during the Viking Age, two half-brothers, Leif Ericsson (Donald Crisp) and his rival Helge (LeRoy Mason), find themselves in bitter conflict both for the throne of their Norse kingdom and for the love of the beautiful maiden Alwin (Pauline Starke). The story follows Leif's journey as he discovers new lands across the Atlantic, becoming one of the first Europeans to set foot in North America centuries before Columbus. As the brothers' rivalry intensifies, political intrigue, betrayal, and epic battles ensue, with Alwin caught between their competing affections. The film culminates in a dramatic confrontation that determines not only their personal fates but also the future of Viking exploration and settlement in the New World.

Historical Background

Released in 1928, 'The Viking' emerged during a pivotal period in cinema history, just as the industry was transitioning from silent films to sound. The late 1920s saw tremendous experimentation with new technologies, including synchronized sound and color processes. The film's production coincided with the height of the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties, a period of economic prosperity and cultural dynamism in America. There was also significant contemporary interest in exploration and adventure stories, reflecting the public's fascination with discovery and the pioneering spirit. The film's focus on Viking exploration resonated with American audiences' growing interest in their own history of exploration and settlement. Additionally, 1928 was the year of the first Academy Awards ceremony, highlighting the film industry's move toward greater professionalism and recognition of technical achievements.

Making Of

The production of 'The Viking' was a groundbreaking but challenging endeavor due to its pioneering use of Technicolor. The two-color process required specially modified cameras that were significantly heavier and bulkier than standard black and white cameras, making location shooting particularly difficult. The film's cinematographer, Ray Rennahan, had to work with extremely bright lighting levels to achieve proper color exposure, often requiring the use of massive reflectors and additional lighting equipment. The production company invested heavily in the color technology, viewing this film as a showcase for what Technicolor could achieve. The cast and crew faced additional challenges working with the slower film stock required for the color process, which meant scenes had to be lit and choreographed differently than in typical silent films. The Viking ship sequences were particularly complex, requiring the construction of full-scale vessels that could actually sail, with cameras mounted on special platforms to capture the maritime action.

Visual Style

The cinematography by Ray Rennahan was groundbreaking for its time, utilizing the early two-color Technicolor process to create vivid images despite the technical limitations. The system used red and green filters to create a color image, resulting in a distinctive but somewhat limited color palette that couldn't reproduce true blue tones. Rennahan had to work with extremely bright lighting conditions and special cameras that were significantly larger and heavier than standard equipment. The film features impressive long shots of the Viking ships at sea, elaborate battle sequences with hundreds of extras, and carefully composed interior scenes that maximized the color effects. The cinematography demonstrates remarkable technical skill in working with the primitive color technology, creating images that were both artistically composed and technically impressive for the era. The visual style emphasizes the epic scale of the story, with sweeping landscapes and dramatic compositions that take full advantage of the color process.

Innovations

The most significant technical achievement of 'The Viking' was its successful implementation of the two-color Technicolor process throughout an entire feature-length film. This required the development of special cameras that simultaneously exposed two strips of film through red and green filters, which were then cemented together to create the final color prints. The production team had to overcome numerous technical challenges, including the need for extremely bright lighting (often requiring 3-4 times the illumination of black and white filming), the bulkiness of the special cameras, and the limited color palette of the process. The film also featured impressive practical effects, including full-scale Viking ships that could actually sail, extensive battle sequences with thousands of extras, and location filming that presented additional challenges for the color process. The successful completion of the film demonstrated that color cinematography could be practical for feature-length productions, paving the way for future color films.

Music

As a silent film, 'The Viking' would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The original score was composed by Josiah Zuro, who created a series of musical cues designed to enhance the film's dramatic moments and action sequences. The music incorporated elements inspired by Norse folk melodies and Wagnerian themes to evoke the Viking setting. Theater orchestras would have used the published score to accompany screenings, with the music varying in complexity depending on the size of the venue's musical ensemble. The score included specific themes for the main characters, dramatic motifs for the battle scenes, and romantic themes for the love story elements. While the original orchestral parts have not survived in complete form, contemporary accounts suggest that the music was an integral part of the film's theatrical presentation, helping to convey the epic scale of the story.

Memorable Scenes

• The dramatic Viking ship launch sequence, with the massive vessel sliding into the sea while hundreds of onlookers cheer
• The epic battle between the Viking forces, featuring thousands of extras and spectacular choreography
• The first sighting of North America from the Viking ship, with the explorers gazing at the new shore
• The climactic confrontation between the half-brothers, set against a dramatic sunset backdrop
• The storm at sea sequence, with the Viking ship battling massive waves and thunder

What Critics Said

Contemporary critics praised 'The Viking' primarily for its technical achievements and visual spectacle, with many reviews focusing on the impressive use of color rather than the narrative or performances. The New York Times noted that 'the color photography adds a new dimension to the screen story' while Variety called it 'a triumph of photographic artistry.' Some critics found the plot somewhat conventional but acknowledged that the visual elements more than compensated for any narrative shortcomings. Modern film historians and critics recognize the film's historical importance as an early color feature, though they often note the limitations of the two-color process and the film's somewhat melodramatic storytelling typical of the silent era. The film is frequently cited in discussions of early color cinema and is regarded as an important milestone in the development of color film technology.

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1928 were reportedly fascinated by the film's use of color, with many attending specifically to experience this new cinematic technology. The visual spectacle of the Viking ships, costumes, and landscapes in color created a strong impression on viewers who had only seen black and white films. While the story itself was considered entertaining but not exceptional, the novelty of the color presentation made the film a moderate box office success. Contemporary audience accounts suggest that viewers were particularly impressed by the battle sequences and the maritime scenes, which benefited most from the color photography. The film's release timing, just before the full transition to sound films, meant it was somewhat overshadowed by the coming talkie revolution, but those who saw it remembered it primarily for its pioneering use of color.

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