The Norseman (1978)
Genre: Action | Adventure
Country: USA | Director: Charles B. Pierce
Language: English | Subtitles: None
Aspect ratio: Cinemascope 2.35:1 | Length: 90mn
HDTVrip H264 Mkv – 1280×544 – 23.976fps – 1.85gb
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078007/
A band of courageous Vikings led by mighty warrior Thorvald (woodenly played with hopelessly stiff earnestness by Lee Majors) go to America to rescue their beloved Norse king Eurich (Mel Ferrer sporting laughable flowing blonde hair and beard) from the evil clutches of a savage tribe of Iroquois Indians.
Writer/director Charles B. Pierce really fumbles the ball with often uproarious results: The dodgy accents, highly questionable historical accuracy, glaring anachronisms, some seriously egregious casting (Jerry Lewis movie regular Kathleen Freeman as an irate old Indian woman and Jack Elam as a sinister wizard complete with cowl, falcon, and hunchback win the grand booby prizes), clumsy use of strenuous slow motion, the ridiculously solemn narration, and a few ineptly staged battle set pieces all give this gloriously atrocious gut-buster a certain irresistible kitschy allure.
Cornel Wilde fares well as the noble Ragnar, the luscious Susie Coelho cuts a mighty fetching figure in revealing animal skins as helpful fair maiden Winetta, and Jimmy Clem manages to be both credible and endearing as lionhearted mute hulk Olif. Jamie Mendoza-Nava’s thunderous score hits the stirring spot. Robert Bethard’s sumptuous widescreen cinematography provides a handsome sweeping look. An absolute hoot and a half.
Oh my gawd, the Fall guy Lee Majors as a Viking! He must have been in dire need of a paycheck or something.