Sunday, September 9, 2012

Photo of the Day

Cameron Mitchell tries to keep the enemy at bay in THE LAST OF THE VIKINGS

Of all the Viking films made in Italy during the PEPLUM explosion, this is by far my favorite. It contains 3 or 4 stand-out scenes and even though the story is, in part, just cliches it still works. But the thing which sets this film from the others is Edmund Purdom's over-the-top performance as King Sveno. Some might not like it but I thought it was memorable and points out how the other Viking films lacked a central villain like King Sveno to make the hero's journey that much more perilous. The only negative from this film is the soundtrack which is mostly stock music from other films but this is one of those films I like to watch over and over again.

5 comments:

S.R.Orsulak said...

This is #2 on my list. Guess what #1 is. Good movie and Cameron Mitchell made a lot of good PEPS.

PEPLUM cinema said...

The Invincible Gladiator?

Cameron did a lot of good films in Europe. It didn't help his career in the US though.

S.R.Orsulak said...

Good guess, but considering that I was thinking along the lines of Middle Ages THE VIKINGS is my top choice.

PEPLUM cinema said...

OK, got ya. Yes, THE VIKINGS is great.

Richard Svensson said...

I'd like to see a decently restored version of this film. I only have a blurry, faded-out print on DVD.
Mitchell was a very dedicated action-oriented actor, and held in high regard in my native Sweden, not least because of his role as uncle Buck on the TV Western "High Chaparral".