There have been very few films dealing with these scandinavian warriors. These were the first words uttered on screen by richard widmark, who has died aged 93. Based on the swedish novel, the long ships by frans g. The obituary was featured in legacy on march 26, 2008, and the times on march 28, 2008. By contrast, the long ships comes off as a feeble joke, an unfunny satire on actioncostume pictures. Cross, whose harmless adaption of a frans bengtsson novel is hardly affecting. Overview based on the book by frank bengtsson, this 1964 film tells the tale of viking brothers rolf richard widmark and orm russ tamblyn, who are hunting for a mythical golden bell.
Richard widmark richard weedt widmark was an american film, stage and television actor and producer. Though 1964s the long ships was directed by jack cardiff, the cinematographer of the vikings, the similarities do not go much farther. A highseas actionadventure film with a viking warrior and moorish chief who race against time to find a hidden treasure, the long lost and priceless golden bell. Becoming richard widmark covers everything you may have wanted to know about this hollywood legend, maybe more.
For this, theyve stolen the norse kings ship and abducted his daughter beba loncar. Kirk douglas, sidney poitier, robert wagner and doris day are among the few who have outlived him and are still with us. Mar 27, 2011 this is the fantastic opening theme music to the 1963 britishyugoslavian viking film, the long ships. He entered illinois lake forest college with plans to earn a law degree, but gravitated instead to the colleges theater department. Initially, robert taylor was lined up to play rolfe, the norse leader of a gaggle of seafarers bent on finding a huge golden bell known as the mother of voices, but when that idea fell through the producers fixed upon george peppard as his replacement. Even though the role was small, widmark stole the picture. Lionel barrymore, in one of his last roles plays captain bering joy great name, a well worn captain nearing retirement and quite set in his perceptions of the right way to do things. Richard widmark centennial brian camps film and anime blog. Rent the long ships 1964 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix. Sell richard widmark advised the studios publicity manual that an alert 20th century fox sent to theater owners. Though never considered in the same star category as burt lancaster or gregory peck, his era, widmark nonetheless established himself as a dependable and popular leading man in westerns, dramas, adventures, gangster and war films, and by 1984, he had appeared. The long ships also features russ tamblyn and oscar homolka. As viking brothers rolfe richard widmark and orm russ tamblyn steal a norse kings funeral ship and head off in search of the prize with the late royals daughter, they must do battle with a group of vengeful moorish troops led by evil prince sidney poitier.
Take to the high seas with this thrilling saga chronicling the race to find a fabled treasure known as the golden bell. Viking seamen battle a moorish prince for possession of a golden bell imdb. A vagabond viking adventurer and a moor both compete to. Like so many, he attends college to become a lawyer but he was derailed by the acting bug.
Clearly a labor of love for first time and selfpublished author kassabaum, the book is extensively researched and nicely written if prone to wander far afield of the primary subject. Richard widmark, sidney poitier, russ tamblyn, rosanna schiaffino, oskar homolka, edward judd, lionel jeffries, beba loncar, clifford evans, gordon. As one of the premier rare book sites on the internet, alibris has thousands of rare books, first editions, and signed books available. The long ships by jack cardiff jack cardiff, richard.
With big stars such as richard widmark and sidney poitier, its hard to go wrong. Richard widmark short bio richard widmark was born in minnesota and always had an interest in movies. It was one of the most striking debuts in hollywood history. If i had to pick a favorite widmark movie, it would be run for the sun. Down to the sea in ships 1949 with richard widmark. In this elaborately mounted seafaring adventure, rolfe richard widmark is a. Widmark produced and starred in the films time limit 1957, the secret ways 1961 based on a novel by alistair maclean, which widmark also directed uncredited due to. Richard widmark, sidney poitier, russ tamblyn, rosanna schiaffino, oskar homolka, edward judd, lionel jeffries, beba loncar. Bengtsson 19411945, retaining little more than the title of the english. Mar 20, 2020 richard widmark, american actor born dec.
Our marketplace offers a huge selection of movies from sellers worldwide. Men like john wayne,robert mitchum, humphrey bogart, william holden. Check out richard widmark s career compared to current and classic actors. A vagabond viking adventurer and a moor both compete to find the mother of all voices, a legendary golden bell near the pillars of hercules. Crafty viking sea captain rolfe richard widmark stages the sacrifice of a maiden to satisfy the rebellions sven edward judd in the long ships, 1964. The long ships is a movie starring sydney poitier as a moorish king named aly mansuh. I do not own this music or anything else that has to do with the film or the novel by frans. The son of a traveling salesman, actor richard widmark had lived in six different midwestern towns by the time he was a teenager. Shop movies starring richard widmark on dvd, vhs, and rare video formats at alibris.
Richard widmark december 26, 1914 march 24, 2008 was an american actor of movies, stage, radio and television. His daughter with wife jean hazlewood, anne heath widmark, an artist and author, married baseball legend sandy koufax on january 1, 1969. Kiss of death 1947 and other noir thrillers established widmark as part of a new generation of american movie actors who became stars in the post. Though never considered in the same star category as burt lancaster or gregory peck, his era, widmark nonetheless established himself as a dependable and popular leading man in westerns, dramas, adventures, gangster and war films. Filmed at what one might saw was the end of the classic epic picture which was so prevalent in the 1950s, the long ships has a rather odd pairing of richard widmark and sidney poitier in the lead roles, as a delinquent yet playful son of a viking lord, and a moorish ruler, respectively. Sidney poitier, richard widmark, rosanna schiaffino, oscar homolka, jack cardiff, irving allen, warwick film productions. Sep 18, 2014 filmed at what one might saw was the end of the classic epic picture which was so prevalent in the 1950s, the long ships has a rather odd pairing of richard widmark and sidney poitier in the lead roles, as a delinquent yet playful son of a viking lord, and a moorish ruler, respectively. The family moved around before settling in princeton, ill. His original ambition was to become a lawyer, so he enrolled at lake forest. Richard widmark biography, movie highlights and photos. This is the fantastic opening theme music to the 1963 britishyugoslavian viking film, the long ships. He is best known for his role as tommy udo in his first movie, kiss of death. Richard widmark sword fights a man in a scene from the film the long ships, 1964.
After stealing the norse kings funeral ship as well as his attractive daughter, gerda beba loncar and his brothers rolfe widmark and orm russ tamblyn sail off to find the fabled mother of voices, a solid gold bell as tall as three tall men. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Richard widmark established himself as an icon of american cinema with his debut in the 1947 film noir kiss of death 1947 in which he won a best supporting actor academy award nomination as the killer tommy udo. The long ships rolfe 1964 how the west was won mike king 1962 judgment at nuremberg col. Richard widmark has passed away at 93, after a long illness. The long ships is a 1964 angloyugoslav adventure film shot in technirama directed by jack cardiff and stars richard widmark, sidney poitier and russ tamblyn. Richard weedt widmark december 26, 1914 march 24, 2008 was an american film, stage, and television actor and producer he was nominated for an academy award for his role as the villainous tommy udo in his debut film, kiss of death 1947, for which he also won the golden globe award for most promising newcomer. For the rest of us who like pure entertainment, the long ships is an exciting voyage. Rolfe tells others sailors of the mother of voices, a mammoth bell made of gold and as tall as three men, but he adds enough incorrect details to throw them. The cast also features eric portman, james macarthur, martin balsam and wally cox, as well as early appearances by donald sutherland and ed bishop. Dec 29, 2014 richard widmark would have turned 100 this coming friday, december 26, 2014.
He died only six years ago on march 24, 2008, at the age of 93, having outlived 95% of his costars from the golden age of hollywood. Filmed at what one might saw was the end of the classic epic picture which was so prevalent in the 1950s, the long ships has a rather odd pairing of richard widmark and sidney poitier in the lead roles. He stayed on after graduation as a drama instructor, then headed to new york to find. Warlock 1959 richard widmark, henry fonda, anthony quinn a famous gunman becomes the marshal of warlock to end a gangs rampages, but is met with some opposition by a former. Vec etabliran na radiju i pozornici, duboko je impresionirao hollywood svojim filmskim debijem kao psihopatski gangster tommy udo u film noiru kiss of death. Less drawn to showstopping outbursts than john goodman but much more of a star, only slightly more flamboyant and extroverted than red garland, the most recorded and least obtrusive jazz musician ever, richard widmark may well have been the most dependable actor of his generation. Widmark and poitier became close friends and subsequently worked together on the long ships 1964 and the bedford incident 1965, a serious version of dr strangelove. Long will you remember the men and the might of the long ships.
Richard widmark uses his patented chortling laugh, but is essentially charmless as a douglas fairbanksstyle rogue, the sort who will lie to his own brother for another chance to. We dont see the likes of actors like richard widmark anymore. The long ships was a somewhat lame britishyugoslavian joint venture, shot around belgrade over six months in 19634. On the surface down to the sea in ships is a simple whaling story set in the late 19 th century. Meanwhile they kidnap a viking princess beba loncar and hold her for security. Before long, widmarks abducted taylors fiance patricia owens and theyre all headed into comanche territory and the comanches are on the warpath. Richard widmark richard widmark when richard widmark deserted villainy the screen lost one of its best villains. With richard widmarks viking raiders and sidney poitiers moorish hordes in bloody. So went the publicity blurb for this entertaining rehash of nordic history. The long ships original trailer featuring sydney poitier as. This biobibliography is the first book to examine the life and career of one of hollywoods most durable leading men, richard widmark.
Their daughter anne married 60s baseball star sandy koufax. The long ships by jack cardiff jack cardiff, richard widmark. In this elaborately mounted seafaring adventure, rolfe richard widmark is a viking leader with the cunning and devious mind of a pirate. Unable to find another ship, he steals a magnificent funeral ship made for the king, harald, and.
Widmark continued to appear in a number of successful films, including the tunnel of love 1959 with doris day, the westerns warlock also 1959 with henry fonda, and john waynes the alamo 1960, the courtroom drama judgment at nuremberg 1961, and reuniting with sidney poitier in the adventure the long ships 1964. Widmark was born in the farming community of sunrise, minnesota, where his swedishborn father ran the general store. Information page about the long ships starring richard widmark, sidney poitier, russ tamblyn and more on netflix uk from mafts newonnetflixuk based on the book by frank bengtsson, this 1964 film tells the tale of viking brothers rolf and orm, who are hunting for a. After stealing the norse kings funeral ship as well as his attractive. Anywayfor history scholars and lovers of authenticitystay away. This movie is about vikings so i love it no matter what. The long ships 1964 with richard widmark classic film. Some of you may have seen the movie of the same name starring richard widmark and sidney poitier. The long ships is a rollicking, actionpacked viking adventure saga starring richard widmark best supporting actor oscarr nominee, kiss of death, 1947 and sidney poitier oscarrwinning best actor,lilies of the field, 1963. Richard widmark and sidney poitier star in this viking adventure film directed by jack cardiff. Richard widmark uses his patented chortling laugh, but is essentially charmless as a douglas fairbanksstyle rogue, the sort who will lie to his own brother for another chance to go to sea.
Richard widmark simple english wikipedia, the free. Apr 25, 2017 the long ships was a somewhat lame britishyugoslavian joint venture, shot around belgrade over six months in 19634. Rolf richard widmark as leader of a band of norsemen along with his brother orn russ tamblyn stealing a ship sets sail for the unknown land in search of a missing solidgold bell. Mar 24, 2008 richard widmark was married for 55 years to jean hazelwood, a former actress and occasional screenwriter who wrote the script for her husbands 1961 film the secret ways 1961. He was nominated for an academy award for his role as the villainous tommy udo in his debut film, kiss of death, for which he also won the golden globe award for most promising newcomer.
As a hero, to be blunt, he is secondrate oh, likeable, full of integrity, conscientious and all of that, but when he is tough and cocky it is a long. Widmark died at age 93 in 2008, of health complications following a fractured vertebra. The long ships or red orm is an adventure novel by the swedish writer frans g. If fords iconic location could speak, in fact, it might sound like this. Bengtsson was a swede who originally wrote the long ships as two books, which were later combined. Initially, robert taylor was lined up to play rolfe, the norse leader of a gaggle of seafarers bent on finding a huge golden bell known as the mother of voices, but when that idea fell through the producers fixed upon george peppard as his. Richard widmark would have turned 100 this coming friday, december 26, 2014. Richard widmark, sidney poitier, russ tamblyn, rosanna schiaffino, oskar homolka, edward judd, lionel jeffries, beba loncar, clifford.
Unbowed at 87, richard widmark s voice is an unmistakable sound, resonant of a lost hollywood, and it remains as strong today as back when he was leading cavalry troops through monument valley for john ford. The long ships film the long ships is a 1964 angloyugoslav adventure film shot in technirama directed by jack cardiff and stars richard widmark, sidney poitier and russ tamblyn. The press books announced sidney poitier in his first nonnegro role. The 1964 britishyugoslav film the long ships starring richard widmark and sidney poitier very loosely based on the book, retaining little more. When it came out it was really quite successful as a light, slightly comedic kind of thriller. Viking brothers rolfe widmark and orm russ tamblyn, west side storysteal. Eric finlander, the maniacal commander who drives his tense crew to the brink of nervous exhaustion. Rent the long ships 1964 starring richard widmark and sidney poitier on dvd and bluray. The long ships is a rollicking, actionpacked viking adventure saga starring richard widmark best supporting actor oscar nominee, kiss of death, 1947 and sidney poitier oscarwinning best actor,lilies of the field, 1963. Rolfe tells others sailors of the mother of voices, a mammoth bell made of gold and as tall as three men, but he adds enough incorrect details to throw them off the proper trail. Richard widmark simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The author max zorn, now in his early 60s, is on a promotional book tour in new york when he meets up again with the woman he could never forget.
With richard widmarks viking raiders and sidney poitiers moorish hordes in bloody combat over a huge, golden bell. Richard and susan widmark now live in connecticut, in a rural part of the state, among lush green hills and narrow country lanes. Richard widmark celebrity profile check out the latest richard widmark photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Cardiff had problems with producer irving allen a reputation for being a nasty piece of work and lead actor richard widmark, as well as rewrites of the script, and from the final result you can understand his. He learns the whereabouts of a legendary bell made of solid gold.
Inspired by the success of the vikings 1958 starring kirk douglas and tony curtis, producer irving allen used swedish writer frans bengtssons wellresearched novel the long ships and dumbed it down for his own. Fan comments for richard widmark turner classic movies. Richard widmark was one of the real men of the movies. Apr 12, 2015 i will put forth the greatest viking novel is frans g. With richard widmark, sidney poitier, russ tamblyn, rosanna schiaffino. Kirk douglas made the best one of course, which the long ships emulates, particularly the long ship entering the fjord.
Richard widmark made three movies with sidney poitier1950s no way out, 1964s the long ships and 1965s the bedford incident. Take it from us, the long ships is a big one for the eye, if not the mind. Jake wade robert taylor wants to go straight, but his old partner richard widmark wants to know where he buried the loot from an old bank job. Sidney poitier is ben munceford, a photojournalist aboard the bedford, assigned to record a typical mission. The long ships 1964 with richard widmark classic film freak. The film was very loosely based on the swedish novel the long ships by frans g.