The Long Ships

After the success of The Vikings, Jack Cardiff's film jumped on the bandwagon with this all-action adventure. Richard Widmark plays Rolfe, a pirate Viking who beguiles his men with the story of 'The Mother of Voices', a huge bell made of solid gold. But his stories reach Aly Mansuh (Sidney Poitier), the leader of an army of Moors, who capture Rolfe and his crew. Mansuh and Rolfe form an uneasy alliance as they set off in search of the treasure, with only Rolfe knowing its true location. Escaping from Mansuh, Rolfe returns home and, with a fresh ship, sets off to be first to capture the bell; but Mansuh is hot on his trail and the prize will go to the swiftest and bravest. The film isn't the pinnacle of either actor's career but the action deflects from the plot, and Oscar Homolka as a slobby Viking and ex-circus tumbler Russ Tambyn as an energetic swordsman steal their respective scenes.