After a disastrous voyage in which he loses his ship and all his crew, Richard Widmark journeys back from the Mediterranean to Norway (apparently swimming all the way). He say she has discovered the location of a giant bell made of solid gold (don’t ask how well something like that would ring), and along with his brother (Russ Tamblyn) steals the king’s funeral boat(along with his daughter). Off they go for many wild adventures. As you can probably guess, this is an exceedingly silly film, from its eccentric casting on down. But it is very entertaining, and doesn’t take itself seriously.
Audio
The soundtrack is mono, and is all right, but could be better. The dialogue and general background noises are clear enough, but the music (especially under the opening credits) is rather tinny, and sounds much older than 1963. There is also some background hiss. It isn’t bad, but is enough to be noticeable.
Video
The format is the original 2.20:1 anamorphic widescreen. The print is in very good shape(there is a moment of minor damage about 35 minutes in, but you’d barely notice it). There are no speckles at all, no grain to worry about, and accurate flesh tones. The colours are great: deep,deep blacks, scarlet reds. A very vivid viewing experience.
Special Features
You’ve got trailers for The Long Ships, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, and The Golden Voyage of Sinbad. The menu is basic.
Closing Thoughts
Silly, foolish, but a rousing good time, particularly if you catch it in the right mood.
