The Forgotten Movie That Earned Kirk Douglas a Fortune

Kirk Douglas was known for his intense acting and explosive energy on screen. He became a major box-office star in the 1950s, famous for his roles in serious dramas, westerns, and war films. But beyond his powerful performances, Douglas was also a sharp and ambitious businessman.

Early in his career, he made a bold move to gain more control over his projects and his financial future. Unhappy with the studio system, he decided to form his own production company, a decision that would eventually lead to one of the most lucrative deals of his career, born out of a period of significant financial distress.

This pivotal film, a grand historical epic, is not always the first one people remember when thinking of the legendary actor. Yet, it was this movie that pulled him out of a deep financial hole and secured his wealth for years to come. The film in question is the 1958 action-adventure, The Vikings.

At a time when he owed a substantial amount of money to the IRS due to bad advice from a former agent, Douglas made a risky but ultimately brilliant decision. Instead of taking a salary for his leading role, he opted for a 60% share of the film’s profits.

The Vikings was produced by Douglas’s own company, Bryna Productions, which he had established in 1949 and named after his mother. The company allowed him to not only star in films but also to have a direct hand in their creation and financing.

For The Vikings, Douglas poured significant resources into the production, ensuring a high level of authenticity and spectacle. The budget was substantial for its time, eventually rising to over $3 million, a gamble that required Douglas to invest his own assets.

The film’s story is based on the 1951 novel The Viking by Edison Marshall, which itself draws from the Norse sagas of Ragnar Lodbrok and his sons. Douglas played Einar, the fierce and arrogant son of the Viking chieftain Ragnar, portrayed by Ernest Borgnine. The plot centers on the conflict between Einar and a slave named Eric, played by Tony Curtis.

Unbeknownst to them, they are half-brothers, with Eric being the illegitimate son of Ragnar and an English queen. Their rivalry intensifies over their competition for the affection of a captive princess, Morgana, played by Janet Leigh, who was married to Tony Curtis at the time.

The narrative is filled with action, betrayal, and dramatic sword fights. The story begins with Ragnar’s raids on England, leading to the birth of Eric, who is hidden away to protect his claim to the Northumbrian throne. Years later, Eric and Einar’s paths cross, leading to a bitter feud that culminates in a climactic duel for both the princess and honor.

The movie was praised for its stunning visuals, captured by the famed cinematographer Jack Cardiff. Filming took place in natural locations in Norway and France, adding to the epic scale of the production. The sight of Viking longships gliding across the water became an iconic image from the film.

Upon its release, The Vikings was a massive commercial success. It was a hit with audiences in the United States and internationally, becoming one of the top-grossing films of 1958. The movie earned an impressive $6.2 million in the U.S. and Canada and another $7 million overseas.

This box office triumph meant that Douglas’s gamble paid off spectacularly. His 60% share of the profits was estimated to have earned him around $3 million, a huge sum at the time. This financial windfall not only cleared his tax debts but also provided the capital for his next major production, the even more famous epic, Spartacus.

Despite its initial success and its importance to Douglas’s career, The Vikings is often overshadowed by his other, more critically acclaimed films like Paths of Glory and Spartacus. Some critics at the time dismissed it as a simple action movie, a “Norse Opera.”

Over the years, it has sometimes been viewed as a warm-up for Spartacus, which reunited Douglas and Tony Curtis two years later and went on to become a cinematic landmark. However, The Vikings was highly influential in its own right, sparking a wave of Viking-themed films and even a television series produced by Douglas’s company.

For Kirk Douglas, The Vikings was more than just another movie. It was a testament to his foresight as one of the first major actors to successfully create and run his own production company. It demonstrated his willingness to take calculated risks and his understanding of the movie business beyond acting.

While it may be a “forgotten” blockbuster in the minds of some, its financial impact on Kirk Douglas was undeniable, securing his position not just as a Hollywood star, but as a powerful and independent force in the film industry.

What are your thoughts on The Vikings? Have you seen this classic film? Share your opinions in the comments below.