8 Most Iconic Kirk Douglas Roles

5. Einar - The Vikings (1958)

Before Travis Fimmel brought the viking saga of Ragnar Lothbrook and his Sons to our television screens, Douglas brought the story of history's most famous viking to the silver screen in 1958.

Adapted from the book The Viking by Edison Marshall, rather than directly from the sagas themselves, Douglas plays the role of Einar, Ragnar’s son and heir, rather than Ragnar himself. A loose adaptation, the story mainly focuses on the relationship and bitter rivalry between Einar and his half brother Eric (Tony Curtis), rather than strictly following the events of the sagas themselves (though they are incorporated), who both compete for the affections of Morgana, a Welsh princess.

Blinded in one eye and sporting a pretty gnarly scar, Douglas’ plays the villainous Einar with his trademark intensity which borders on the terrifying, and is even further magnified with his fearsome look. He clashes against the more clean cut appearance of Curtis as Eric, and their on screen chemistry as feuding brothers is palpable.

While some critics criticised the story for being too simple or too slow, the impressive production and use of Norway’s natural landscape gave the film an epic visual scope, filmed almost as if it was a Western shot in Monument Valley. This combined with Douglas star appeal helped make the film a smash hit at the box office, and one of the biggest commercial hits of his career.