In preparation for Roy and my discussion on Friday night about “The Vikings” (1958), on Roy’s Tie-Dye Sci-Fi Corner, I was brushing up on legendary cinematographer Jack Cardiff, who was responsible for the film’s breathtaking visuals (many of them captured on-location at the fjords of Hardanger, Norway). “The Vikings” was produced by Kirk Douglas and directed by Richard Fleisher (who helmed “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” “Fantastic Voyage,” and one of my favorite films noirs, “The Narrow Margin”). Cardiff also worked with Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger on “Black Narcissus” and “The Red Shoes,” John Huston on “The African Queen,” and Alfred Hitchcock on “Under Capricorn.”

Occasionally, he took the director’s chair himself. Riding the box office success of “The Vikings,” he was given the opportunity to direct another Viking adventure, “The Long Ships” (which, alas, has little to do with the absurdly entertaining source novel by Frans G. Bengtsson). He received his greatest acclaim in that capacity for an adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s “Sons and Lovers,” which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including one for Best Director.

This is all preamble to the revelation of my discovery that Cardiff once lensed a film called “The Great Mr. Handel” (1942). Coincidentally, Friday, the day of our “Vikings” discussion, also happened to be George Frideric Handel’s birthday! Here’s a link to the film, surely an agreeable diversion for a Sunday afternoon. It looks like it may even include the episode in which the irascible composer threatened to drop a soprano out the window!

If you’re interested, Roy and I raise our drinking horns to Odin, as we converse about “The Vikings,” here:

Roy will welcome back filmmaker Jeffrey Morris, founder and CEO of FutureDude Entertainment, to update viewers on the progress of his current documentary, “The Eagle Obsession.” The film centers on the continued resonance of the iconic spacecraft created for the television series “Space: 1999.” Morris’ appearance will stream at a special time, on Facebook, YouTube, etc., this Wednesday evening at 8:30 EST.

https://www.facebook.com/roystiedyescificorner

We’ll be taking off on Friday. More time for me to catch up on half-forgotten composer biopics!