Another "help me ID the movie" thread

Cafe Society
1

I’m trying to learn the title of a movie I saw on television when I was in grade school. I can only remember one scene, which is weird, because I’m sure I saw the movie twice. A recent discussion I was having, concerning execution devices(don’t ask) brought this movie to mind again.

There are these barbarian types in a more civilized city. They have been captured and are facing death. The guy in charge of the city(he was black) is angry at the barbarians for not telling him something. So he tells them “You shall ride The Mare of Steel!” Why I can recall that dialogue so clearly is a mystery.

The Mare is a tall incline, like a stair bannister, with a big slicey thing at the bottom. So a guy gets tied to the top, slides down, and more or less is cut in half.
The guy in charge also has his wife(who is white) pick out one of his own soldiers to ride the Mare, just to show the barbarians what they are in for.

I find it odd that I can see this whole scene so clearly, and not get the rest of the movie. Maybe it impressed me because I was just a young kid when I saw it. I’m 49, and I had to have been no more than eight or nine when I saw the movie, so it couldn’t have been made past the mid-60’s.

Maybe if someone can ID the show the rest of the movie will cascade out of my memory. Thanks if you can help.

2

The Long Ships?

3

Oh, yeah - it must be The Long Ships. That black guy? Sidney Poitier.

4

Oh geez, I’d successfully repressed that memory until I opened this thread. That scene haunted me for years. I have no idea when or why I saw that movie.

5

Oh my God, that’s it. I went to your link and started reading through the review(which pans it, btw)… I wasn’t sure, but then I got to the part about the bell, and clicked on a scene in which the bell is discovered at last. Then I remembered a clapper in the bell.

So the barbarians were Vikings, huh? And that was Sidney Poitier? Geez, as bad as the review makes it out to be, maybe someone has it to rent.

I think what the reviewer said about the Mare, and about kids watching it, must be right. I sure know that was the only scene my memory focused on.

6

So, IrreverentTone…do you believe in Allah? :smiley:

7

I am not coming over to play on your slide, Ranchoth.

::sticks tongue out and runs::