Erik the Viking is a 1989 film written and directed by Terry Jones, who also makes an appearance in it. The film was inspired by Jones's children's book The Saga of Erik the Viking (1983), but the plot is completely different. The original US cut of the film runs to 100 minutes. Unhappy with the film's slow pacing, Jones prepared a 90-minute cut for the British market, but was frustrated that he had not been given enough time to edit the film to his satisfaction. In 2006 Jones was given the opportunity of re-editing the film for DVD. Jones delegated the actual editing work to his son Bill, who produced a 75-minute "Director's Son's Cut" with re-ordered scenes and much tighter pacing as well as a completely remixed and re-dubbed soundtrack. Jones considered this highly appropriate because the original book was written for Bill.
