The Viking (1931 film): Difference between revisions
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==Production== |
==Production== |
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American-born producer Varick Frissell's previous [[short film|short films]], ''The Lure of Labrador'' and ''The Swilin' Racket'', gave him interest to make a full-length feature entitled ''Vikings of the Ice Field''. [[Paramount Pictures]] put up $100,000 to finance the production while insisting that Hollywood personnel be used. Frissell hired director [[George Melford]], who went to [[McGill University]] in [[Montreal]] and had experience in filming Canadian subjects previously.<ref name="Rist" />. |
American-born producer Varick Frissell's previous [[short film|short films]], ''The Lure of Labrador'' and ''The Swilin' Racket'', gave him interest to make a full-length feature entitled ''Vikings of the Ice Field''. [[Paramount Pictures]] put up $100,000 to finance the production while insisting that Hollywood personnel be used. Frissell hired director [[George Melford]], who went to [[McGill University]] in [[Montreal]] and had experience in filming Canadian subjects previously.<ref name="Rist" />. |
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Frissell filmed most of ''The Viking'' (named for a sealing ship) in [[Quidi Vidi]] in 1930. For realistic footage, Frissell then took his crew to the [[Grand Banks]] and [[Labrador]] to collect exciting action sequences. The film debuted at the [[Nickel Theatre]] at [[St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador|St. John's]] on March 5, 1931, where Frissell decided that his movie needed more real scenes from the Labrador ice floes. Within days, Frissell with his crew had joined the [[SS Viking|SS ''Viking'']] for its annual seal hunt. The ship got trapped in ice near the [[Horse Islands (Newfoundland and Labrador)|Horse Islands]]. On this second voyage to obtain more footage for the film, Frissell, Alexander Penrod, and 25<ref name=CFE/> or 26 other film crew members were killed in an explosion while trying to film an iceberg.<ref name="Rist">Rist 2001, p.230</ref><ref name="Rhodes95">Rhodes 2001, p. 95</ref> |
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==Reception== |
==Reception== |
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Revision as of 11:42, 15 April 2012
| The Viking | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | George Melford |
| Written by | Garnett Weston |
| Produced by | Varick Frissell |
| Starring | Louise Huntington Charles Starrett Arthur Vinton Robert Bartlett |
| Cinematography | Alfred Gandolfi Maurice Kellerman Alexander G. Penrod |
| Edited by | H.P. Carver |
| Distributed by | J. D. Williams |
Release date | 21 June 1931 |
Running time | 70 min. |
| Countries | Newfoundland United States |
The Viking (1931) is a Newfoundland and American adventure film directed by George Melford. It was "the first film to record sound and dialogue on location".[1] It is best known for the explosion aboard the ship SS Viking during filming, in which many members of the crew, including producer Varick Frissell, were killed.[1]
Plot
The film is set on the coasts of Newfoundland and focuses on the rivalry between a seal hunter and a local jinx. Worried that the jinx may attempt to steal his girlfriend, the seal-hunter forces the alleged coward to accompany him on an Arctic expedition. They both end up in a hunting party on the ice floes and eventually find themselves stranded. The hunter tries to kill the jinx, but the snow blinds him and he misses. Despite the murder attempt, the jinx helps the hunter back to the safety of their ship called The Viking. On recovering his sight, the hunter gains new respect for the jinx and vows that he will beat senseless any man who derides the character of his new friend.
Production
American-born producer Varick Frissell's previous short films, The Lure of Labrador and The Swilin' Racket, gave him interest to make a full-length feature entitled Vikings of the Ice Field. Paramount Pictures put up $100,000 to finance the production while insisting that Hollywood personnel be used. Frissell hired director George Melford, who went to McGill University in Montreal and had experience in filming Canadian subjects previously.[2].
Frissell filmed most of The Viking (named for a sealing ship) in Quidi Vidi in 1930. For realistic footage, Frissell then took his crew to the Grand Banks and Labrador to collect exciting action sequences. The film debuted at the Nickel Theatre at St. John's on March 5, 1931, where Frissell decided that his movie needed more real scenes from the Labrador ice floes. Within days, Frissell with his crew had joined the SS Viking for its annual seal hunt. The ship got trapped in ice near the Horse Islands. On this second voyage to obtain more footage for the film, Frissell, Alexander Penrod, and 25[1] or 26 other film crew members were killed in an explosion while trying to film an iceberg.[2][3]
Despite the tragedy, the film was completed and released in June 1931. The title was changed from White Thunder to The Viking.
Reception
Reviews for the film varied, while the story was generally berated. The New York Times referred to the film's story as "sketchy" while the Theater Guild Magazine found the story "melodramatic" finding the screenplay uninteresting in comparison to the cinematography. The Film Daily gave a negative review noting the "weakness" of the story.[3]
Notes
References
- Rist, Peter (2001). Guide to the cinema(s) of Canada. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 0313299315. Retrieved 5 October, 2009.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - Rhodes, Gary Don (2001). White Zombie: Anatomy of a Horror Film. McFarland. ISBN 0786409886. Retrieved 5 October, 2009.
{{cite book}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)
External links
- The Viking at IMDb
- The Viking at the TCM Movie Database
- The Viking at AllMovie
