Lewis Varick Frissell (1903 – March 15, 1931) was an American documentary filmmaker. His last film, The Viking, set in Newfoundland, involved the largest loss of life of a film production crew in history. This film was also "the first film to record sound and dialogue on location".[1]
Frissell came from a well-to-do family (his grandfather was founder and president of the Fifth Avenue Bank of New York), studied at Yale, and took a keen interest in film at an early age. He was mentored by renowned documentarian Robert Flaherty. In 1921, Frissell heard a lecture by Dr Wilfred Grenfell, which inspired him to visit the Labrador mission and to explore the northern wilderness. In 1922, Frissell volunteered to work for the International Grenfell Association, driving a dog team in the winter and working on the hospital boat Strathcona in the summer.[1]
Film careeredit
In 1925, Frissell and fellow Yale student Jim Hillier explored the Hamilton River and shot the first film ever of the great waterfall. They also searched for and discovered the Unknown River of Indian legend and called it the Grenfell River. Frissell wrote an account of his explorations and submitted it to The Geographical Journal for publication entitled Explorations in the Grand Falls Region of Labrador, which earned him membership in the Royal Geographical Society. Frissell completed his film of the Hamilton River and titled it The Lure of Labrador. After graduation from Yale in 1926, he embarked on another film, The Great Arctic Seal Hunt, which was compiled from film he had shot aboard the SS Beothic during the seal hunt.[2]
The Vikingedit
Frissell formed his own company, the Newfoundland-Labrador Film Company, and obtained the backing of Paramount Pictures to make a feature film, tentatively titled White Thunder. Captain Bob Bartlett played the ship's captain in this film about the Newfoundland seal hunt. This was the first Hollywood-style sound film ever made in what is now Canada. Frissell filmed most of The Viking (named for a sealing ship) in Quidi Vidi in 1930.[3]
For realistic footage, Frissell then took his crew to the Grand Banks and Labrador to film 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 sea ice. Within days, Frissell and his crew had boarded the SS Viking for its annual seal hunt; it got trapped in ice near the Horse Islands.[3]
Deathedit
On March 15, 1931, a cache of dynamite being stored in case it was needed to break the ship free from the ice pans exploded, destroying the stern of the ship, killing 28 men, including Frissell. The ship subsequently sank, and Frissell's body and his pet Newfoundland dog, Cabot, were never found.[4]
Aftermathedit
White Thunder, a National Film Board documentary on Frissell's life, directed by Newfoundlander Victoria King, was released in 2002.[5]
varick, frissell, lewis, 1903, march, 1931, american, documentary, filmmaker, last, film, viking, newfoundland, involved, largest, loss, life, film, production, crew, history, this, film, also, first, film, record, sound, dialogue, location, bornlewis, 1903bos. Lewis Varick Frissell 1903 March 15 1931 was an American documentary filmmaker His last film The Viking set in Newfoundland involved the largest loss of life of a film production crew in history This film was also the first film to record sound and dialogue on location 1 Varick FrissellBornLewis Varick Frissell1903Boston MassachusettsDiedMarch 15 1931 aged 28 NewfoundlandOccupationFilmmakerYears active1925 1931 Contents 1 Early life 2 Film career 2 1 The Viking 3 Death 4 Aftermath 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Notes 7 Bibliography 8 External links 8 1 FilmographyEarly life editFrissell came from a well to do family his grandfather was founder and president of the Fifth Avenue Bank of New York studied at Yale and took a keen interest in film at an early age He was mentored by renowned documentarian Robert Flaherty In 1921 Frissell heard a lecture by Dr Wilfred Grenfell which inspired him to visit the Labrador mission and to explore the northern wilderness In 1922 Frissell volunteered to work for the International Grenfell Association driving a dog team in the winter and working on the hospital boat Strathcona in the summer 1 Film career editIn 1925 Frissell and fellow Yale student Jim Hillier explored the Hamilton River and shot the first film ever of the great waterfall They also searched for and discovered the Unknown River of Indian legend and called it the Grenfell River Frissell wrote an account of his explorations and submitted it to The Geographical Journal for publication entitled Explorations in the Grand Falls Region of Labrador which earned him membership in the Royal Geographical Society Frissell completed his film of the Hamilton River and titled it The Lure of Labrador After graduation from Yale in 1926 he embarked on another film The Great Arctic Seal Hunt which was compiled from film he had shot aboard the SS Beothic during the seal hunt 2 The Viking edit Frissell formed his own company the Newfoundland Labrador Film Company and obtained the backing of Paramount Pictures to make a feature film tentatively titled White Thunder Captain Bob Bartlett played the ship s captain in this film about the Newfoundland seal hunt This was the first Hollywood style sound film ever made in what is now Canada Frissell filmed most of The Viking named for a sealing ship in Quidi Vidi in 1930 3 For realistic footage Frissell then took his crew to the Grand Banks and Labrador to film 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 sea ice Within days Frissell and his crew had boarded the SS Viking for its annual seal hunt it got trapped in ice near the Horse Islands 3 Death editOn March 15 1931 a cache of dynamite being stored in case it was needed to break the ship free from the ice pans exploded destroying the stern of the ship killing 28 men including Frissell The ship subsequently sank and Frissell s body and his pet Newfoundland dog Cabot were never found 4 Aftermath editWhite Thunder a National Film Board documentary on Frissell s life directed by Newfoundlander Victoria King was released in 2002 5 See also editList of people of Newfoundland and LabradorReferences editNotes edit a b McIntosh Andrew The Viking White Thunder Canadian Film Encyclopedia Retrieved March 29 2012 Film and Video Early Days Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Retrieved December 16 2007 a b Rist 2001 p 230 Rhodes 2001 p 95 Miller John White Thunder on DVD Turner Classic Movies 2015 Retrieved November 6 2015 Bibliography editRhodes Gary Don White Zombie Anatomy of a Horror Film Jefferson North Carolina McFarland amp Company 2001 ISBN 978 0 7864 0988 4 Rist Peter Guide to the Cinema s of Canada Westport Connecticut Greenwood Publishing Group 2001 ISBN 978 0 3132 9931 5 External links editEarly days of Film in Newfoundland Viking production shots Canadian Heritage Film Festival Milestone Films The Viking Film Varick Frissell at Find a GraveFilmography edit The Lure of Labrador 1926 at IMDb nbsp The Great Arctic Seal Hunt 1928 at IMDb nbsp Ceux du viking 1931 at IMDb nbsp The Viking 1931 at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Varick Frissell amp oldid 1187969895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
