Varick Frissell
Encyclopedia
Varick Frissell was a documentary filmmaker.
Frissell came from a well-to-do family, 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 had heard a lecture by Dr Wilfred Grenfell
, which had interested him to visit the Labrador
mission and to explore the northern wilderness. In 1922 Frissell volunteered to work for the International Grenfell Association
, driving dog-team in the winter and working on the hospital boat Strathcona in the summer.
In 1925 with fellow Yale student Jim Hillier they 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 1927, he embarked on another film, The Great Arctic Seal Hunt, which was complied from a film he had shot aboard the SS Beothic
during the seal hunt.
Frissell formed his own company, the Newfoundland-Labrador Film Company and successfully sought the backing of Paramount Pictures
to make a feature film, tentatively titled White Thunder. Captain Bob Bartlett himself played the ship's captain in this film about the Newfoundland
seal hunt. This was the first Hollywood style sound film ever made in Canada. 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; it got trapped in ice near the Horse Islands.
On March 15, 1931, a cache of dynamite being used for Frissell's film ignited, destroying the back of the ship and killing 27 men, including Frissell. The ship subsequently sank, and Frissell's body and his pet Newfoundland dog, Cabot, were never found.
A documentary on Frissell's life, White Thunder, was released in 2004.
Frissell came from a well-to-do family, studied at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
, and took a keen interest in film at an early age. He was mentored by renowned documentarian Robert Flaherty. In 1921 Frissell had heard a lecture by Dr Wilfred Grenfell
Wilfred Grenfell
Sir Wilfred Thomason Grenfell, KCMG was a medical missionary to Newfoundland and Labrador.He was born at Parkgate, Wirral, England, the son of Algernon Grenfell, headmaster of Mostyn House School, and Jane Georgiana Hutchison and married Anne Elizabeth Caldwell MacClanahan of Chicago, Illinois, in...
, which had interested him to visit the Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
mission and to explore the northern wilderness. In 1922 Frissell volunteered to work for the International Grenfell Association
International Grenfell Association
The International Grenfell Association is an organization founded by Sir Wilfred Grenfell to provide health care, education, religious services, and rehabilitation and other social activities to the fisherman and costal communities in northern Newfoundland and the coast of Labrador.The IGA was...
, driving dog-team in the winter and working on the hospital boat Strathcona in the summer.
In 1925 with fellow Yale student Jim Hillier they explored the Hamilton River
Churchill River (Atlantic)
The Churchill River is a river in Newfoundland and Labrador which flows east from the Smallwood Reservoir in Labrador into the Atlantic Ocean via Lake Melville. The river is long and drains an area of ; it is the longest river in the province...
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
The Geographical Journal
The Geographical Journal is a journal of the Royal Geographical Society and has been published since 1831. Its original title was Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. The journal publishes original research papers and review articles across geography, and has the highest...
for publication entitled Explorations in the Grand Falls Region of Labrador, which earned him membership in the Royal Geographical Society
Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical sciences...
. Frissell completed his film of the Hamilton River and titled it The Lure of Labrador. After graduation from Yale in 1927, he embarked on another film, The Great Arctic Seal Hunt, which was complied from a film he had shot aboard the SS Beothic
SS Beothic
A number of steamships were named Beothic, Including -, a Norwegian sealing ship in service 1909-29, a Canadian cargo ship in service 1925-40...
during the seal hunt.
Frissell formed his own company, the Newfoundland-Labrador Film Company and successfully sought the backing of Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
to make a feature film, tentatively titled White Thunder. Captain Bob Bartlett himself played the ship's captain in this film about the Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
seal hunt. This was the first Hollywood style sound film ever made in Canada. Frissell filmed most of The Viking
The Viking (1931 film)
-External links:*...
(named for a sealing ship) in Quidi Vidi
Quidi Vidi
Quidi Vidi is a neighbourhood in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador....
in 1930. For realistic footage Frissell then took his crew to the Grand Banks
Grand Banks
The Grand Banks of Newfoundland are a group of underwater plateaus southeast of Newfoundland on the North American continental shelf. These areas are relatively shallow, ranging from in depth. The cold Labrador Current mixes with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream here.The mixing of these waters...
and Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
to collect exciting action sequences. The film debuted at the Nickel Theatre
Nickel Theatre
The Nickel Theatre was the first movie theatre in Newfoundland. Part of the five-cent picture show craze that brought daily movies to almost every city and town all across North America, the Nickel opened in the Benevolent Irish Society's St. Patrick's Hall on July 1, 1907, one of a chain of B.F....
at St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
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
The SS Viking was a ship used by the film producer Varick Frissel in the making of the 1931 film The Viking. During the shooting of extra footage for this film it exploded, taking the lives of Varick Frissel and twenty-six other crew members....
for its annual seal hunt; it got trapped in ice near the Horse Islands.
On March 15, 1931, a cache of dynamite being used for Frissell's film ignited, destroying the back of the ship and killing 27 men, including Frissell. The ship subsequently sank, and Frissell's body and his pet Newfoundland dog, Cabot, were never found.
A documentary on Frissell's life, White Thunder, was released in 2004.
External links
- Early days of Film in Newfoundland
- Viking production shots
- Canadian Heritage Film Festival
- Milestone Films
- The Viking Film