The Viking (1931)
Directed by Varick Frissell / George Melford
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Synopsis by Sandra Brennan
This adventure is set upon the rugged coast of Newfoundland and centers on the rivalry between a seal hunter and the town jinx. Thinking that the luckless fellow may move in on his girl, 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. Something goes wrong and the two are stranded. There the hunter tries to kill the other, but the snow blinds him and he misses. Despite the murder attempt, the "jinx" helps the sightless fellow back to the safety of their ship, The Viking. After he recovers his sight, the hunter gains new respect for the heroic fellow and vows that he will beat senseless any man who derides the character of his new friend. The film was shot on location in the Arctic, and over 20 men died during the shooting when The Viking exploded and sank en route. The film contains a prologue and eulogy by famous explorer Grenfell.
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Keywords
Arctic, expedition, hunter-gatherer, rival, coast, ice-floe, stranded, friendship, jinx, enemy