10 Facts About Varick Frissell

Lewis Varick Frissell was an American documentary filmmaker.

In 1921, Varick Frissell heard a lecture by Dr Wilfred Grenfell, which inspired him to visit the Labrador mission and to explore the northern wilderness.

In 1922, Varick 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.

Varick 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.

Varick Frissell completed his film of the Hamilton River and titled it The Lure of Labrador.

Varick 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.

Varick Frissell filmed most of The Viking in Quidi Vidi in 1930.

For realistic footage, Varick 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 Varick Frissell decided that his movie needed more real scenes from the sea ice.

White Thunder, a National Film Board documentary on Varick Frissell's life, directed by Newfoundlander Victoria King, was released in 2002.