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In a horrific accident, 27 people, including the film's director and a dog named Cabot, died in a catastrophic explosion on a movie set.
In 1931, a Hollywood production crew traveled to Canada to shoot The Viking, which tells the story of Luke, a young Newfoundland fisherman who hesitantly joins a sealing expedition, believing he is jinxed.
The woman he loves convinces him to take part in the voyage. Yet the terrifying reality unfolding behind the cameras proved far more tragic than anything depicted on screen.
Director Varick Frissell attended a Yale lecture by Sir Wilfred Grenfell, a British medical missionary working in Newfoundland, and became inspired to chronicle Grenfell's mission through film. He produced two documentaries - The Great Arctic Seal Hunt (1928) and The Lure of Labrador (1928), according to Product of Newfoundland, reports the Irish Mirror. It comes as the mystery of the disappearance of a child star who vanished 20 years ago and has never been found deepened.
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Frissell believed there was potential for a feature film and pitched Paramount Pictures on creating an epic-style documentary about the Newfoundland seal hunt.
To authentically capture the region's atmosphere, the production employed local performers and crew members, with audio and dialogue recorded on location - marking a first for a Hollywood feature film.
Working from a screenplay titled White Thunder, the majority of filming took place in Quidi Vidi before the team boarded an actual vessel to capture footage at sea.
The disturbing imagery clearly illustrates the harsh life of sealers. To inject adventure into the production, Frissell wasn't opposed to some dramatic casting choices.
Brigus native Captain Bob Bartlett featured in the film as Captain Barker of The Viking. At that time, Bartlett's reputation was well-established.
He had completed numerous Arctic expeditions and received the National Geographic Society's Hubbard Medal.
The tragic turning point occurred in March 1931 when Varick Frissell returned to Newfoundland to premiere the first version of White Thunder.
Dissatisfied with the results, Frissell decided more action footage was needed to flesh out the film and he resolved to capture more dramatic scenes and embarked with a small crew aboard the SS Viking, commanded by Abram Kean Jr. and crewed by local fishermen.
The SS Viking had reached White Bay on Newfoundland's northern coast, where it encountered heavy ice. Eight miles from Horse Island, the Viking appeared secure.
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Then catastrophe struck - The Viking exploded. The blast was so powerful it could be heard for miles, devastating the stern while flames consumed the rest of the ship.
27 people died instantly, including Frissell, and any injured survivors were forced to traverse the ice to reach Horse Island.
The explosion was believed to have been triggered by blasting powder. During that era, sealing vessels routinely carried explosives.
Controlled detonations were employed to fracture ice, enabling ships to navigate.
The Viking's explosive stores had ignited, potentially from negligent handling. There were accounts of pipe smoking in proximity to the blasting powder.
Despite the tragedy, the film was released the following summer and re-titled in tribute to the vessel. The final version featured a prologue narrated by Sir Wilfred Grenfell, outlining the circumstances that brought Frissell to Newfoundland and his tragic demise. Meanwhile, new details of Michael Jackson's autopsy, including hidden tattoos and secret health problems, emerged.
