The Viking

The Viking is a pioneering early talkie adventure-epic film released in 1931. Produced by the Technicolor Motion Picture Corporation, directed by distinguished movie-makers, Varick Frissell and George Melford. The film stars Charles Starrett, Louise Huntington, and Arthur Vinton amidst a vast cast of other significant infrequent early cinema treasures. The Viking is considered groundbreaking for its extensive use of sound and technicolor, alongside a gripping narrative that centers around the perilous adventures of seafaring explorers, set against the unforgiving backdrop of North Atlantic seal hunting.

Charles Starrett, known for his later roles in western B-movies, plays a protagonist-like character, Luke Oarum. He's allegedly blessed with a kind of sixth sense enabling him to navigate through fog. With an invincible fascination towards the savage sea, he carries aspirations of becoming a captain despite his mother's apprehensions, who fears losing him to the sea's violent wrath, a fate met by his late father. His talents, ambition and intuitive perception of the sea are a central focus and an element that is instrumental to the unfolding of the storyline.

Louise Huntington, playing the character of Mary Joe, introduces an element of romance into the plotline. She portrays a beloved woman, the apple of the eye of two men, Luke (Starrett) and skipper Jed Nelson (Arthur Vinton). Their rivalry, ambition, and battle for her affection intertwine them in a complex, dramatic dynamic, enriching the narrative of their lives at sea.

Arthur Vinton plays a compelling antagonist, Skipper Jed Nelson, who feeds off jealousy and resentment of Luke, his rival in love, and competition. This classic baddie versus the good guy tension between Jed and Luke adds a whole layer of dramatic tension, offering the viewers fuel for emotional investment into the tale.

The movie paints a compelling portrait of the perilous life of seafarers, capturing not only the treacherous whereabout of their occupation but also the raw, untamed beauty of the grim icy maritime landscapes.

The Viking, while maintaining a focus on the central characters, also highlights the lives, aspirations, and struggles of other crews aboard the Viking, the ship from which the movie derives its name. This adds depth to the plot, making it more than just a story of competition between two individuals. Instead, the film fleshes out the relationship they share with their crew, their connection to their ship, and their complex emotions regarding the ocean they rely on for livelihoods.

The film's visualization takes a unique turn by including actual scenes from real-life seal hunting expeditions, delving into the very essence of pioneering documentary filmmaking. Such dramatic inclusion and the narrative's emotional depth is complemented by the drastic visual palette of the early two-color Technicolor process, attributing to the movie's distinctive visual aesthetics.

Not only were actual scenes from seal hunting expeditions included in the film, but the cast and crew spent five weeks on an actual ice-field engulfed in peril, filming key scenes with local seamen doubling as extras. The authenticity of these scenes adds a layer of veracity to the fiction, effectively blurring the lines between reality and reel-life drama, thereby enhancing the overall impact of the movie.

Often celebrated for its technical brilliance and realism, The Viking is renowned for being the first feature filmed in 'natural color'. Moreover, the sound design, although in its infancy, does a laudable job in echoing the tumultuous atmosphere of the sea and the emotive subtleties of the script.

The Viking is significant for recognizing the potential of the new sound-era in movies, delving deep into the realms of realism and documentary-style storytelling. Despite its age, it stands as an important historical achievement in the realm of technical filmmaking, narrating a riveting tale of ambition, love, and turbulent adventure in the daunting seas.

Make sure to weather this intense and tempestuous journey, as The Viking resonates with an impacting cinematic voyage, unequaled in its tenacity and authenticity.