Arctic indigenous people are not Asian. They come from various hunter-gatherer communities who originated in Siberia and Alaska. Along with Native Americans (in the US) and First Nations and Metis (in Canada) they are considered indigenous North Americans.
This remarkable location-filmed Pre-code docudrama ! Eskimo was adapted from two books: Die Flucht Ins Wiesse Land and Der Eskimo, both written by naturalist Peter Freuchen. Director Woody Van Dyke, took his cast and crew on location to the Arctic, arriving by whaling schooner at the topmost settlement in Alaska with author Freuchen as his guide. Van Dyke, Freuchen, and cinematographer Ray Wise also played prominent on-screen roles in the film.
The 1933 film Eskimo features a whale hunt scene from boats. The film also includes scenes of hunting walruses and bowhead whales. Eskimo documented many of the hunting and cultural practices of Native Alaskans. The production for the film was based at Teller, Alaska, where housing, storage facilities, a film laboratory, and other structures were built to house the cast, crew, and equipment.
Eskimo Ray Mala (billed only by his last name) essays the title role, speaking in the tongue of his ancestors (even though his English was excellent). Rather than use superimposed titles, Van Dyke resorted to old-fashioned silent-movie subtitles in several dialogue sequences. The story concentrates on the more exotic aspects of Eskimo life, notably the race's casual approach to sex. Though tribal leader Mala has, by his own admission, slept with 20 women without benefit of clergy, woe betide anyone who tries to steal his current sweetheart -- as a rapacious trader discovers when he's harpooned to death by Mala.
There are scenes of walrus, whale, caribou and polar bear hunting. We see Eskimos living in tents and also building igloos. Some of the Eskimos lend their wives to friends and travelers, and we see some dancing ceremonies. The Eskimos travel by dog sled, small boats and kayaks. The movie is shot in a documentary style and the Eskimos speak an Inuit language.
Mala is ultimately undone by the Canadian Mounties, whose efforts to civilize the Eskimo community result in a sudden and tragic shift of the balance of power. Editor Conrad A. Nervig won an Oscar for his Herculean efforts to bring cohesiveness to the story. It is a remarkable film, one that often awakens wonder as to how the camera men were able to photograph some of the scenes and record the impressive sounds. The acting of the Eskimos, or their ability to do what was asked of them by the director, is really extraordinary. The Eskimos are presented as friendly, happy, honest and intelligent. This was a very well done movie, particularly since it was from 1933. 9/10.
This remarkable location-filmed Pre-code docudrama ! Eskimo was adapted from two books: Die Flucht Ins Wiesse Land and Der Eskimo, both written by naturalist Peter Freuchen. Director Woody Van Dyke, took his cast and crew on location to the Arctic, arriving by whaling schooner at the topmost settlement in Alaska with author Freuchen as his guide. Van Dyke, Freuchen, and cinematographer Ray Wise also played prominent on-screen roles in the film.
The 1933 film Eskimo features a whale hunt scene from boats. The film also includes scenes of hunting walruses and bowhead whales. Eskimo documented many of the hunting and cultural practices of Native Alaskans. The production for the film was based at Teller, Alaska, where housing, storage facilities, a film laboratory, and other structures were built to house the cast, crew, and equipment.
Eskimo Ray Mala (billed only by his last name) essays the title role, speaking in the tongue of his ancestors (even though his English was excellent). Rather than use superimposed titles, Van Dyke resorted to old-fashioned silent-movie subtitles in several dialogue sequences. The story concentrates on the more exotic aspects of Eskimo life, notably the race's casual approach to sex. Though tribal leader Mala has, by his own admission, slept with 20 women without benefit of clergy, woe betide anyone who tries to steal his current sweetheart -- as a rapacious trader discovers when he's harpooned to death by Mala.
There are scenes of walrus, whale, caribou and polar bear hunting. We see Eskimos living in tents and also building igloos. Some of the Eskimos lend their wives to friends and travelers, and we see some dancing ceremonies. The Eskimos travel by dog sled, small boats and kayaks. The movie is shot in a documentary style and the Eskimos speak an Inuit language.
Mala is ultimately undone by the Canadian Mounties, whose efforts to civilize the Eskimo community result in a sudden and tragic shift of the balance of power. Editor Conrad A. Nervig won an Oscar for his Herculean efforts to bring cohesiveness to the story. It is a remarkable film, one that often awakens wonder as to how the camera men were able to photograph some of the scenes and record the impressive sounds. The acting of the Eskimos, or their ability to do what was asked of them by the director, is really extraordinary. The Eskimos are presented as friendly, happy, honest and intelligent. This was a very well done movie, particularly since it was from 1933. 9/10.