This is the first film to win an Academy Award for Editing. (1934 was when the Oscar for Editing was introduced.)
This was the first feature film to be shot in a Native American language (Inupiat).
MGM built a base camp for the production at Teller, Alaska. The construction was extensive and included storage facilities, a film laboratory and housing for the cast and crew. It was called "Camp Hollywood". Personnel included 42 cameraman and technicians, six airplane pilots, and a chef from the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.
This film failed at the box office, resulting in a loss to MGM of $236,000 according to studio records.
The entire production took 17 months - a long period of time for a feature film of the day.