This film, like Dirigible (1931), is also loosely based on the crash of the airship "Italia", flown by Umberto Nobile, around 5/25/1928, near the North Pole, and the international rescue effort that cost early polar explorer Roald Amundsen his life. The pilot who rescued Nobile also crashed when returning to rescue more survivors and had to be rescued himself.
The story is set three years into the future from the year (1929) of the film's theatrical release. In a scene set at the Hall's living room with Miriam and her friends, a radio announcer reports that a cable from the airship has arrived, dated Thursday, August 4. In 1932, August 4 fell on a Thursday.
The world premiere showing occurred on 31 December 1929 at the Million Dollar theatre in Los Angeles.
(Illustrated Daily News, ((Los Angeles, Calif.)) 1/1/30)
The World premiere of this film occurred at the Million Dollar theatre in Los Angeles on 31 December 1929.
(Los Angeles Times, 25 December 1929)
This's earliest documented telecast took place in San Francisco CA Thursday 12 November 1953 on KGO (Channel 7).