2012 Dir: Leanne Pooley 85 mins
The story of Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated 1914 bid to cross Antarctic is one of the most extreme survival epics of the 20th century. All the more so because Shackleton took Frank Hurley, a superlative photographer and film-maker who captured most of the misadventure on film. That appeared in 1919 – and is simply called South (see below).
There have been many documentaries about the expedition which became a peerless small boat saga after Shackleton’s ship the Endurance broke up in the ice. The 28 crew took three lifeboats lived on pack ice until they could reach Elephant Island after which one boat was recaulked and decked to sail with six men 800nM to South Georgia for help.
Shackleton’s Captain uses Hurley’s original footage and embellishes it with a cast of modern actors, experts and graphics to explain how important Frank Worsley, the Endurance’s captain was to the expedition, both as a navigator and experienced sailor, especially of small boats. Worsley’s diaries bring in-depth detail to the day to day business of survival after the ship was stuck in the ice and the extraordinary voyage to South Georgia in the 22ft 6in James Caird, a triumph of seamanship – which is brilliantly brought to life with modern filming and commentary.
We found it online (YouTube):
Other films like this:
Liam Neeson narrates in George Butler’s 1hr 37m brilliant film: The Endurance: Shackleton’s Legendary Antarctic Expedition
The original South 1919: Running time 80 mins ****
This film of the silent era is still great to see as it contains the original footage chosen by Hurley and Shackleton for a war-weary picture house audience. It’s totally silent with title plates that tell the full story, with surprising impact, especially the breakup of the Endurance. The film might be hard to source but…
Most of its footage appears in this documentary (in 11 parts on You Tube) Endurance,Shackleton and the Antarctic. Part one is linked HERE
Shackleton 2002 Dir: Charles Sturridge 206 min DVD
Kenneth Branagh leads a brilliant cast in the epic film which was made as a two parter for Channel 4 – at the time the most expensive drama the producers had made to that date. Two episodes made the original film nearly four hours long and it takes a long time to set sail as Branagh/ Shackleton has a lot to do in London before we even see Endurance. But the film keeps cutting back to the scene at home, which provides an earthing rod to reality – albeit to a nation in the grips of the First World War. We’d agree this is a must-see movie, but if you’re watching it waiting out an adverse tide then you won’t have time for much else before it’s time to up-anchor…
Dare to survive Shackleton’s Voyage of Endurance 2002
Very good, though we still think Shackleton’s Captain is better. You can sometimes find this online.
Reviewed as part of our Great Sailing Films Collection
[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]