Mr. Forbush and the Penguins

1971

1h 41m

IMDb RATING

4.6/10

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Adventure

A self-absorbed young biologist takes on a six-month research post in Antarctica to study a penguin colony. Alone in Shackleton’s abandoned hut, with only radio contact and letters to his distant girlfriend, he endures the harsh winter and gradually forms a bond with the penguins—discovering resilience, humility, and a new sense of purpose.

Directors

Arne Sucksdorff

Roy Boulting

Alfred Viola

Writers

Anthony Shaffer(screenplay by)

Graham Billing(novel by)

Stars

John Hurt

Hayley Mills

Dudley Sutton

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Photos2

Top cast

Richard Forbush

Tara St. John Luke

Starshot

George Dewport

Mr. Forbush Sr.

Mrs. Forbush

Head of Board

Fanny

Tringham

Jackie

Food Store Assistant

Ahaz Khan

Lord Cheddar

Principal

Julien

Policewoman

Directors

Arne Sucksdorff

Roy Boulting

Alfred Viola

Writers

Anthony Shaffer(screenplay by)

Graham Billing(novel by)

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User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

I have only recently come across this film, and John Hurt is super. He is "Forbush", a rather rakish biology student who is coasting through life until his professor (Tony Britton) nominates him for a gig counting penguins - in Antarctica! Meantime, he has been bothering local barmaid "Tara" (Hayley Mills) who isn't really interested in him, and is frankly quite delighted when he announces his imminent project. He duly arrives, settles into Shackleton's hut and waits, and waits, and waits - no penguins! Then they arrive, slowly but surely and, despite himself, his interest is tweaked. He has to count them, weight them and generally monitor them and their behaviour. As winter sets in, they start to lay their eggs and incubate them from the extreme storms that very nearly do for him, too! As the chicks arrive and the skua's begin to raid, he becomes even more protective of his several thousand charges - and devises one hell of a catapult to exact his revenge. It's a bit of a slow starter, this, but once he is in situ, the story appealed to me. He has quite a few Eureka moments that vindicate the approach taken by his professor at the start - to help him grow up and develop a sense of purpose. The photography is fun - especially of the penguins milling about, and I really did quite enjoy Hurt's performance here. Well worth a watch, I'd say.

Geronimo196704 Apr, 2022