South

1919

1h 21m

IMDb RATING

7.2/10

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Documentary

The story of the 1914-1916 Antarctic exploration mission of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Directors

Frank Hurley

Writers

Stars

Ernest Shackleton

Frank Worsley

J. Stenhouse

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Top cast

Ernest Shackleton

Leader of the Expedition (as Sir Ernest Shackleton)

Frank Worsley

Captain of the Endurance (as Captain F. Worsley)

J. Stenhouse

Captain of the Aurora (as Lieut. J. Stenhouse)

Captain L. Hussey

Meteorologist

Dr. McIlroy

Head of Scientific Staff

Mr. Wordie

Head of Scientific Staff (as Wordie)

Dr. Macklin

Doctor

Frank Wild

Second in Command of the Endurance

Crewman

Crewman (as James)

Crewman (as Clark)

Crewman (as Greenstreet)

Directors

Frank Hurley

Writers

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

When Frank Hurley loaded his cameras onto the Endurance in August 1914, ready to set sail with Ernest Shackleton's Trans-Antarctic expedition, he had no idea of what he would end up filming. This silent movie, released in 1919, contains Hurley's record of the expedition, and of what happened when the ship became stuck in the ice, leaving the explorers with little hope of rescue. Of course, we know that they were eventually saved, almost two years after setting sail, thanks to an astonishing 800-mile voyage by Shackleton and a handful of men in a tiny boat, but this film shows the resilience of these stranded men, even when rescue seemed impossible. The opening title card describes what follows as a tale of British pluck, and it's remarkable to see how the explorers maintained their good spirits even when things were at their bleakest: training dogs, learning to ski, and continuing their scientific research. Hurley even filmed the moment when the ship, crushed by the ice, finally sank: a few seconds of film that are agonizing to watch even now. And when the ordeal ended, when lesser men might be resting and recovering, Hurley took the time to film the wildlife of South Georgia and the whaling station to which the exhausted men were taken. This freshly restored print is in wonderful condition and allows us to see, for the first time since the film's release, an incredible adventure brought to life. --Simon Leake

FrankAZ30 Dec, 2012