The Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration on Film and Television, Volume 2

Captain Scott and Roald Amundsen were giants of South Polar exploration in the years prior to World War I, and their expeditions have inspired a number of notable documentary and drama films. These films have proved both historic and controversial, and form an absorbing narrative around the race to the Pole. This book presents the circumstances of how the films came to be made, production and shooting details, how they were presented to the viewing public, the impact and impression they created on release, and a critical commentary on how the productions now stand up. From the original expedition films, to a wide range of later documentary and drama productions, this book includes analyses of the various films of Scott’s photographer Herbert Ponting, including The Great White Silence and Amundsen’s lesser-known Sydpolens Erobring, as well as reference to much previously unearthed original source material (film, diaries, contemporary newspapers and journals) providing a fresh perspective on the subject. Meticulously researched and thoroughly illustrated, this second volume on the topic also includes an extensive filmography with over 60 entries.

John Atkins lives in Carnforth, Lancashire in the north of England, and is a transport consultant.

John Atkins
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 60 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2025
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9686-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5589-5
Imprint: McFarland