Technicolor British true-life man-vs-nature adventure from Ealing Studios and director Charles Frend. The film tells the story of the 1912 attempt by the British expedition led by Captain R. F. Scott (John Mills) to be the first to reach the south pole. The crew deals with limited supplies, untested means of transport, a rival expedition led by Roald Amundson, and of course the severely harsh Antarctic conditions.
I've watched a lot of arctic and Antarctic stories in the last year, from the 1924 documentary The Great White Silence, to 1930's With Byrd at the South Pole, 1931's Dirigible, and the TV series The Terror. So I was doubtful that yet another telling of the same sort of tale would make much of an impact with me. But I was surprised at how much I became invested in this version as the film progressed, despite knowing the eventual outcome from the beginning. The cast is all fine, although this is the sort of ensemble piece that isn't about showy individuality. The filming is an interesting blend of obvious studio-bound artifice, complete with painted backdrops featuring clearly visible ripples, to elaborate miniatures, to on-location footage of icy waters and craggy glaciers. The cinematography by Jack Cardiff, Osmond Borradaile, and Geoffrey Unsworth is exceptional.
I've watched a lot of arctic and Antarctic stories in the last year, from the 1924 documentary The Great White Silence, to 1930's With Byrd at the South Pole, 1931's Dirigible, and the TV series The Terror. So I was doubtful that yet another telling of the same sort of tale would make much of an impact with me. But I was surprised at how much I became invested in this version as the film progressed, despite knowing the eventual outcome from the beginning. The cast is all fine, although this is the sort of ensemble piece that isn't about showy individuality. The filming is an interesting blend of obvious studio-bound artifice, complete with painted backdrops featuring clearly visible ripples, to elaborate miniatures, to on-location footage of icy waters and craggy glaciers. The cinematography by Jack Cardiff, Osmond Borradaile, and Geoffrey Unsworth is exceptional.