Shackleton (2002) (TV)

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writer:

Charles Sturridge (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Biography | Drama

Tagline:

On the brink of death - courage was his only weapon.

Plot:

The true story of Shackleton's 1914 Endurance expedition to the the South Pole and his epic struggle to lead his 28 man crew to safety after his ship was crushed in the pack ice. |

Plot Keywords:

Endurance | South Pole | Ice | Frostbite | Mistress

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Kenneth Branagh	...	Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton
John Grillo	...	Franks
Paul Humpoletz	...	Man in Audience (as Paul Humpeletz)
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Emily Shackleton
Eve Best	...	Eleanor Shackleton
Mark Tandy	...	Frank Shackleton
Cicely Delaney	...	Cecily Shackleton
Christian Young	...	Raymond Shackleton
Embeth Davidtz	...	Rosalind Chetwynd
Gino Melvazzi	...	Head Waiter
Danny Webb	...	Perris
Lorcan Cranitch	...	Frank Wild
Michael Culkin	...	Jack Morgan
Mark McGann	...	Tom Crean
Abby Ford	...	Marcie

Runtime:

206 min (2 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Norwegian | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:Approved | Spain:T | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | UK:PG (part 1) | UK:15 (part 2)

Filming Locations:

Greenland

Company:

A&E Television Networks

Trivia:

The scene in which Shakleton threatens to throw his gloves overboard if the crewman doesn't take them is based on a true incident. In actuality it was Frank Hurley who wouldn't take them.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Shackleton lifts up the binoculars to watch the Endurance being crushed by ice, a cameraman operating a camera is reflected in the lenses of the binoculars.

Quotes:

Sir Ernest Shackleton: How old are you?
Perce Blackborow: 19, sir, nearly 20. Please don't send me back.
Sir Ernest Shackleton: Mr. Blackborow, have you ever been to the Antarctic?
Perce Blackborow: No, sir.
Sir Ernest Shackleton: Those of us who have been there -- who have seen men starve, go mad, and die -- are not so BLOODY AMUSED!
Perce Blackborow: No, sir. It's just, I heard you were two men short, so I thought I could help out, like.
Sir Ernest Shackleton: Oh, did you? Do you know what starvation is, Mr. Blackborow? Have you ever watched a man eat a biscuit, and want to kill him... for just one crumb of it?
Perce Blackborow: No, sir. I'm sorry, sir.
Frank Wild: We *are* a man short, boss.
Sir Ernest Shackleton: Are we? Well, maybe he'll come in useful. If we do face starvation, the stowaway is always the first one we eat, isn't that right, Mr. Wild?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (2002) (TV)

Wonderful movie, and the right length

I've read a lot of very good comments on this movie, but I have one more to add.

A lot of people are complaining about the length of the movie, but I believe that it adds to the quality of the movie. Rather than just a two hour "short flick" about the year-plus long voyage, it drags out for 4 hours, and rather slowly at times. I have to believe that this mirrors the ordeal that these men went through and adds to the viewer's already deep plunge into the frozen ice world.

This is by far one of the best TV movies I have ever seen. Kenneth does another fabulous job in a quality role, and to comment on someone else's observation about the film's lack of personalizing Shackleton in the second half, I also believe that to be a good choice and an accurate one. If you're leading an expedition and are dead set on keeping everyone alive, you cannot let your own emotions get involved in your decision-making, else you die with everyone else.

I give this movie a 10 because I can find no obvious flaws or anything that takes away from the experience.