"Blizzard: Race to the Pole" (2006) TV series

User Rating:

8.0/10   

Directors:

Wayne Derrick
Sean Smith

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

August 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Cast

Simon MacCorkindale	...	Narrator (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Matt Wilkinson	...	Scott (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Jostein Pedersen	...	Amundsen (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Nick Akers	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Mark Anstice	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Rupert Elderkin	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Rune Gjeldnes	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
John Houston	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Arthur Jeffes	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Harald Kippenes	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Rory O'Connor	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Bruce Parry	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Dave Pearce	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Ketil Reitan	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Inge Solheim	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)
Chris van Tulleken	...	Himself (6 episodes, 2006-2007)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

KEO films

Scott's "Luck"

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

People often talk about Scott's bad luck and Amundsen's good luck in race to reach the South Pole. I think the luck involved is the hundreds of apologists, British and otherwise, arguing that Scott was not an incompetent leader. Amundsen has fewer adherents. This program, which races a team of Norwegians against a team of Brits using the same equipment their counterparts used in 1911 clearly demonstrates that Amundsen's expedition was simply better planned and better executed on all levels than Scott's.

The 4 hour program (3 hour if they put it on DVD and purge the commercials) is fascinating to watch, even though the ultimate outcome is a forgone conclusion to anyone knowledgeable about Amundsen's conquest of the South Pole. The viewer is introduced to each team's leader and given a brief background on the skills and physique of each of the competitors. Their challenge is to race a course in Eastern Greenland from the coast, up a glacier, through mountains, and to a plateau with the "pole" 350 miles away. The competitors are equipped as the 1911 teams were - the British using the same 1911 equipment, food, and clothing Scott used and the Norwegian team using the same 1911 equipment Amundsen used. They race in parallel paths, 10 miles apart, starting at the same time.

It's fascinating to watch how the 2 teams tackle the problems of the journey, work together, and even voice their private doubts in their video diaries. Interspersed are comments from authors who have written about the 2 expeditions, contemporary explorers, and mountaineers. Extracts from the diaries of Scott and Amundsen are provided in voice overs, along with an overview of the milestones of Amundsen's and Scott's expedition to the Pole.

I'm not sure the casual armchair enthusiast will enjoy this program. But for those of us who can't read or watch enough about Arctic and Antartic exploration, this is a great film and I for one can't wait to see it on DVD with outtakes, "making of" and more interviews with the participants.