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The Donner Party

  • 20092009
  • RR
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
4.9/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • IMDbPro
The Donner Party (2009)
Based on the real events of The Donner Party tragedy. The Donner Party was a group of California-bound American settlers caught up in the western expansion of the 1840s. After becoming snowbound in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846-1847, a number of the trapped settlers joined together in a final effort to reach California and organize a rescue party.
Play trailer1:04
1 Video
20 Photos
  • Drama

After becoming snowbound in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846-1847, a number of trapped settlers join together in a final effort to reach California and organize a rescue party.After becoming snowbound in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846-1847, a number of trapped settlers join together in a final effort to reach California and organize a rescue party.After becoming snowbound in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846-1847, a number of trapped settlers join together in a final effort to reach California and organize a rescue party.

IMDb RATING
4.9/10
1.1K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Terrence Martin
  • Writer
    • Terrence Martin
  • Stars
    • Crispin Glover
    • Clayne Crawford
    • Michele Santopietro
Top credits
  • Director
    • Terrence Martin
  • Writer
    • Terrence Martin
  • Stars
    • Crispin Glover
    • Clayne Crawford
    • Michele Santopietro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 28User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Donner Party
    Trailer 1:04
    The Donner Party

    Photos20

    The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    Christian Kane in The Donner Party (2009)
    As Patrick Dolan in The Donner Party
    Donner Party
    Catherine Black and Cary Wayne Moore on set of The Donner Party

    Top cast

    Edit
    Crispin Glover
    Crispin Glover
    • William Fosteras William Foster
    Clayne Crawford
    Clayne Crawford
    • William Eddyas William Eddy
    Michele Santopietro
    Michele Santopietro
    • Amanda McCutchenas Amanda McCutchen
    Mark Boone Junior
    Mark Boone Junior
    • Franklin Gravesas Franklin Graves
    Christian Kane
    Christian Kane
    • Charles Stantonas Charles Stanton
    Crispian Belfrage
    Crispian Belfrage
    • Patrick Dolanas Patrick Dolan
    Catherine Black
    Catherine Black
    • Ann Fosdickas Ann Fosdick
    Jamie Anne Allman
    Jamie Anne Allman
    • Eleanor Eddyas Eleanor Eddy
    Jack Kyle
    Jack Kyle
    • Milt McCutchenas Milt McCutchen
    Cary Wayne Moore
    Cary Wayne Moore
    • Jay Fosdickas Jay Fosdick
    Alison Haislip
    Alison Haislip
    • Mary Gravesas Mary Graves
    Mara LaFontaine
    • Sarah Fosteras Sarah Foster
    John A. Lorenz
    • Luisas Luis
    • Director
      • Terrence Martin
    • Writer
      • Terrence Martin
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Based on the real events of The Donner Party tragedy. The Donner Party was a group of California-bound American settlers caught up in the western expansion of the 1840s. After becoming snowbound in the Sierra Nevada during the winter of 1846-1847, a number of the trapped settlers joined together in a final effort to reach California and organize a rescue party. —Anacapa Entertainment
    • timeframe 1840s
    • donner party
    • winter
    • 1840s
    • rural setting
    • 26 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Survival Lies Within
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for some violence
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Goofs
      After the group leaves with Stanton, when Graves attacks Fosdick, Fosdick's hat falls off as they hit the ground. When the camera angle changes, it's back on his head. Then when the camera angle changes again, it's gone.
    • Crazy credits
      The last two minutes of credits are accompanied only by the sound of a strong wind.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Zombies: A Living History (2011)

    User reviews28

    Review
    Top review
    3/10
    Only for the Desperate...
    The only reason I finished this movie was that I was waiting for it to get better. At one point I paused it and saw there was only 15 minutes left and was so bored I fast-forwarded through the rest.

    I expected one of two things, a movie out to entertain through shock value or an American Epic. I got neither. Therein lies the problem; the movie's scope simply isn't grand enough. With all the drama, betrayal, tragedy, desperation, and heartbreak that occurred during these events you'd think that you'd see some of it on screen. I'm no expert on the Donner Party, but as I understand the trip took months just to get to the point the film starts up. Where it proceeds to tell a small 2 week time frame about the hardships of the people who made an attempt at being rescued.

    This could have been a sprawling epic of the American Pioneer days on par with 'Dances with Wolves', yet we only get to see the small group and how hungry they are. That's it. We see nothing of what happened to the 30+ people back at the camp. I heard they had to resort to eating leather clothes and bones boiled so many times over they became brittle and edible, none of that made it into the film. If you cut out all of the establishing shots of snow and trees the movie wouldn't have even been an hour long.

    Bottom line, read the Wikipedia article, skip the movie.
    helpful•9
    2
    • Patinho
    • May 11, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 23, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Forlorn
    • Filming locations
      • Donner Pass, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Anacapa Entertainment
      • First Look Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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