Antarctic Pioneers 1954 (redone in 2003)
Distributed by Chip Taylor Communications, 2 East View Drive, Derry, NH 03038-4812; 800-876-CHIP (2447)
Produced by Film Australia
Directed by Frank Hurley
VHS, b&, 30 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Area Studies, Photography, Film Studies, Biography
Date Entered: 03/17/2004
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThis video, part of the Great Explorer Series, shows black and white film footage of 3 expeditions to Antarctica from Australia between 1911 to 1954. The film is narrated by Frank Hurley, who was film photographer on all of these expeditions, and who died one week after this film was made in 1954. Chip Taylor Communications has taken this film (made in 1954) and is offering it to the public in VHS format. This black and white film footage examines the 1911 Antarctic expedition of Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton, the 1928 Antarctic expedition of Sir Hubert Wilkins, and the 1954 Antarctic expedition of Philip Law using the ice-breaking ship Kista Dan. Frank Hurley was along on all of these expeditions as photographer and chronicler, and his narration of his own film footage is extremely interesting and historical.
The black and white nature of this film is difficult to follow, as is the sound quality of the narration. Given that this film was made in 1954, and nothing has been altered in this current distribution, it would be hard for modern-day audiences to be interested in this film, unless they were in a class on 20th century discovery and exploration, or in Antarctic studies.