Foothold on Antarctica

With Dr. Fuchs and Sir Edmund Hillary both planning journeys across the vast continent of Antarctica in 1956, this film follows the advance parties as they set off aboard the “Theron” to make the long journey south. There is a crew of nineteen souls with almost twice as many huskies as they travel via Shackleton’s grave on South Georgia to the lively Waddell Sea. Unlike many previous expeditions, these folks have radar and also a Oster sea plane that will help them spot the best way through the ice as well as finding them a place to build their base camp. It’s some four days sailing further south before they start to spot ice and as that thickens and the wind changes, they are soon stuck fast and resorting to trying to dig, even dynamite, the ship free. What’s clear from the filming here is that this is a much better equipped group of explorers than we’ve seen before. Their solid metal vessel is loaded with machinery and timber to construct a proper facility from which to embark on their perilous trek. They even have cases of Jamaica rum and a portrait of HM The Queen! It seems slightly odd that they have chosen Christmas time for this trip but I suppose that’s what passes for summer there and after only a few weeks the ship must leave the advance party of eight men to build their settlement before it is iced in for the duration. Sadly, they didn’t leave the camera with those brave chaps so we don’t see just how they survived the bitterest of winters, but it’s still quite a fascinating documentary into the world’s greatest untapped wilderness.