The Great White Silence

When an earlier cut of Herbert G. Ponting’s remarkable record of the British Antarctic Expedition was screened for George VI in 1914, the king declared everyone should see it so as to keep “the spirit of adventure” alive in the nation’s youth. Jokes aren’t Ponting’s strong-point (“an epidemic broke out on board” an intertitle announces, “…of HAIRCUTTING!”), and the anthropomorphised penguins expend their appeal, but in all other respects, Bertie’s recommendation remains valid.

The tragic outcome of Captain Scott’s ill-fated venture is well-known, but it’s never been so vividly presented as in this excellent restoration. Simon Fisher’s exceptional score enhances both the wonder and dejection of Scott’s extraordinary journey, with tinted stock emphasising the otherworldliness of the terrain. The first iceberg encounter is truly breath-taking, while the excitement felt by crew-members watching the iron hull shattering ice flows is keenly felt. But the fascination is as much in the details, with sub-zero soccer matches as unforgettable as the grim conclusion. [Chris Buckle]