# Shackleton's incredible voyage: why isn't this a movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 12, 2013, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535 "2013-04-12T19:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/21 "2013-04-13T23:56:51Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > I agree with the OP - the Shackleton story has much more variety and depth than Scott’s ill fated march to the Pole. > > Incidentally, an Australian/British group of adventurers has just recreated the voyage of the James Caird from Elephant Island to South Georgia, including climbing and crossing. When I heard of their plan I expected them to disappear but they succeeeded. > > [http://www.jamescairdsociety.com/shackleton-news.php?id=108376](http://www.jamescairdsociety.com/shackleton-news.php?id=108376) Interesting..the fact is, the most amazing part of the trip was NOT that 800 mile voyage in the Southern Ocean (even thogh missing South Georgia wold have meant death). It was the crossing of South Georgia-something not redone until 1965. THe final descent (where they all sat down and slid off the glacier) was the ultimate gamble-there was no choice (if they stayed throgh the night they would have died). ---
**Author:** ![David\_H\_Singanas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac8455/32.png) [@David\_H\_Singanas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_H_Singanas)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/22 "2013-04-14T12:30:30Z")
How does the 800 mile voyage to South Georgia from the Ross Sea compare to Captain Bligh’s voyage from the Sandwich Islands to Australia? Was a movie ever made of the book “Men Against the Sea” ? ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/23 "2013-04-14T23:56:38Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Interesting..the fact is, the most amazing part of the trip was NOT that 800 mile voyage in the Southern Ocean (even though missing South Georgia would have meant death). It was the crossing of South Georgia-something not redone until 1965. Good point and to illustrate it even further, when the Falklands War broke out in 1981 the British SAS were landed by helicopter high on South Georgia. Their objective was to walk down and capture the Argentine forces already there. SAS are hardened soldiers who train in Norway etc for mountain work but South Georgia defeated them. They couldn’t do it and had to call the helicopters for rescue with the awful result of one of the helicopters crashing on the mountain. Shackleton’s crossing was an extraordinary feat. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/24 "2013-04-15T01:28:13Z")
I don’t think a film could do it justice, without it being six hours long! IOW the Branagh miniseries is the definitive version of it. Don’t see much point in trying to improve on what was essentially its perfect telling of the story. > [@ralph124c](#): > > Interesting..the fact is, the most amazing part of the trip was NOT that 800 mile voyage in the Southern Ocean (even thogh missing South Georgia wold have meant death). It was the crossing of South Georgia-something not redone until 1965. THe final descent (where they all sat down and slid off the glacier) was the ultimate gamble-there was no choice (if they stayed throgh the night they would have died). My favorite part of the miniseries was after this, after all they’ve gone thru, over a year of desperate struggle, they’re literally footsteps away from finally reaching civilization, and the one man stops and says, “My breeches are torn, there may be women here”, and they stop so Shackleton can pin closed his tattered pants so his butt isn’t showing! Really a different time… ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/25 "2013-04-15T05:55:14Z")
> [@David\_H\_Singanas](#): > > How does the 800 mile voyage to South Georgia from the Ross Sea compare to Captain Bligh’s voyage from the Sandwich Islands to Australia? Well, at least _they_ had sandwiches. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/26 "2013-04-15T09:41:28Z")
> [@David\_H\_Singanas](#): > > How does the 800 mile voyage to South Georgia from the Ross Sea compare to Captain Bligh’s voyage from the Sandwich Islands to Australia? > Was a movie ever made of the book “Men Against the Sea” ? Interestingly some chaps are about to re-create this voyage [http://www.sailmagazine.com/talisker-bounty-reenact-captain-blighs-journey](http://www.sailmagazine.com/talisker-bounty-reenact-captain-blighs-journey) ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/27 "2013-04-15T12:00:24Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Lessee, _Scott of the Antarctic_ almost fits this list except for (2): unfortunately, Scott and a few others died. That was a good Antarctic exploration flick, too, except that Scott was a dick for ignoring excellent advice, which resulted in said deaths. Yeah, but there was that giant penguin with the tentacles… ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/28 "2013-04-15T12:18:33Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Yeah, but there was that giant penguin with the tentacles… 😃 I first read of Shackleton’s expedition in a story told from the POV of the ship’s cat, Mrs. Chippy. It was a cute story…right up until the end. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/29 "2013-04-15T12:28:58Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 1. No romance. > 2. “Not a single one of them died”. > 3. No car chases > 4. not a sequel to a blockbuster > 5. no one has super powers > 6. no cops > 7. no hot babes > 8. not in French, in B&W > 9 Not very politcally correct. So have Michael Bay make it. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/30 "2013-04-15T13:01:47Z")
> [@BrokenBriton](#): > > I live just down the road from Dulwich College where Ernest Shackleton went to school. > > The spine-tingling thing is that actual boat - not a replica - is sitting in the reception area of his old school. If you ask nicely they will let you walk around - maybe a good idea to phone ahead: > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jtgGJKZISk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jtgGJKZISk) Yes. My parents have been to see that as well. They’ve travelled a lot in their retirement, but these two things (the James Caird and Shackleton’s grave) were two things in particular that were very high on their bucket list). ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/31 "2013-04-15T22:42:23Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Yeah, but there was that giant penguin with the tentacles… “Grreat! Have a drrink!” [semi-hijack] Until I saw this movie a few months ago, I had no idea it was a real movie. I tuned it in because it starred John Mills, who I love. I have a feeling it was a popular movie to show to British schoolboys as a demonstration of manly stalwart stiff-upper-lippism, but it’s rather bleak and Scott doesn’t come off as anyone to emulate in the end. All it did for the Monty Python boys was give them excellent lampoon fodder. [end semi-hijack] ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/32 "2013-04-30T21:08:26Z")
We are going to see [this](http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/event.php?id=811#.UYAohL-_30A) on Saturday. I’ll report back with what we thought of it. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/33 "2013-05-05T19:17:12Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > We are going to see [this](http://www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org/event.php?id=811#.UYAohL-_30A) on Saturday. > I’ll report back with what we thought of it. OK, so we went to the performance last night. It was…_unusual_. It was “inspired” by the Shackleton expedition in the same way that a confection is inspired on “Sweet Genius.” If you like minimalist theatre, then you might enjoy it, but if you want to see a play about the expedition - look somewhere else. That said, the use of video to dress the set was inspired. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/34 "2013-05-06T13:33:12Z")
I know that you are thinking of a movie and not a television documentary. But if you haven’t seen the extensive film footage of the actual voyage, you have missed the most riveting story-telling of the trip. I can’t remember if it was produced by PBS or not. Netflix might have it. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/35 "2014-01-26T20:47:42Z")
There is a 3 part show of modern folks trying to duplicate the feat. They are even eating the same type food and wearing the same type of clothes. I just finished episode one - almost got seasick just watching it. > **[Chasing Shackleton | PBS](https://www.pbs.org/show/chasing-shackleton/)** > > Follow a modern expedition recreating Sir Ernest Shackleton's epic sea and land voyage. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/36 "2014-01-26T21:43:06Z")
> [@N9IWP](#): > > There is a 3 part show of modern folks trying to duplicate the feat. They are even eating the same type food and wearing the same type of clothes. I just finished episode one - almost got seasick just watching it. > > [http://video.pbs.org/program/chasing-shackleton/](http://video.pbs.org/program/chasing-shackleton/) > > Brian That was a pretty good little series (we’ve seen all three eps). Those guys had to be just a little nuts to attempt something like that. Shackleton, of course, had no parachute like these guys did if something went wrong. But still, an at-sea rescue in those conditions would likely result in a death or two. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/37 "2014-01-26T23:51:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 1. No romance. > 2. “Not a single one of them died”. > 3. No car chases > 4. not a sequel to a blockbuster > 5. no one has super powers > 6. no cops > 7. no hot babes > 8. not in French, in B&W > 9 Not very politcally correct. Worked for Apollo 13, though that had rocket porn. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2014, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/38 "2014-01-27T01:46:18Z")
The movie audience today has little interest in historical films. **Lincoln** was an exception, but you had Stephen Spielberg behind it, and it takes a lot of convincing to get financing for a film that has little marketing value and is aimed at older audiences. It would have been possible twenty years ago, but now the blockbuster mentality has taken hold. Spielberg could do it, and so could one or two others, but if they pass, it won’t happen. ---
**Author:** ![Stanislaus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stanislaus/32/3391_2.png) [@Stanislaus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stanislaus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/39 "2014-01-28T09:05:47Z")
In fact, it has been pitched. Didn’t go well: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6lTcZ5qoUk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6lTcZ5qoUk) This is from the BBC’s Horrible Histories, a show ostensibly aimed at kids but actually just brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2014, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535/40 "2014-01-28T10:10:33Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > 9 Not very politcally correct. 10 they weren’t Americans. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shackletons-incredible-voyage-why-isnt-this-a-movie/655535.md?page=3)