90 Degrees South

Nobody witnessed the final days of Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his expedition companions after they were beaten to the South Pole by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. However, director and cinematographer Herbert G Ponting conveys something of the hardships they endured in this compelling mix of staged and observed sequences that also provides an invaluable insight into the behaviour of the Antarctic's tenacious wildlife. First released 12 years after the event as The Great White Silence, Ponting later returned to the film in 1933 when advances in technology allowed him to add sound to his images to create 90 Degrees South. Many of the early sequences and accompanying captions have a light tone, as he introduces key figures on the expedition and their ponies and dogs. Ponting also takes time to detail his own encounters with seals, skuas, killer whales and Adélie penguins, before using maps, tracking effects and previously shot vignettes to chronicle the ill-fated push to the pole. The photography is astonishing and the story indelibly tragic, making this a worthy tribute to some noble and courageous patriots.