Classic Movies on Sky Arts - Series 3 Episode 4 - The Story of Scott of the Antarctic

 

Ian Nathan introduces the 1948 film of Scott of the Antarctic that was directed by Charles Frend and starred John Mills as Robert Falcon Scott. Ian talks to Steven Armstrong about the background to the movie and that failed mission to the South Pole. We are shown a page from his diary: 9th September 1904. "1,756 miles to go". With a landscape that is "remote and alien". They want to be the first to the pole, but is this mission courageous or reckless? Neil Norman tells us about Scott and the Royal Geographical Society and and his first expedition gathering scientific samples. We hear a lot about the history of these earlier expeditions including the one where Shackleton nearly reached the pole.

Christina Newland talks about the director Charles Frend who desperately wanted to tell this story. Ealing Studios it was who produced the movie. One of the most interesting parts of this story was how they mixed location photography (with long shots of specialist explorers) with the actors (and the director) never having left the studio! Neil Norman shows us how the camera "goes right into their eyes" in the final part.

Ian explains how the film gives over a lot to the fund raising, team building and planning before the journey starts. Only the final half hour is when difficulties begin culminating in the disaster. Ian goes on to talk about how John Mills was perfect for the role of Scott and how "the film underlines his ill fated choices". It pulls no punches in this respect. We hear about the team including James Robertson Justice. Christina describes the women left at home. She goes on to explain how the film was made in colour, as at that time such a story would be in black and white. Steven is especially impressed that "the quality was unbelievable" and the  locations stunning. The cinematography is quite brilliant. 

The music by Ralph Vaughan Williams was equally important and Christina tells us it gave "sadness and depth". Ian felt the silence was something else. But we don't hear much about the actual events and the extracts from the film that we do see do not involve that important preparation. But it's all enough to make me want to see this amazing film.