Pole to Pole

This is one of those multi-part shows that I wish A&E would rerun every month; it's a delight from start to finish.

Michael Palin travels from the North Pole to the South Pole by the most direct routes, runs into the most interesting people, places and situations, and lets nothing get in his way. The best thing about the series is Palin, who seems to always be on the brink of some hilarity. He never really goes over the edge, but he always seems to be about to. He interviews a Turkish masseur, who seems to have learnt his trade by watching World Wrestling Federation videos, and gets a massage that looks like it breaks a few bones; he rides a rattletrap train in Africa, where the less-than-appetizing entree is a spiny fish that looks to be more bone than fish; he travels across the Black Sea on a Russian steamer, hobnobbing with just plain Russian folk who are very, very friendly; he takes part in the evening's festivities aboard a luxury liner going up the Nile, dressed as a Roman centurion. Through it all he smiles and has a visibly great time, and so does the viewer. This is an 8 part series, I believe, and seems to be over far too soon.

While it's obvious that not every leg of Palin's journey is equally interesting, he and his team manage to make every stage a nice watch; we meet everyday people as well as particular ones, we see well-known landscapes as well as completely unknown ones, and I'd bet there's at least one new or interesting item for you in every episode, usually more than one. It's no travel-guide, but it's also not "adventure" except maybe in Africa - more of an experience. I'd recommend watching it only one episode per evening, so the experience can linger - first in chronological order, and maybe later re-visit some episode you liked particularly well.

This review is based on watching the DVD version of "Pole to Pole", the BBC TV program made in 1991 that showed Michael Palin traveling from the North Pole to the South Pole.

The trip was based on several self-imposed rules. The use of aircraft was only allowed when surface travel was not possible, and public transportation was used as much as possible. The trip attempted to follow the 30 degree east longitude line, down through Scandinavia, the then-existing USSR, Turkey and all the way down through the continent of Africa.

The trip took five months and was quite arduous at times. Transportation was almost non-existent in central Africa, parts of Africa had to be avoided due to civil war and Michael Palin was hit by several health problems including two cracked ribs.

The wonderful thing about Michael Palin's travelogues is the enthusiasm, wit and charm that Mr. Palin shows. There are many impromptu encounters with the local people that are humorous and interesting. And, of course, there's the beautiful photography showing the stunning nature that was found along the way.

On the down side it was depressing to see the poverty and hints of political repression and social unrest in parts of Africa. The AIDS epidemic in Africa was also mentioned, and Michael Palin visited an evacuated village near Chernobyl.

This trip was made in 1991 and already when the trip was over world history had changed the landscape, in that the USSR completely unraveled shortly after Michael Palin traveled through it. The years that have passed since 1991 can be noticed in other ways too. For example, the situation in most of Africa has unfortunately gotten worse rather than better. And Antarctica, almost completely inaccessible in 1991, now has a tourist trade with 23,000 landed tourists during the 2004-2005 season! The DVD version of this trip consists of three discs. These contain eight 50-minute episodes (total of six hours 40 minutes) and, as extra material, a 30-minute interview with Michael Palin. I found the interview to be very interesting and am glad that it was included.

Highly recommended, as is the book version of this trip and all of Michael Palin's other trips, both in DVD version and as books.

Rennie Petersen

As someone who has backpacked around the world a bit I take my hat off to MP and team for doing this trip of a lifetime but its a No thank you very much from me.. I know its 30 years ago and lots have changed in Africa but seeing poverty myself around the world many times this is on a different scale.. Its disgusting and horrendous. There's no way I could stomach it. Not for my pity but for their sake.. I wish I could help these people.. Well done Michael. 💚

After the success of Around the World in 80 Days, it was inevitable that Michael Palin would set off again. For this one, he is traveling from the North Pole to the South Pole along 30 degrees longitude. His group would travel down Russia just ahead of the coup which happens when they're in Turkey. They follow the Nile into the interior of Africa and make for the recently post-Apartheid South Africa. The last episode has them forced to jump across the ocean to South America before flying to Antarctica.

This one could never compare to 80 Days. Everybody has only one first time. In addition, this isn't based on a popular story and it doesn't have a ticking timer. The time element in 80 Days gave the show real tension. The fact is that the missed connection to Antarctica holds no relevance. It doesn't matter whether he finishes the trip in 80 days or 100 days or 1000 days. Nevertheless, it still has Michael Palin and he's still doing things by the seat of his pants. It has his humor and humanity. He is still the best. As for the trip, the chaos of the African interiors is very compelling. Sudan is the best episode for a reason. One can sense the dangers and its accompanying excitement. Riding on top of the train comes closest to the feeling of riding the Dhow in 80 Days. This may be inferior to 80 Days but it is still better than most travel shows.