The Great White Silence

Though devoid of innate sound or narration, one can almost hear the exaggerated "old timey" radio voice that might read the intertitles during a theatrical presentation of the film, a feeling amplified by some of the language used therein. Strictly speaking the very earliest motion pictures consisted of many short non-fiction pieces as the medium began to develop, it's safe to say that 'The great white silence' is surely among the earliest examples of a long-form feature constructed with such sensibilities resembling what modern viewers would recognize as a documentary. Indeed, this film occupies a rather singular place in cinema history, and not just because filmmaker Herbert Ponting is remarked as having been the first to take such equipment to Antarctica. The restoration and especially the colorization give a sense that the feature is more recent in origin than the 1910s (when it was filmed) or the 1920s (when it was released). The interspersing of intertitles with brief clips of footage almost evokes a work of fiction, an adventure flick perhaps not unlike those of G. W. Pabst or Arnold Fanck. And still, the occasional insertion of still photographs and rudimentary animations (e.g. Tracing a path on a map), and the substantial portion devoted to fauna, concretely emphasizes the nature of the movie. With all this said, one thing is unmistakably true: though 'The great white silence' belongs squarely to the silent era, it nonetheless bears terrific value and is deeply engrossing on its own merits.

Ponting's daring for venturing thusly to the southernmost continent cannot be understated, and some of the methods he used to capture video were rather inventive so early after the advent of cinema. To that point, he illustrates a fine eye for shot composition, and some of the footage is quite brilliant, such as when he shows us how the Terra Nova burst through ice floes. This is to say nothing of the gorgeous if desolate scenery of which we're given awe-inspiring eyefuls, fantastic looks at diverse wildlife and the animals that also set sail on the ship, and documentation of the hard work of the expeditionary crew around him. And here I must emphasize again: Ponting was the first filmmaker to take moving pictures at these furthest reaches of the globe. Excepting drawings and early still photographs, the visions to greet us were like nothing else before them. That alone makes this an essential viewing experience.

As the ultimate fate of Robert F. Scott's expedition is well known in history, 'The great white silence' becomes even more important as extant testimony to what they experienced. However, Ponting's feature isn't exclusively a record of disaster, but a joyful remembrance of how the crew lived, and what they saw (only turning more direct and somber toward the end). The intertitles and sequencing are generally characterized by light humor no matter what is being spotlighted at any given moment, and on that note, what we really have is a portrait of Antarctica so the "folks at home" could get a good idea of not just the British explorers' time on the ice, but also of how the continent truly looks and feels. One might reasonably say that the movie kind of comes across as a full-length equivalent of a one- or two-reel educational short, or at times a precursor to the nature films of National Geographic, as much as a slice of history.

As with any old movie, there are parts of this that haven't aged well as a reflection of antiquated attitudes or values. Please note, for example, the shocking name given to one of the expedition's companion animals; the "game" the men play with some of the diminutive wildlife doesn't look so innocent now as it presumably had more than 100 years ago. It's also fair to argue that the picture is imbalanced, seemingly spending more time photographing penguins and seals than the expedition. Still, one must take at face value what we are given; after all, everything about 'The great white silence' very emphatically speaks to a bygone era, and the relative simplicity of its technology and techniques - what Scott and his crew were working with, and what Ponting was working with or pioneered. When all is said and done this won't appeal to all comers, least of all those who don't generally care for silent films. Yet there's much to enjoy here, and whether one is a student of history, a cinephile, a lover of nature and animals, or just especially curious about the Terra Nova expedition, 'The great white silence' remains a worthy, engaging, well-made documentary, standing surprisingly tall decades later and still deserving of recognition.

This film is a true inspiration. The level of patience and care that has gone into capturing these stunning images in the frozen wastes of the Antarctic, way back in the early days of cinematography - 1912, is amazing.

It's beautifully shot and edited, (recently cleaned up for the BFI), with a suitable score which gives the film a playful tone- especially as Ponting spends time following the penguins, which was comical.

Towards the end the film becomes much more emotional and by this point you truly realise the scale of the expedition, the sacrifices made and how brave Captain Scott, the explorers and Ponting with his camera were to undertake such a daring journey.

British documentary detailing the ill-fated Antarctic exploration journey of Capt. Robert Scott, circa 1910. Filmmaker Herbert Ponting journeyed with the icebreaker ship from New Zealand south to Antarctica. He filmed the men aboard ship and the attendant hardships, as well as the ship in action tearing through the ice. Once on land, Ponting films the men as they prepare to head for the South Pole, as well as footage of the local fauna, such as seals and penguins. Ponting did not journey with Scott and his party for the Polar attempt, which is good considering how things turned out.

The footage is amazing, especially when one considers the technology of the time, and Ponting's editing and titlecard writing help form a true narrative arc. This is one of the 1001 Movies to See Before You Die. Recommended.

The Great White Silence (1924) : Brief Review -

In one word, THRILLING! One of the greatest Storytelling I've ever seen for a documentary and One of those Documentaries you Must Watch before you die. When i saw Robert Flaherty's 'Nanook Of The North' (1922), i thought i am done watching great documentaries of old time. I had already heard about 'The Great White Silence' even then but i kept skipping it for some reasons and Today when i am done watching it, I feel ashamed of myself. Nanook Of The North wasn't the end, here is great next chapter in the documentaries world. So, it contains brief cinematograph sequences taken during the Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-1913. The principal filmmaker was photographer Herbert Ponting. The Terra Nova Expedition was an effort, by governments and concerned citizens of what was then the British Empire, to plant the Union Jack on the South Pole by means of men, ponies, dogs, and primitive snowmobiles hauling sledges from a base located on the Antarctic coastline. The documentary portrays expedition leader Robert Falcon Scott and his ship, the Terra Nova, and men as they leave Lyttelton, New Zealand, to sail into the Southern Ocean and its ice floes. This restored version (2011) was in so good quality and the background score was so thrilling that it looked better than many thriller genre classics of 40s and 50s decades. I was hooked to it, i didn't move for a second and i was so immersed into it that i forget i am watching a documentary that released 97 years ago. What a beautiful storytelling it was. The intertitles are so well written and has that narrative values to make a Normal footage as interesting as any feature film. This is a Must See stuff, no matter how old it is and what some duffers have to say in review. You better experience it yourself than making a choice after somebody's review (including mine).

RATING - 8/10*

By - #samthebestest.

The fact that Capt. Robert Falcon Scott had the presence of mind to ensure that a cinematographer accompanied his expedition to conquer the South Pole allows us - 100 years later - to enjoy this fascinating documentary. It has been recently restored to commemorate the centenary of the ultimately doomed attempt to reach their southernmost tip of the world before his Norwegian rival Amundsen. Using original imagery from their travels, we see the planning, voyage and initial stages of their journey across Antarctica. We get a true sense of the arduous nature of their travails, the weather at sea and on land as hostile as nature can conjure. Wildlife never seen by most of us at the time of filming; their ponies and tractors; their makeshift wooden huts all have you reaching for a jumper. The shades and hues are brilliantly captured, illustrating just how white everything was as they set off. The story is augmented by a map illustrating their progress as they reach then return from their goal. The frustration I felt whilst the dots on the map gradually brought them to within 11 miles of their food dump before... It's captivating in the truest sense of the word, and is really well worth seeing on a big screen.