South (DVD)

The Age Of Exploration. South is the extraordinary chronicle of one of history's greatest epics of courage and leadership. In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton embarked on an expedition to cross Antarctica via the South Pole. Before it could reach shore, the explorer's ship, Endurance, was trapped in pack ice, held frozen in a sea of icebergs for eight months and finally crushed. After five months adrift on ice floes, the crew embarked on a perilous sea voyage to rocky, windswept Elephant Island. From there, Shackleton led five of his men on a miraculous 850-mile journey across unimaginably dangerous seas in a small, open boat to get help from a whaling station in South Georgia. The explorer made three failed rescue attempts for the rest of the crew before finally succeeding -- nearly two years after first setting sail. "Not a life lost and we have been through Hell," Shackleton wrote his wife. Frank Hurley, a veteran cinematographer and member of the Endurance crew, shot this beautiful and moving film as their incredible adventure unfolded. South was restored by the National Film and Television Archive of the British Film Institute using original nitrate materials, surviving prints and original glass slides. Their four-year effort has returned this beautiful film to its original glory, and South is now ready to be seen for the first time in 80 years.

Audio commentary to bring out the full story behind the pictures
Recently discovered footage of the ill-fated Ross Sea Party, with commentary by Polar historian Kelly Tyler
Additional footage from Shackleton's last expedition Southward on the Quest
Shackleton's funeral
Extensive stills gallery
Rare recording of Shackleton's voice
Map of the Expedition with narrative by Kelly Tyler
Leaflet with notes, stills, chapter points, details of the extras and credits
Interactive menu
Scene access