Arctic Passage
Encyclopedia
Arctic Passage is the U. S. title of a two-hour TV documentary on the Arctic explorers
Sir John Franklin
and Roald Amundsen
, co-produced by ITN Factual in Britain and NOVA/WGBH in the U.S. ITN Factual handled the production and filming; the film was directed by Louise Osmond, and Harald Gunnar Paalgard was the director of photography. The documentary aired in the UK in March 2005 under the title Search for the Northwest Passage, and in February 2006 in the U. S. under a two-part title, Arctic Passage: Prisoners of the Ice/Ice Survivor.
of Sir John Franklin, who in May 1845 sailed with two ships, Erebus
and Terror
, with orders to pursue the British Admiralty's long-sought goal of a Northwest Passage
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The program combines dramatic segments and re-creations of the original expedition with interviews with a variety of historians and scientists. In the dramatic segments, Anthony Gardner
plays Sir John Franklin, Bodhan Poraj is Captain Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier
, and Thom Fell is Commander James Fitzjames; Franklin's widow Lady Franklin (née Jane Griffin) is portrayed by Maureen Bennett. The historical experts include Francis Spufford
, Russell Potter
, and Benedict Allen
; among the scientists are John Falkingham, Roy Koerner
, and Anne Keenleyside. The program re-creates the expedition's route, with on-location scenes of the graves of Franklin's men on Beechey Island
, and follows them through Franklin's death in May 1847, and the abandonment of the ships in 1848. Many different kinds of evidence -- climate records in ice cores, signs of cannibalism
and lead poisoning
in human remains studied by forensic scientists, and oral testimony from the Inuit
, are considered.
The second hour re-creates Roald Amundsen
's voyage of 1903, in which he finally became the first to sail the entire Passage, thanks in part to the small size of his ship, the Gjøa
, and to his crew. Amundsen is played by Norwegian star Kåre Conradi, while Gustav Wilk, Amundsen's right-hand man, is portrayed by Christian Pedersen. The experts who speak on-camera include Tor Bomann-Larsen
, Bard Kolltveit, and Benedict Allen
; Peter Irniq
, then the Commissioner of Nunavut
, is also interviewed about Inuit
culture and society. A highlight of the Amundsen segment is the re-creation of his winter's stay in a settlement near the harbor he dubbed Gjoa Haven
, which is now a Canadian Inuit settlement of the same name. Numerous Gjoa Haven residents appear in the film; many also worked on the set.
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
Sir John Franklin
John Franklin
Rear-Admiral Sir John Franklin KCH FRGS RN was a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. Franklin also served as governor of Tasmania for several years. In his last expedition, he disappeared while attempting to chart and navigate a section of the Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic...
and Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
, co-produced by ITN Factual in Britain and NOVA/WGBH in the U.S. ITN Factual handled the production and filming; the film was directed by Louise Osmond, and Harald Gunnar Paalgard was the director of photography. The documentary aired in the UK in March 2005 under the title Search for the Northwest Passage, and in February 2006 in the U. S. under a two-part title, Arctic Passage: Prisoners of the Ice/Ice Survivor.
Description
The first hour of the program covers the lost British Arctic expeditionFranklin's lost expedition
Franklin's lost expedition was a doomed British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin that departed England in 1845. A Royal Navy officer and experienced explorer, Franklin had served on three previous Arctic expeditions, the latter two as commanding officer...
of Sir John Franklin, who in May 1845 sailed with two ships, Erebus
HMS Erebus (1826)
HMS Erebus was a Hecla-class bomb vessel designed by Sir Henry Peake and constructed by the Royal Navy in Pembroke dockyard, Wales in 1826. The vessel was named after the dark region in Hades of Greek mythology called Erebus...
and Terror
HMS Terror (1813)
HMS Terror was a bomb vessel designed by Sir Henry Peake and constructed by the Royal Navy in the Davy shipyard in Topsham, Devon. The ship, variously listed as being of either 326 or 340 tons, carried two mortars, one and one .-War service:...
, with orders to pursue the British Admiralty's long-sought goal of a Northwest Passage
Northwest Passage
The Northwest Passage is a sea route through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways amidst the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans...
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The program combines dramatic segments and re-creations of the original expedition with interviews with a variety of historians and scientists. In the dramatic segments, Anthony Gardner
Anthony Gardner
Anthony Gardner is an England international football defender, who plays for Crystal Palace. A tall centre-back, he has represented England and been bought and sold for millions in the domestic transfer market...
plays Sir John Franklin, Bodhan Poraj is Captain Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier
Francis Crozier
Francis Rawdon Moira Crozier was born in Ireland at Banbridge, County Down and was a British naval officer who participated in six exploratory expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic...
, and Thom Fell is Commander James Fitzjames; Franklin's widow Lady Franklin (née Jane Griffin) is portrayed by Maureen Bennett. The historical experts include Francis Spufford
Francis Spufford
-Early life:He studied English Literature at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, gaining a BA in 1985.-Career:He was Chief Publisher's Reader from 1987-90 for Chatto & Windus....
, Russell Potter
Russell Potter
Russell A. Potter is an American writer and college professor. His work encompasses Hip hop culture, popular music, and the history of British exploration of the Arctic in the nineteenth century...
, and Benedict Allen
Benedict Allen
Benedict Colin Allen is a British traveller. He is best known for his survival modus operandi: tapping into local, indigenous knowledge above reliance on modern inventions. His approach is to present himself as ready to learn, like an infant; the communities that he visits take him under their...
; among the scientists are John Falkingham, Roy Koerner
Roy Koerner
Roy Koerner MBE was a Polar explorer who participated in what the then Prime Minister, Harold Wilson described as "a feat of endurance and courage which ranks with any in polar history", and Prince Philip feels "ranks among the greatest triumphs of human skill and endurance".-Early life and...
, and Anne Keenleyside. The program re-creates the expedition's route, with on-location scenes of the graves of Franklin's men on Beechey Island
Beechey Island
Beechey Island is an island located in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago of Nunavut, Canada, in Wellington Channel. It is separated from the southwest corner of Devon Island by Barrow Strait...
, and follows them through Franklin's death in May 1847, and the abandonment of the ships in 1848. Many different kinds of evidence -- climate records in ice cores, signs of cannibalism
Cannibalism
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh of other human beings. It is also called anthropophagy...
and lead poisoning
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
in human remains studied by forensic scientists, and oral testimony from the Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
, are considered.
The second hour re-creates Roald Amundsen
Roald Amundsen
Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen was a Norwegian explorer of polar regions. He led the first Antarctic expedition to reach the South Pole between 1910 and 1912 and he was the first person to reach both the North and South Poles. He is also known as the first to traverse the Northwest Passage....
's voyage of 1903, in which he finally became the first to sail the entire Passage, thanks in part to the small size of his ship, the Gjøa
Gjøa
Gjøa was the first vessel to transit the Northwest Passage. With a crew of six, Roald Amundsen traversed the passage in a three year journey, finishing in 1906.- History :- Construction :...
, and to his crew. Amundsen is played by Norwegian star Kåre Conradi, while Gustav Wilk, Amundsen's right-hand man, is portrayed by Christian Pedersen. The experts who speak on-camera include Tor Bomann-Larsen
Tor Bomann-Larsen
Tor Bomann-Larsen is a Norwegian illustrator, children's writer, non-fiction writer and novelist. He started his career as a satirical illustrator for various newspapers, including Friheten, Ny tid, Dagbladet, Nationen and Arbederbladet...
, Bard Kolltveit, and Benedict Allen
Benedict Allen
Benedict Colin Allen is a British traveller. He is best known for his survival modus operandi: tapping into local, indigenous knowledge above reliance on modern inventions. His approach is to present himself as ready to learn, like an infant; the communities that he visits take him under their...
; Peter Irniq
Peter Irniq
Peter Taqtu Irniq is an Inuk politician in Canada, who served as the second Commissioner of Nunavut from April 2000 to April 2005.-Biography:...
, then the Commissioner of Nunavut
Nunavut
Nunavut is the largest and newest federal territory of Canada; it was separated officially from the Northwest Territories on April 1, 1999, via the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act, though the actual boundaries had been established in 1993...
, is also interviewed about Inuit
Inuit
The Inuit are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic regions of Canada , Denmark , Russia and the United States . Inuit means “the people” in the Inuktitut language...
culture and society. A highlight of the Amundsen segment is the re-creation of his winter's stay in a settlement near the harbor he dubbed Gjoa Haven
Gjoa Haven, Nunavut
Gjoa Haven is a hamlet in Nunavut, above the Arctic Circle, located in the Kitikmeot Region, northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. It is the only settlement on King William Island...
, which is now a Canadian Inuit settlement of the same name. Numerous Gjoa Haven residents appear in the film; many also worked on the set.