lol - chuckling at the reviews by pro-Scott contributors, such as Ephraim Gadsby. If the roles were reversed, and Amundsen had perished in the Antarctic by committing the same blunders as the British, would these guys be coming up with the same excuses for a Norwegian team, as they do for Scott? I detect that pompous U.E.L. ("United Empire Loyalist") mindset, the same attitude that gives blind reverence to the King James 'authorized' translation of the Bible (1611), because, as you know, the bible was originally written in English, and James ruled via the 'Divine right of Kings'. (!!)
Sadly, this notion that the British are the best, well, simply because they are British, is what got Scott and his men killed in the first place. It's a shame we can't transport these Scott-idolaters back in time, and park them at Cape Evans in 1911, and let them set out with Scott, using poorly-maintained motor-sledges, and unhealthy, unfit ponies, with a stiff upper lip, and a jolly-good, and a pip-pip, to their ultimate collective demises. It's ironic: Scott neglected proper planning in countless ways, and blamed his problems on 'bad luck with the weather' - and here we are a century later, and his supporters are saying 'the temperature was 10 degrees C colder than normal - Scott just had bad luck with the weather'.
Anyway, I just finished the book (the revised edition, entitled Last Place on Earth, my winter project), and re-watched the DVD set a couple of more times. It is fascinating to peruse the episodes knowing all the background behind the scenes -- the cinematographers produced an absolute masterpiece in retelling the technical matters, and the human drama.
Whereas the book strikes at Scott's incompetence from the outset, his personal shortcomings and deficiencies as a project-leader, unfold much more slowly in the TV production. I was only aware of Scott's accounts from his diary when I watched LPOE for the first time on PBS-- I had no idea why Scott was going to perish, probably right up to the scene where Meares tells Evans that he will leave the expedition and delivers his rant about Scott being arrogant and crass. In the book, you start wondering how Scott ever survived the earlier Discovery expedition, or why he even got to the Pole at all.
I will conclude by addressing some of the bone-headed comments made in the Reviews and forums, by our band of trusty, UEL Scott-worshippers:
1. Huntford's book is based on (and quotes from) multiple diaries, and historical documents, both British and Norwegian. such research takes painstaking time and effort. don't be so crass as to criticize Huntford as a chronicler. if you can quote from these accounts, or find other contemporary sources, that tell a different story, then do so. Remember: these writers did NOT collaborate when recording their feelings and observations to paint a certain negative picture of Scott. When Oates' mother calls Scott 'the murderer of her son', or Oates himself opines that 'he dislikes Scott intensely', that 'Scott is not straight with a man' and that the decision to leave One-ton Depot short of 80 degrees was a 'decision you may come to regret', can you bend those to mean that Scott was an 'ok' guy, and a fit leader?
2. 'Scott is criticized for not relying entirely on dogs, but what if he'd have taken them up the Beardmore and lost loads of them down a crevasse?' - lol - this quote from a certain N.... from where, do you suppose? YES the UNITED KINGDOM!!!! same reviewer asks why 'Scott was entrusted with TWO important scientific expeditions to the Antarctic if he was so bad as a leader?' - yikes... where do I begin?
For centuries, the Eskimos have used dog-teams for travel in the frozen wilds - Amundsen, Nansen, and a host of earlier polar explorers studied and copied these methods. Meares himself had experience in Siberia as a dog-handler. Scott and the British had deluded themselves into thinking that dogs were unreliable for transport, simply because of their own poor experiences and obtuse reasoning. The truth is that Amundsen DID rely entirely on dogs to ascend the Mountains, and they did NOT fall into a crevasse. If the reviewer read the book, he would learn that Amundsen successfully overcame many such threats at a horrific nightmare of a polar site they aptly called the Devil's Ballroom. Anyway, there is no record of Eskimos choosing to walk hundreds of miles pulling heavy loads across frozen deserts in case the dogs fall into a hole. Remind me not to put N..... in charge of my next polar expedition.
As for Scott being placed in charge of scientific expeditions:
a) his so-called scientific readings from the Discovery trip were discarded by the UK Scientific community largely due to the inexperience of the personnel Scott used..
b) his final group of 5 died while lugging 60 lbs of rocks back from the Pole - for science - how 'scientific' is it to neglect proper transport, and the volume / nature of human diet, and to perish from starvation and scurvy?
c) had Scott survived (somehow), with 2 deaths in his party, he may well have faced court-martial for his failure to properly plan the expedition despite having overwhelming financial support. How brilliant would those parties who picked Scott look then? Scott was, however, a compelling writer, and his diary, and his 'heroic' death, saved him from public disgrace
d) these post-Victorian expeditions were largely for national prestige, promoted by Geographic societies - Scott had a mentor: that's why he was chosen. in the past 100 years, what scientific data from the Antarctic has improved your life? it's just a frozen desert - it's white - it's cold. getting to the Pole and back alive is a tremendous feat.
3. conveniently overlooked is Scott's reticence to train his men to be effective skiers - he took the Norwegian 'T Gran' along, but failed to use him properly to instruct the men. Amundsen's veteran trio were effective skiers and dog-handlers, but Bjaaland was a champion skier (in the film, he's the one out front leading the way for the dog-teams, except when the group put Amundsen in the lead at key times, to set a record..)
4. 'Huntford isn't a trained Polar traveller..' lol - give me a break... Shirer had no experience amassing 3 million man armies to invade Russia, or murdering millions in concentration camps: does that make him unfit to write Rise and Fall of the Third Reich ?
5. the Scott apologists haven't studied the Discovery expedition, to differentiate between Scott's glowing self-appraisal and the misgivings of Shackleton, who was almost killed by Scott's short-sightedness back then. Failure to equip and map depots, to plan a proper diet, to stock additional food supplies in case of bad weather led to serious suffering by Evans, Scott, and Shackleton. Scott's 'luck' held, and they survived, but his obtuse refusal to learn from those mistakes, and to take counsel to ascertain what to do to prevent a repeat, are unforgivable.
In the end, it seems odd that a British expedition (embarked upon to prove that the British could be depended upon to safely guide the people and the Empire, by adhering to British methods), proved that if you did follow the direction of arrogant Victorian thinking, you would fail.
:-) canuckteach (--:
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xerses13
13 years ago
canuckteach; Your reply was really a surprise after all this time. I thought that 'we' had buried all opposition. If not, your salient analysis certainly will! Would like ROLAND HUNTFORD to write a enhanced and revised edition of his book, just too squash his critics. The SCOTT sycophants are really delusional. What sort of success is there killing your entire 'Polar Party'? Not much of a one I think.
Still have not figured out why SCOTT did not bring along experts from the then 'Dominion of Canada' who were experienced in Arctic travel and why they were NOT consulted! He had only had to contact the R.C.M.P. and they would have provided all the help he needed. Including Eskimo/Inuit experience and guides! That, with CECIL MEARS, if not guaranteeing success, would at least brought about the survival of the 'Polar Party'.
Nuff said about that. Hope you enjoyed our CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Stanley Cup Victory and parade. Which by the way had a better turn-out then any of the Chicago Bulls' Championships. Then again the BLACKHAWKS are residents and the Bulls' are just tenants at the United Center and the City. Would like to see Toronto and especially Montreal winning the CUP! They are beautiful Cities with great Hockey heritages and would be a boost to the N.H.L. when ever they win! Those two (2) plus Boston, Chicago, L.A., N.Y.C. and Vancouver should always be in the mix at least through the first two (2) rounds.
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canuckteach
13 years ago
hey, xerses13 : great to hear from you again.. I was concerned, as an afterthought, that my latest epistle might sound patently anti-British. After a re-read, it seems ok, however. After all, Falcon Scott, and his doomed expedition, are historical facts -- Sir David Lean, a Brit himself, was plenty critical of the same pompous, self-serving British attitude in at least 3 films: Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai, and Passage to India (although the first two screenplays might be classified as historical fiction).
And I am, as it happens, half-British.
I re-posted after reading the revised edition, 1999, of Huntford's book, now entitled The Last Place on Earth - the original was 1979. I would opine that Huntford attempted to answer any criticism that arose after the original book, and the mini-series came into public focus.
I have read other books by authors using the same style of narrative and research (i.e. Basil Liddell Hart, David Yallop, William Shirer, Tom Clancy..) - one gets the feel of a great, bona fide historical writer.
But anyone hoping that further research by Huntford would diminish the contrast in technical competence between Scott and Amundsen is booked for disappointment. The screenplay, as I mentioned in my post above, actually builds a slow, unfolding picture of Scott as a tragically-flawed person, showing both positive and negative traits. The actor, Martin Shaw, deserves much credit, for his sensitive portrayal. Sverre Anker Ousdal is brilliant also, as Amundsen, depicting a 'driven' man more appealing for his intellect than a warm fuzzy personality.
A real coup would be a blu-ray release of the mini-series, with sub-titles, and a narrative by Huntford, or the actors. Any background info by the unit Directors on the shooting of those amazing polar scenes would be pricless, also. - you know: I forgot to mention that at least part of the production was filmed by the BBC near an Arctic resort that belonged to a friend of mine from Hamilton, ON (no kidding). He ran what I believe was the most northern Inn on the planet, in a place formerly called Frobisher Bay (now called Iqaluit).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frobisher_Bay
The BBC crew and the actors stayed at the Inn - apparently they ate-and tipped-well. Many dignitaries had frequented the place, I guess for the adventure of visiting a site known for isolation from modern civilization, blinding blizzards, and horrific cold. I recall that Prince Philip and, perhaps, Pierre Trudeau were included in this number (the photos were posted in the Hamilton booking office of my colleague).
Hey: congrats on the Cup win.. although in this part of Ontario, we are accustomed to hoping the Toronto Maple Leafs will become competitive one day (they are on free TV networks for 65+ games each season), I came to have great affection for your Hawks over the past 3 seasons, and, surprisingly, the Flyers!! (maybe it's because those teams can actually skate and shoot?).. I like the chances of the Hawks again this year, despite the 'looting' of the lineup. Oh, and I was pleased to have Versteeg on the Leafs' roster for a short while - I think he and Philly will do well this Spring.
:-) canuckteach (--:
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xerses13
13 years ago
canuckteach; I have the original version of the book, softbound and well worn by my entire family. You would think after they had duplicated both expeditions up in Greenland and had to rescue the pseudo 'Scott Party' by Helicopter that would be enough. These people probably think Sir Douglas Haig and the Somme were a SUCCESS!
One most remember Bill Nighy and Hugh Grant whose careers really took off after being in this fine series. Always liked when Cecil Meares told off Scott.
Hoping that Toronto as well as Montreal returns too CUP GLORY! Though both have been Hawk nemeses they have great uniforms. In my cable package We get the NHL Channel and have HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA every Saturday as well as a few other games during the week. It is a 24/7 channel so get all the new info. As far as we are concerned Hockey should NEVER go back to ESPN. It is so obvious they hate the sport.
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Rosabel
9 years ago
at least part of the production was filmed by the BBC near an Arctic resort that belonged to a friend of mine from Hamilton, ON (no kidding). He ran what I believe was the most northern Inn on the planet, in a place formerly called Frobisher Bay
I remember reading a review of the series when it first came out, and naturally our Canadian paper picked up on the "filmed in Canada" angle. All I recall is them describing how difficult it was to film the actors in a polar scene approaching the camera, because the snow had to be untouched ahead of them. So the cameras had to travel round in a huge circle to get far enough ahead that there would be no trace of any previous footprints on the snow in the shot. And if it had to be retaken, well, they would have to go through the whole business to relocate to another untouched spot and do it all over again.
Flat, drab passion meanders across the screen!
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