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Reviews of silent film releases on DVD home video.
Copyright © 1999-2008 by Carl Bennett. All Rights Reserved.
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South
(1919)
on
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This stirring silent era documentary details Sir Ernest Shackleton’s failed expedition to cross Antarctica by way of the South Pole. From a ship trapped in antarctic ice pack, to a daring sea voyage in a small boat, to an eventual and hard fought rescue, the film documents Shackleton’s relentless determination in the face of certain failure. Amidst the hardship, cinematographer Frank Hurley captured the events of the challenged expedition on motion picture film. — Carl Bennett
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 2000 Milestone Film & Video edition
South (1919), black & white, 81 minutes, not rated.
Milestone Film & Video, ID5929MLSDVD, UPC 0-14381-59292-4.
Full-frame 4:3 NTSC, one single-sided, single-layered DVD disc, Region 1, ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops, snapper case, $29.99.
DVD release date: 1 August 2000.
Country of origin: USA
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In addition to the main program, the disc also features an exerpt from Southward on the Quest, with commentary by Shackleton (from a 1909 recording) on his Nimrod expedition of 1907. South features modern audio commentary by Luke McKernan of the British Film Institute.
USA: Click the logomark at right to purchase
a Region 1 NTSC DVD of this edition from Amazon.com. |
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Canada: Click the logomark at right to purchase
a Region 1 NTSC DVD of this edition from Amazon.ca. |
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 2002 BFI Video Publishing edition
South (1919), black & white, 80 minutes, exempt.
BFI Video Publishing, BFIVD504, unknown UPC number.
Full-frame 4:3 PAL, one single-sided, single-layered DVD disc, Region 0, ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops, keep case, £19.99.
DVD release date: 27 May 2002.
Country of origin: England
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This edition also features the special supplements the Ross Sea Party, Shackleton’s Last Expedition, Shackleton’s Funeral, a stills gallery, and a recording of Shackleton’s voice. It likely features the same audio commentary by Luke McKernan that is included in the Milestone edition above.
United Kingdom: Click the logomark at right to purchase
a Region 0 PAL DVD of this edition from Amazon.co.uk. |
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Other silent era documentaries available on DVD home video:
America Goes Over (1918)
Chang: A Drama in the Wilderness (1927)
Grass: A Nation’s Battle for Life (1925)
In the Land of the War Canoes (1914)
Kino-Eye (1924)
Nanook of the North (1922)
World War I Films of the Silent Era (1916-1917) |
