Shackleton (2002 TV series) explained

Genre:Biography, drama
Director:Charles Sturridge
Starring:Kenneth Branagh
Theme Music Composer:Adrian Johnston
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Norwegian
German
Num Series:1
Num Episodes:2
Producer:Selwyn Roberts
Editor:Peter Coulson
Cinematography:Henry Braham
Runtime:206 minutes
Network:Channel 4

Shackleton is a 2002 British television miniseries. It was written and directed by Charles Sturridge and starring Kenneth Branagh as explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. The film tells the true story of Shackleton's 1914 Antarctic expedition on the ship Endurance. The cast includes Kevin McNally, Lorcan Cranitch, Embeth Davidtz, Danny Webb, Matt Day and Phoebe Nicholls (also the director's wife) as Lady Shackleton. It was filmed in the UK, Iceland and Greenland. The film used first-hand accounts by the men on the expedition to retell the story. Shackleton biographer Roland Huntford was a production advisor.

Shackleton was first broadcast in two parts by Channel 4 in January 2002. In North America the film was first broadcast by the A&E Network in April 2002. The film was nominated for seven Emmy Awards, six BAFTA Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Plot

The films tells the true story of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton (Kenneth Branagh) and his 1914 Antarctic expedition on the ship Endurance. The story begins with him planning the expedition and finding sponsors, particularly Sir James Caird. Shackleton's goal is to drive dog sled teams from one side of Antarctica to the other, which would make Britain the first nation to undertake such a trans-continental journey.

Once the expedition is underway, trouble arises due to thick sea ice and low temperatures. Endurance becomes trapped and eventually crushed by pack ice. Shackleton vows to find a way to rescue the men. He undertakes an epic journey across the ice, followed by 800 miles of the Southern Ocean and then an uncharted mountain range on South Georgia Island. He finds a whaling station from which rescue parties are sent to collect his entire shipwrecked crew. The otherwise failed expedition is made famous for every crew member surviving despite insurmountable odds.

Cast

(In order of appearance)

Awards and nominations

AwardCategoryNomineeResult
Golden Globe Awards[1] Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Primetime Emmy Awards[2] Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a MovieHenry Braham
Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Dramatic Underscore)Adrian Johnston
Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a SpecialPeter Coulson
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a MovieKenneth Branagh
Outstanding MiniseriesFrancesca Barra, Delia Fine, Emilio Nunez, Selwyn Roberts
Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a SpecialKevin Brazier, Philip Barnes, Blair Jollands, Wayne Brooks
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic SpecialCharles Sturridge
BAFTA Awards[3] Best Drama SerialSelwyn Roberts, Charles Sturridge
Best Costume DesignShirley Russell
Best ActorKenneth Branagh
Best Editing (Fiction/Entertainment)Peter Coulson
Best Photography and Lighting (Fiction/Entertainment)Henry Braham
Best Production DesignMichael Howells
Cinema Audio Society AwardsOutstanding Sound Mixing for Television, MOW's and Mini-SeriesDave Humphries, John Rodda
Producers Guild of America AwardsOutstanding Producer of Long-Form TelevisionSelwyn Roberts
Royal Television SocietyBest Art DirectorLynne Huitson, Matthew Robinson
Best Production Design, DramaMichael Howells
Best Make Up Design, DramaJeremy Woodhead
Satellite AwardsBest Miniseries

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Golden Globe Awards . Hollywood Foreign Press Association . 2003 . 27 February 2014.
  2. Web site: Primetime Emmy Awards . Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . 2002 . 27 February 2014.
  3. Web site: BAFTA Awards . British Academy of Film and Television Arts . 2003 . 27 February 2014.