ANTARCTIC FILM

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28699, 24 September 1958, Page 7

ANTARCTIC FILM

Achievement Of ILS. * Expedition One of the best-produced films of the United States Antarctic expedition’s work, “Assault on Antarctica,” was shown to nearly 250 persons in the lecture hall of the Canterbury Museum last evening. Filmed in colour by the National Broadcasting the film is not scheduled for showing on television in the United States until November. Last evening’s screening, the second showing of the film in Christchurch, .was to the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Antarctic Society. The film, which is narrated by the expedition’s commander, Rear-Admiral George J. Dufek, covers the establishing of the seven United States Antarctic bases during the second phase of the expedition. The admiral recorded the narration for the film in Wellington last April. . Scenes include the preparatory work in Christchurch before' Admiral Dufek’s flight to McMurdo Sound on October 16, 1956, and his arrival at the base. It records the Neptune crash at MeMurdo Sound when the aircraft tried to come down in a blizzard the day after the admiral’s arrival. Work towards the establishment of the base at the South Pole is covered very fully. The camera records, from a Globemaster, the first landing at the Pole and the difficulty Lieutenant-Commander Conrad Shinn had in lifting his Dakota from the ground. Later the construction and air dropping of supplies to the base are shown. After the screening, Admiral Dufek spent three-quarters of an hour answering questions.