The Greely Expedition

Gr 9 Up—This production sheds light on an ill-fated scientific expedition to the Arctic. In 1881 Adolphus Greely and his team were assigned to gather climate data. After pushing farther north than any other expedition at that point, they became victims of the government's waning interest, poor planning, bureaucratic incompetence, and the harsh Arctic winter. When the men were rescued three years later, only six remained of the 25 member expedition. Rumors of cannibalism negated their accomplishments. The documentary features good sound and picture quality. Maps clearly show the expedition's routes and positions. Readings from recovered journals depict the men's struggle for survival and the sense of camaraderie that developed as they faced certain death. What the film does not achieve as successfully is conveying a sense of historical importance or presenting sufficient scientific background. For example, the political turbulence and corruption of this era, as much a danger to the expedition as the harsh weather, is barely mentioned. Likewise, we are told that the expedition was a part of an international team of scientists attempting to collect climate data, but the team, its theories, and the eventual conclusions are not adequately described. The documentary focuses almost solely on the grisly accounts of death in the Arctic, lessening its educational value.—Ryan Henry, Daviess Count public Library, Owensboro, KY