Foothold on Antarctica is a 1957 adventure documentary presented by the British Petroleum Company. It features the first phase of advance preparations which laid the groundwork for Sir Edmund Hillary’s landmark crossing of Antarctica and the South Pole in January 1958. This film focuses on the advance party of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition which arrived in Antarctica in November 1955. Eight men, led by Ken Blaiklock, stayed through the winter and established the Shackleton Base near the Weddell Sea which was critical to the mission’s success.

(01:06) November 1955, the motor vessel Theron found Antarctica.

(01:20) The sailing vessel Huron is shown on its way to the Weddell Sea near the South Pole.

(01:39) Dr Vivian Fuchs (later Sir Vivian Ernest Fuchs FRS), is the leader

(01:41) Sir Edmund Hillary is seen. He was known for his historic summit of Mt. Everest in 1953. Set to lead a New Zealand group the following year, here is seen accompanying the British expedition.

(02:02) The crew chat in their bunks.

(02:09) Huskies and their pups are housed in kennels on the deck.

(02:37) Men relax on deck and enjoy the nice weather.

(03:15) A diagram showing the positions of South Georgia, the Weddell Sea, and Antarctica.

(03:48) A map demonstrates the locations of the Weddell Sea and Ross Sea, the planned start and end points for the expedition.

(03:53) The two locations are 2000 miles apart and the crew will cross the South Pole.

(04:16) The burial site of Ernest Shackleton who died while exploring the area in 1922.

(04:26) Seals and whales are common creatures near South Georgia

(04:37) Men clean a whale

(04:44) A small village is seen near the sea and mountains

(04:53) The boat docks near South Georgia

(05:04) A small sea-plane is tested. It will help the crew navigate.

(06:17) Sea ice is seen in the Weddell Sea. The boat must slowly navigate through the ice.

(07:22) The boat becomes stuck in the ice and the crew works on breaking through this thick ice.

(08:30) The ship attempts to break through the ice and when all else fails, the crew exits and breaks the ice manually.

(09:17) The huskies wander near the ship.

(09:27) Dynamite detonators are used to crack ice floats.

(10:05) After a month’s delay, the crew starts sailing through the sea.

(10:37) The sea-plane takes off from the pool and gives the crew navigational information.

(13:24) Ice cliffs indicate the crew has reached Antarctica.

(14:00) The crew makes landfall. Penguins are seen near the boat.

(14:38) The crew unloads 350 tons of cargo including tractors.

(17:28) A 24-hour storm strikes, driving loose ice and endangering the crew.

(18:26) They begin working on the camp-site, Shackleton Base.

(19:27) The crew splits up. Eight crew members will stay in Antarctica to prepare for next year’s mission. The advance party waves goodbye.

The Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition (CTAE) of 1955–1958 was a Commonwealth-sponsored expedition that successfully completed the first overland crossing of Antarctica, via the South Pole. It was the first expedition to reach the South Pole overland for 46 years, preceded only by Amundsen’s expedition and Scott’s expedition in 1911 and 1912. It was headed by British explorer Vivian Fuchs, with New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary leading the New Zealand Ross Sea Support team. The New Zealand party included scientists participating in International Geophysical Year research while the British team were separately based at Halley Bay.

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