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Title:EXERCISE POLAR NORTH 1998 (ORIGINAL FOOTAGE) [Allocated Title]
Film Number:ADM 6714X
Other titles:ROYAL NAVY VIDEOS: 1990s [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Unedited coverage showing final preparation and departure of the Polar North Expedition, the attempt by Sergeant Sean Chapple and Corporal Alan Chambers of the Royal Marines to walk unsupported to the North Pole.
Description: (Tape 1) Posed shots of the two Marines pulling their sleds across the ice, across flat snow and ice ridges. (Final training session ?) Weather balloon prepared. Shots of dead seal. The men erect their tent on the ice and cook an evening meal. Settling down for the night - the two men amuse themselves in their tent by playing Scrabble on a small magnetic set (board is posed for the camera with the first word - "CHIR(P)" - visible). Striking tent the next morning; the men set off again. Negotiating ice ridges.
(Tape 2) Further posed shots of the men walking through snow (including a shot from one of the sleds, and forward views of the men walking towards camera. Scenes at the expedition's base: the team members describe to local children in some detail the background to the trip and the clothing and equipment they will be taking with them. Children are shown a laptop computer connected to the Internet which shows a website about the North Pole. Scenes of the final packing and inventory of equipment as sleds are prepared immediately prior to the start of the expedition.
(Tape 3) Shots of snowscapes. Night scene showing the two team members in full gear walking towards an aircraft hangar (there is a break in the weather and the expedition is finally ready to commence). Doors of the hangar are opened and tractors leave; they begin to bulldoze the snow from runway in preparation for the morning flight to the start point: flight briefing is held. Final interview and messages to camera before departure. the men pose by the aircraft before getting in. Aircraft takes off across the ice in the early morning light.
Alternative Title:ROYAL NAVY VIDEOS: 1990s [Allocated Series Title]