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UnknownTruth About the North Pole, The (1912)

Film made by Dr. Frederick Cook to substantiate his claim as discoverer of the North Pole and document his treatment by opponents.


This movie is part of the collection: Prelinger Archives

Producer: Unknown
Sponsor: N/A
Audio/Visual: Si, B&W
Keywords: Arctic: Exploration

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: barticle - - January 3, 2009
Subject: Authority lies.


Not really. Most historians no longer believe Peary's claims. Nor do they accept Cook's. Neither did Cook climb Mt. McKinley, as he claimed. On the other hand, he was wrongly convicted of fraud (promoting oil company stock), the judge being a friend of Peary's. President Roosevelt gave him a full pardon in 1940. Too bad this movie is so atrociously made--on the level of home movies. But it's historically interesting. This all proves that we can take nothing at face value, regardless of the weight of authority.

Reviewer: garp6600 - - January 3, 2009
Subject: yea....um NO.
Great footage!
Admiral Robert Peary was the first man at the North Pole of Earth. This is a fact, period. He utilized local people to help him do it just like Hillary ascending Everest. Cook was a great explorer but he never made it. He could barely get out of shifting ice flow.
The fact that he stars in his own movie must hold some truth to the idea that he was bitter... but wrong.

Reviewer: Spuzz - - August 13, 2005
Subject: Pole Dancers!!!!!
A somewhat (actually, lets make that VERY) desperately made film to prove that A Mr. Cook conquered the North pole first! Not that attention hogger Peary!! To prove his point, Well, he made.. uh.. this film. And man, what a film it is!!! Filled with so many production errors, the film is probably the cheapest and worst looking silent movie Ive ever seen (and Ive seen Greed!) Where to begin.. People are wandering around outside in the cold Arctic air without any gloves on.. the arctic dogs wander behind the igloo on set, making it painfully aware that its a prop.. And best of all, when they do end up at the pole, one of the team whips out a flag and starts waving it around, creating a shadow on the painted backdrop of ice. LOL!
The acting and pace is strangely wooden, even for a silent film. Conversations go on with no sense of pace, without you knowing who these people are or what theyre having a conversation about.
At the end, theres some badly reproduced newsreel footage of the real explorer, which is somewhat of a cheat, I thought.

Reviewer: cashel - - September 24, 2003
Subject: not exactly
This b/w silent film is poorly made and acted,but I found it entertaining...Dr Cook, the hero,plays himself. As to the truth, yellow kid weill , one of the greatest confidence tricksters was in prison with Dr Cook..Weill had complete faith and belief in the truth of Dr Cook,s statements..Today, there is the Cook Foundation,which can be found on the internet.. Established by his dughter, it exists to establish cook,s achievements

Shotlist

The Truth About The North Pole, a film made by Dr. Cook to substantiate his claim as discoverer of the pole and his treatment by opponents. The first part of the film is a crudely made photoplay starring Dr. Cook and the last part deals with his reception in Europe.