Pole To Pole with Michael Palin (1992)

Pole to Pole is an eight-part television documentary travel series made for the BBC and released in 1992. The presenter is Michael Palin, this being the second of Palin's major journeys for the BBC. The trip from the North Pole to the South Pole went via Scandinavia, the Soviet Union, parts of Europe, and through the heart of Africa. The intention was to follow the 30 degree east line of longitude, as this involves the most possible travel via land. A last-minute diversion to Chile included South America in the series. Using aircraft was avoided as much as possible, and the whole trip lasted 5 1/2 months. The programme has been sold to many television stations around the world. It was also released on video tape and later on DVD.

Following the trip Michael Palin wrote Pole to Pole describing the trip. This book contains much more detail than could be presented in the TV programme, and Palin's personal views are also more clearly evident. The book contains many pictures from the trip, almost all taken by Basil Pao, the stills photographer on the team.

Palin made this journey during a period of great political upheaval in some of the places he traveled through. He left the Soviet Union days before the coup and a few months before the collapse, Ethiopia after the fall of the Derg, Zambia after the ousting of long-time president Kenneth Kaunda, and South Africa months after the abolition of apartheid.

For more info see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pole_to_Pole



















Additional technical details:

• Actors: Michael Palin
• Writers: Michael Palin
• Producers: Anne James, Clem Vallance
• Format: Colour, PAL
• Language English
• Number of discs: 3
• Classification: Exempt
• Studio: 2 Entertain Video & British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Original Release Date: 21 October 1992 (UK)
• DVD Release Date: 1 Mar 2004
• Run Time: 445 minutes
• Amazon Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
• IMDB Customer Review 8.8/10 (313 votes) "Much better than many fictional films"
• Awards: 1 win (BAFTA TV Award Best Film/Video Photography (Factual) Nigel Meakin)
• ASIN: B000198ABG