The Secret Land

1948
Approved
1h 11m

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

443

YOUR RATING

Van Heflin, Robert Taylor, and Robert Montgomery in The Secret Land (1948)

The 1946-1947 U.S. military expedition to explore and map Antarctica, led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, is presented from its planning stages through its successful completion.

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Documentary

The 1946-1947 U.S. military expedition to explore and map Antarctica, led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, is presented from its planning stages through its successful completion.The 1946-1947 U.S. military expedition to explore and map Antarctica, led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, is presented from its planning stages through its successful completion.The 1946-1947 U.S. military expedition to explore and map Antarctica, led by Admiral Richard E. Byrd, is presented from its planning stages through its successful completion.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.7/10

443

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Oscar
- 1 win total

Self - Narrator
(voice)
(as Comdr. Robert Montgomery U.S.N.R.)

Robert Taylor

Self - Narrator
(voice)
(as Lt. Robert Taylor U.S.N.R.)

Van Heflin

Self - Narrator
(voice)
(as Lt. Van Heflin A.A.F. Ret.)

James Forrestal

Self
(as Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal)

Chester W. Nimitz

Self
(as Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Chester W. Nimitz)

Richard E. Byrd

Self
(as Admiral Byrd)

Richard Cruzen

Self
(as Admiral Cruzen)

Robert S. Quackenbush

Self
(as Captain Quackenbush)

George J. Dufek

Self
(as Captain George Dufek)

Paul A. Siple

Self
(as Dr. Siple)

Charles W. Thomas

Self
(as Captain Thomas)

Vernon D. Boyd

Self
(as Captain Boyd)

Charles A. Bond

Self
(as Captain Bond)

David E. Bunger

Self
(as Commander David E. Bunger)

John E. Clark

Self
(as Captain Clark)

John D. Howell

Self
(as Commander Howell)

William Kearns

Self
(as Lieutenant j.g. Bill Kearns)

Ralph LeBlanc

Self
(as Lieutenant j.g. Frenchie LeBlanc)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Admiral Richard E. Byrd's fourth Antarctic expedition, code-named "Highjump", from August 1946 to February 1947 involved 13 ships, over 4,000 men, 50 cameras and 40 vehicles.

Quotes
Self - Secretary of the Navy James V. Forrestal: [explaining the reason for the enterprise] There is only one untouched reservoir of raw materials left in the world and that is in the region known as Antarctica, an area larger than the combined area of the United States and Europe. The American government is sending a naval expedition to that region. The purpose is to train our Navy in polar operations so that it may better perform its function of preserving the peace upon the seven seas of the world. Beyond that, the American government is seeking to do its share in the discovery and release to the world of the unknown treasures of Antarctica, in the interests of all mankind.

Crazy credits
The opening credits include the following: "Starring Men and Ships of U.S. Navy" "Photographed by Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Army Cameramen"

Connections
Featured in Movies Are Adventure (1948)

Soundtracks
Anchors Aweigh
(uncredited)
Music by Charles A. Zimmerman

User reviews11

Review

Featured review

8/10

Penguins

The oddly named O. O. Dull's last production is, according to Turner Classic Movies, an "authentic reproduction" of Byrd's 1946-47 expedition to the Antarctic, filled with sharp black-and-white photography and blotchy Technicolor footage, narrated by Robert Montgomery, Robert Taylor, and Van Heflin. This nicely edited documentary has some interesting shots of life aboard the ships and ice packs of Antarctica, and some staged shots of three or four admirals droning their lines. Always fun to look at penguins!