DOCUMENTARY. The first journey of the commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition to set up a base camp on the Weddell Sea.

RL.1 NOV. 1955: Ship "Theron" leaves London. Leader of party Vivian Fuchs, Edmund Hillary and members of party and crew seen on board. Scenes of ship (226-242). 17th DEC. Arrive at Island of South Georgia in South Atlantic (360-482). Shackleton's grave. Dead whales being skinned at South Georgia. Testing the seaplane that will be used to reconnoitre route through the ice. Journey south into Weddel Sea. Testing sea temperature. After 4th day, sea ice begins. Ice becomes thicker, ice floes appear. Ship breaking way through ice. CHRISTMAS EVE, 1955: pack ice tightens, "Theron" trapped (657). Progress very slow. Men collecting ice for water. Freeing ship by loosening ice along hull. Dynamiting ice. JAN. 25th, 1956: Ship at last begins to make progress through pack ice (938 ft).

RL.2 Break in ice for plane to take off found. Plane taking off to reconnoitre. Whales appear in break in ice. Rendezvous with a R.N. vessel. "Theron" takes route skirting pack ice, progress easier. Huge icebergs sighted. Antarctica sighted. Ice cliffs along the coast. Base camp site chosen at South end of Weddel Sea. Unloading supplies, speed essential as sea may soon freeze. Unloading Sno-Cat tractors, oil, coal, timber, food. Supplies taken inland to site by Sno-Cat. Plane taking off from ice. View from plane of site and area. Blizzard. "Theron" torn from her moorings, working party stranded ashore loose ice piling up between ship and ice-edge. Eased back to moorings. Work continues after storm. Cargo unloaded in 5 days. Weather suddenly worsens. Wind changes to North. Sea begins freezing. Ice begins creeping in. Captain Marlowe and Dr. Fuchs decide to sail immediately. Party of 8 left behind to prepare camp Shackleton for next part of Expedition. Seen waving goodbye to rest of party as ship leaves (951 ft).

The End (1889 ft).