Search - The White Dawn on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language Movie Release: 1974 DVD Release: 08/31/2004 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV - Closed Captioned Edition: Special Collection Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 49 mins Studio: Paramount Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Adventure, Adventure Drama

Director Philip Kaufman took his production of Eskimo life to actual locations in the Arctic Circle, making it only the third film in history (after Nanook of the North and Eskimo) to shoot there. Kaufman also employs authentic Eskimo dialect in the film, which adds a heightened bit of realism. The story concerns three whalers -- Billy (Warren Oates), Daggett (Timothy Bottoms), and Portagee (Louis Gossett Jr.) -- who becomes stranded in the Arctic Circle and are rescued by a tribe of Eskimos. Living in the Eskimo village, the three men introduce the chief vices of their civilization -- gambling, thievery, and Western-style sex -- to the isolated Eskimo village. At first the natives put up with the behavior of the Westerners, but as their ways begin to encroach upon the traditional Eskimo customs, the villagers begin to resist the three men's habits. A clash of cultures results. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Warren Oates - Billy
Timothy Bottoms - Daggett
Louis Gossett, Jr. - Portagee
Simonie Kopapik - Sarkak
Joanasie Salomonie - Kangiak
Neelak - Panee
Seemee Nookiguak - Avinga
Jacob Partridge - Archer
Sagiaktok - Shaman
Meetook Mallee - Ikuma
Oolipika Joamie - Mia
Higa Ipeelie - Evaloo
Atcheelak - Hunters
Namonai Ashoona - Nowya
Akshooyooliak - Old Mother
Aupalotak Simonee

Philip Kaufman's 1974 arctic adventure The White Dawn tells the true story of three polar bear hunters who are left behind by their ship and are forced to fend for themselves against the harsh elements. They are eventually rescued by a tribe of Eskimos, but their cultural differences soon threaten to create a wedge between them. The film is presented on this DVD in widescreen with Dolby Digital Mono sound and English subtitles. Along with the feature presentation, the disc also includes both an introduction and a feature-length audio commentary track by director Kaufman as well as a production featurette and a documentary about the Inuit people. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide