Shackleton deserted food to conserve this video footage of the Endurance prior to it sunk

I simply stumbled upon this video footage of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s stranded Endurance that was shot in 1915, prior to it sunk, revealing the ship’s team as they attempted to release it from sea-ice with pickaxes, and after that revealing part of the ship collapsing. The movie (above), brought back by the British Film Institute and modified in the design of a quiet motion picture, was among the couple of products Shackleton demanded conserving, together with most of their food.

From Core77:

How is it possible that the movie video endured this experience? After the team deserted ship, food was the main point to be brought away by the males, and [photographer Frank] Hurley needed to choose which image negatives and movie reels to restore. “Despite the sailors’ dangerous circumstance,” composes the British Film Institute, which brought back the video footage, “Shackleton firmly insisted the nitrate movie was restored.”

Hurley explains the unpleasant procedure of choosing what to keep:

” Sir Ernest and I discussed the plates together, and as an unfavorable was declined, I would smash it on the ice to anticipate all temptation to alter my mind. The option was made, and the movies and plates that I thought about important were stowed away in one of the boats, having actually initially been positioned in double tins hermetically sealed.

” About 400 plates were rejected and 120 kept. Later on I needed to maintain them nearly with my life; for a time came when we needed to pick in between heaving them overboard or getting rid of our surplus food– and the food discussed! All my photographic equipment was compulsorily deserted, other than one little pocket electronic camera and 3 spindles of unexposed movie. I question if 3 spindles of movie ever went through more exacting experiences prior to they were established.”

And in case you missed out on the extraordinary news about the Endurance and its discovery over the weekend, here is video footage of the unspoiled ship which was discovered at the bottom of the Weddell Sea after 107 years: