Adventure Films: Continent Explorers

Description: This film explores the theme of conquering the unknown as two brothers attempt to climb the Matterhorn, one of the last great peaks to be summited.

Fact: Spencer Tracy and Robert Wagner star in this film, which was shot on location in the Swiss Alps, providing breathtaking views.

Description: Based on Rudyard Kipling's story, it follows two British adventurers in the late 19th century who set out to become kings of Kafiristan, a remote area in Afghanistan.

Fact: Sean Connery and Michael Caine star, and the film was shot in Morocco, which doubled for the rugged terrain of Afghanistan.

Description: While not strictly about discovering continents, this film follows a group of British and Indian soldiers on a covert operation during WWII, highlighting the spirit of exploration in wartime.

Fact: The film was based on real events and features Gregory Peck and Roger Moore, with much of the action taking place in Goa, India.

Description: While primarily a tale of survival, it involves the exploration of Africa during the construction of the Uganda-Mombasa Railway, facing unexpected challenges.

Fact: The film is based on the true story of the Tsavo maneaters, two man-eating lions that terrorized workers in Kenya.

Description: This film captures the arrival of Captain John Smith in Virginia and his encounters with the Powhatan tribe, offering a romanticized view of the early exploration of America.

Fact: The film was shot in chronological order to capture the natural aging of the characters. It also features a unique score by James Horner, which was critically acclaimed.

Description: Chronicles the life of British explorer Percy Fawcett, who disappeared while searching for a fabled city in the Amazon rainforest.

Fact: The film was shot in locations in Colombia, which provided a realistic backdrop for the Amazonian setting, and it features a performance by Charlie Hunnam as Fawcett.

Description: Based on the real-life expedition of Thor Heyerdahl, this film follows his journey across the Pacific on a balsa wood raft to prove that South Americans could have settled Polynesia.

Fact: The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and the raft used in the movie was built to the exact specifications of the original.

Description: A documentary that captures the first successful ascent of Mount Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, symbolizing the ultimate exploration of a 'continent' of ice and snow.

Fact: This film was the first documentary to win an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature, and it was made with footage from the actual expedition.

Description: A miniseries that recounts the incredible true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's 1914 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, showcasing the ultimate test of human endurance and exploration.

Fact: Kenneth Branagh stars as Shackleton, and the series was filmed in Greenland to replicate the harsh conditions of Antarctica.

Description: A harrowing tale of Lope de Aguirre's expedition down the Amazon in search of El Dorado, showcasing the madness and ambition that can drive explorers.

Fact: The film was shot on location in the Peruvian jungle with a very small crew, and many of the actors were not professional, adding to the film's raw authenticity.