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ERA
Did you know
52 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
MoodPlayr · trivia#01
The White Dawn
"A True Story of an Artic Adventure."
1974 1h 50m EN
👍
6.6
SOLID
★6.6TMDB · 21
HistoryAdventureDrama
Synopsis
Spoiler shield
In 1896, three survivors of a whaling ship-wreck in the Canadian Arctic are saved and adopted by an Eskimo tribe but frictions arise when the three start misbehaving.
“A True Story of an Artic Adventure.”
Cast
Warren Oates
Billy
Timothy Bottoms
Daggett
Louis Gossett Jr.
Portagee
Joanasie Salamonie
Kangiak
Simonie Kopapik
Sarkak
Pilitak
Neevee
Sagiaktok
Shaman
Munamee Sako
Sowaiapik
Credits
Behind the camera
- Director
- Philip Kaufman
- Writers
- James Houston, Thomas Rickman
- Languages
- English
- Countries
- Canada, United States of America
Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.
Did you know?
Fun facts 🍿
2 / 8
WORLD
Did you know
International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.
MoodPlayr · trivia#02
3 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Directed by Philip Kaufman, shot by Michael Chapman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
MoodPlayr · trivia#03
4 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Original score by Henry Mancini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
MoodPlayr · trivia#04
5 / 8
DIRECTOR
Did you know
Editor Douglas Day Stewart shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
MoodPlayr · trivia#05
6 / 8
CAST
Did you know
Warren Oates and Timothy Bottoms and Louis Gossett Jr. carry the top of the cast.
MoodPlayr · trivia#06
7 / 8
FACT
Did you know
Marketing tagline: "A True Story of an Artic Adventure.".
MoodPlayr · trivia#07
8 / 8
WILD
Did you know
IMDB entry: tt0072403 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
MoodPlayr · trivia#08
Cinephile deep dive
The take
Philip Kaufman directs. Michael Chapman behind the camera. Henry Mancini scores. Douglas Day Stewart cuts. Produced in Canada, United States of America. Dialogue in English.
Trivia
Things worth knowing
- 152 years old — a genuine piece of film history.
- 2International production across 2 countries: Canada, United States of America.
- 3Directed by Philip Kaufman, shot by Michael Chapman. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
- 4Original score by Henry Mancini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
- 5Editor Douglas Day Stewart shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
- 6Warren Oates and Timothy Bottoms and Louis Gossett Jr. carry the top of the cast.
- 7Marketing tagline: "A True Story of an Artic Adventure.".
- 8IMDB entry: tt0072403 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
- 9Only 21 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.
- 10Classified under 9 themes, including "canada", "based on novel or book", "culture clash", "shipwreck".
The technical file
- Cinematography
- Michael Chapman
- Original score
- Henry Mancini
- Editing
- Douglas Day Stewart
- Sound
- Pete Horner
- Stunt coordinator
- Paul Baxley
- Runtime
- 110 min · 1h 50m
- Aspect ratio (typical)
- 1.37:1 (Academy)
- Status
- Released
- Original language
- EN
- Certification (US)
- R
Also by
Philip Kaufman
Stills · wallpapers
Selected frames
Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.
Production companies
Who made it
Paramount Pictures
US
- AM
American Film Properties
Filmways Pictures
US
Key crew
- NovelJames Houston
- EditorDouglas Day Stewart
- CastingCaro Jones
- ProducerMartin Ransohoff
- Stunt CoordinatorPaul Baxley
- StuntsMickey Gilbert
- StuntsFred Scheiwiller
- StuntsRichard Washington
- StuntsChuck Waters
- AdaptationMartin Ransohoff
- Assistant DirectorJon Anderson
- Second Assistant DirectorTony Lucibello
- Construction CoordinatorWilliam Maldonado
- Sound Re-Recording MixerPete Horner
- Sound Effects EditorJames J. Klinger
- Sound MixerRichard Lightstone
- Special EffectsHenry Millar Jr.
- Camera OperatorKenneth Post
- Lighting DirectorTim Griffith
- Wardrobe SupervisorMarcel Carpenter
- Assistant EditorHarvey Stambler
- Location ManagerDon Carmody
- Associate ProducerDon Guest
- Associate ProducerJames Houston
Themes & keywords
What it's about, really
- canada
- based on novel or book
- culture clash
- shipwreck
- inuit
- arctic polar circle region
- whaler
- 19th century
- eskimo
Release history · US
When it landed
- Theatrical1974-07-21R
