Dead of Winter: The Donner Party
27/11/2015
What starts out as a voyage to the West in pursuit of the American Dream quickly turns deadly for the Donner party after a series of bad decisions and severe weather. Trapped in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this group of nearly 80 settlers fell prey to sub-zero temperatures, torrential rainfalls, extreme heat, and ten-foot snow drifts. Punishing storms trapped the party with nearly no food or shelter for 5 months in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Many died, some succumbed to cannibalism to survive, and others delved deeply into their faith while waiting to be rescued. “The Donner Party” explores this exciting journey through a hybrid of first-person narration, remarkable reenactments, expert interviews, CGI, and archival materials.
Movie Information
Powers Boothe
as Narrator
Darby Hinton
as George Donner
Kim Lankford
as Tamsen Donner
Darrin Miller
as James Reed
Libby Baker
as Margaret Reed
Danielle Shumard
as Virginia Reed
David White
as William Eddy
Kit Leonard Dennis
as Patrick Breen
Bear Fuerst
as Lewis Keseberg
Greg Webb
as William Foster
Alex Barry
as Patrick Dolan
Romi Williams
as Patty Reed
Ryan Cole
as Charles Stanton
Luis Juarez
as Luis
Sean Kervin
as Salvador
Calen John Neal
as John Snyder
Elizabeth Austin
as Commentator (Atmospheric Physicist)
Gabrielle Burton
as Commentator (Author)
Ethan Rarick
as Commentator (Author)
Frank X. Mullen
as Commentator (Author)
Mark McLaughlin
as Commentator (Author)
Creek Stewart
as Commentator (Survival Expert)
