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Hindenburg: The Untold Story
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Wikipedia article
'Hindenburg: The Untold Story' known in Germany as 'Das Geheimnis der Hindenburg' ("The Secret of the Hindenburg") and 'Die Hindenburg: die ungeklrte Katastrophe', is a two-hour docudrama about the disaster of the 'Hindenburg', and the investigation that followed. It aired on May 6, 2007, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the disaster. It was commissioned by Channel 4, ZDF, and the Smithsonian Networks to be produced by Pioneer Productions and has also aired on Discovery Channel Canada. Its original working title was 'Hindenburg' and is also known as 'Hindenburg: Titanic of the skies' (which should not be confused with 'Titanic of the Sky', a different documentary by Vidicom). The British version is narrated by Malcolm Tierney who plays the role of Hugo Eckener, while John Shrapnel narrates an alternative version which features interviews with survivors.
It provides a reenactment of the 'Hindenburg' disaster using a detailed computer animated model. The animation was done by Red Vision, which also did the animation for two previous documentaries on the 'Hindenburg' disaster: 'Hindenburg Disaster: Probable Cause' and an episode of 'Seconds From Disaster'. The film mainly focuses on the official investigation of the disaster. The live actions scenes were shot in Poland and later edited by Red Vision.
Story
The film primarily focuses on the 'Hindenburg's demise and the official inquiry that followed.
Cast
*Narrator*: John Shrapnel (UK dub), Bill Roberts (US version)
*Dr. Hugo Eckener: Malcolm Tierney
*Commander Rosendahl: Mark McGann
*Jean Rosendahl: Lorelei King
*Max Pruss: Albert Welling
*Herbert Morrison: Gerard Monaco
*Joseph Sph: Simon Lowe
*Nelson Morris: Michael Praed
*Chief Steward Heinrich Kubis: Thorston Manderlay
*Werner Franz: Kamil Krawczykowski
*Helmut Lau: Piotr Grabowski
*Rudolph Sauter: John Edmondson
*Colonel South Trimble (Jr.): Phil Goss
Filmmakers
*Director Sean Grundy
*Producer Vicky Matthews
*Editor Martin Swann
*Composer Andrew Hewitt
*Cinematographer David Langan
Historical errors
*Often there are fake newsreels showing the disaster, though the footage is real. These are obviously simulated recreations, as the narrator for all newsreels are shown as the same for all three newsreel companies, even though it does use the opening part of an actual newsreel of the disaster (Universal Newsreel, Movietone News Special). Also the footage does not match the authentic newsreel, as the "Universal" one uses footage originally from the Path coverage of the disaster.
*The 'Hindenburg' appears to have crashed on solid concrete and grass. In reality the landing field was wet and sandy.
*The newsreel cameramen do not stand on van roofs to film the disaster. Two cameramen had their cameras positioned on van roofs.
*Some of the ways that the passengers survive is slightly inaccurate. Albert Sammt escaped with his hat on, but in this documentary he does not have his hat on. Margaret Mather escapes with no scratches. In reality her hands were burned badly. Werner Franz has some small cuts on his head, but in reality he wasn't injured.
*Heinrich Kubis, the chief steward, is portrayed as suspicious of passenger Joseph Spah but also sympathetic of him saying "he was okay" and that he was only "feeding his dog." In reality, Kubis believed that Spah was saboteur of the airship.
*The flag draped behind the commission and the flags waved by spectators have 50 stars, but the American flag at the time of the disaster would have only had 48.
*There is no evidence that Eckener was offered helium in 1929, as the documentary implies. The 'Hindenburg' was designed to use hydrogen cells enclosed within a helium envelope, but the US Helium Control Act prohibited export of helium to other countries.
References
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