Dead of Winter: The Donner Party
27/11/2015
1h 24m

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.
Cast


Powers Boothe
Narrator


Darby Hinton
George Donner


Kim Lankford
Tamsen Donner


Darrin Miller
James Reed


Libby Baker
Margaret Reed
Danielle Shumard
Virginia Reed


David White
William Eddy


Kit Leonard Dennis
Patrick Breen


Bear Fuerst
Lewis Keseberg


Greg Webb
William Foster
Alex Barry
Patrick Dolan
Romi Williams
Patty Reed
Ryan Cole
Charles Stanton
Luis Juarez
Luis
Sean Kervin
Salvador
Calen John Neal
John Snyder


Elizabeth Austin
Commentator (Atmospheric Physicist)
Gabrielle Burton
Commentator (Author)


Ethan Rarick
Commentator (Author)


Frank X. Mullen
Commentator (Author)


Mark McLaughlin
Commentator (Author)


Creek Stewart
Commentator (Survival Expert)
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