The Whale

The story

Dramatic retelling of the fateful last voyage of the Nantucket whaleship Essex. When the Essex is attacked and sunk by a sperm whale in November 1820, her crew take to three fragile whalers. Alone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the men must decide whether to head for the nearest islands - a thousand miles downwind to the west - or set out on an epic journey of almost three thousand miles to reach the South American mainland. Fear of cannibals forces them to choose South America. Almost three months later, the first whaler is rescued by another whaleship. Only three men are still alive. A week later the captain's whaler is also rescued, with just two men aboard. The third whaler is never found. This is a story of human endurance and what men in extremis will do to survive.

Cast

M Martin SheenTom Nickerson J Jonas ArmstrongOwen Chase P Paul KayeMatthew Joy A Adam RaynerCaptain George Pollard J Jassa AhluwaliaOwen Coffin J John BoyegaWilliam Bond D David GyasiRichard Peterson F Ferdinand KingsleyObed Hendricks J Jolyon CoyBenjamin Lawrence C Chris StarkieWatson C Charles FurnessYoung Tom Nickerson A André AgiusEssex Crew

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J Joe AzzopardiEssex Crew M Macram BorgEssex Crew S Stephen BuhagiarEssex Crew J Jimi BusuttilEssex Crew G Graham CharlesEssex Crew A Aklileu GudettaEssex Crew I Ian Thomas ShawEssex Crew V Valentin StojanovEssex Crew B Bolton WhiteEssex Crew