Dead of Winter: The Donner Party (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.
Videos
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Powers Boothe
as Narrator
as Narrator
Darby Hinton
as George Donner
as George Donner
Kim Lankford
as Tamsen Donner
as Tamsen Donner
Darrin Miller
as James Reed
as James Reed
Libby Baker
as Margaret Reed
as Margaret Reed
Danielle Shumard
as Virginia Reed
as Virginia Reed
David White
as William Eddy
as William Eddy
Kit Leonard Dennis
as Patrick Breen
as Patrick Breen
Bear Fuerst
as Lewis Keseberg
as Lewis Keseberg
Greg Webb
as William Foster
as William Foster
Alex Barry
as Patrick Dolan
as Patrick Dolan
Romi Williams
as Patty Reed
as Patty Reed
Ryan Cole
as Charles Stanton
as Charles Stanton
Luis Juarez
as Luis
as Luis
Sean Kervin
as Salvador
as Salvador
Calen John Neal
as John Snyder
as John Snyder
Elizabeth Austin
as Commentator (Atmospheric Physicist)
as Commentator (Atmospheric Physicist)
Gabrielle Burton
as Commentator (Author)
as Commentator (Author)
Ethan Rarick
as Commentator (Author)
as Commentator (Author)
Frank X. Mullen
as Commentator (Author)
as Commentator (Author)
Mark McLaughlin
as Commentator (Author)
as Commentator (Author)
Creek Stewart
as Commentator (Survival Expert)
as Commentator (Survival Expert)
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Doug Glover
Director
Director
Raymond Bridgers
Writer
Writer
Raymond Bridgers
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Laura Decludt
Producer
Producer
Lauren Frasca
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Adam Freeman
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Leslie Greif
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
John C. Joseph
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Ben Kahn
Producer
Producer
Mayen Ma
Supervising Producer
Supervising Producer
Adam Reed
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Joanne Rubino
Production Executive
Production Executive
Erika Wadler
Development Manager
Development Manager
Clint Lealos
Cinematography
Cinematography
Fern Champion
Casting
Casting
Narbeh Nazarian
Production Design
Production Design
Bernadette Stewart
Set Decoration
Set Decoration
Lauren Oppelt
Costume Design
Costume Design
Jennifer M. Quinteros
Makeup Department Head
Makeup Department Head
Ayelet Bick
Production Manager
Production Manager
Sterling Frymer
Unit Production Manager
Unit Production Manager
John Kalning
Production Supervisor
Production Supervisor
Ben Kahn
First Assistant Director
First Assistant Director
Josh Brandli
Second Assistant Director
Second Assistant Director
Laurence A. Ellis
Supervising Sound Editor
Supervising Sound Editor
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