Glory & Honor

• Henry Czerny: Robert Edwin Peary
• Delroy Lindo: Matthew Henson
• Vlasta Vrana: Morris Jesup
• David Ferry: John Verhoeff
• Bronwen Booth: Josephine Peary
• Kim Staunton: Lucy Ross
• Samson Jorah: Iqwah
• Larry Audlaluk: Ahnalkah
• David Quamaniq: Ahnidloo
• Natar Ungalaaq: Ootah
• Sophie Avingaq: Aleqasina

Glory and honor ( eng. Glory & Honor ) is an American biographical film directed by Kevin Hooks from the year 1998. This film is based on true events. He plays at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth century and tells the story of the expeditions of Robert Edwin Peary and Matthew Henson to the North Pole. On their journey through Greenland and Ellesmere Iceland accompanies a group of local Inuit.

Action

First expedition: Greenland

On 12 June 1891, the first trip to the Arctic begins. On board the ship are: Robert Edwin Peary, his wife Josephine, his assistant Matthew Henson and other members of the expedition. The aim of the expedition is not, at any cost to reach the North Pole, but to find out whether Greenland is an island and can be used as a bridge to the North Pole. During the expedition to Peary breaks his leg, whereby the further course of the expedition is at risk. Then he asked about his wife, who is expecting a baby. After some time they reach the north-west coast of Greenland, where they set up a base. Here you will be warmly welcomed by Iqwah and the other Inuit. The Inuit Especially Henson have placed in great sympathy, as he seems to be similar to them through his dark skin. Iqwah believes to recognize Henson in his abducted in childhood cousin. The Inuit provide the participants of the expedition warm fur clothing and Henson teach how to drive a dog sled. You have given him the name Maripaluk. But Peary despises the Inuit and their language.

In March Peary, Henson and the team pull off towards the north. Henson leads the dogsled. Peary's wife remains in the base. John Verhoeff - another member of the expedition - dies in a hole in the ice sheet. During the cold nights in the tent Peary freezes while Henson with warm clothes much better deal comes from the Inuit with the cold. He realizes that it would be better to sleep in an igloo, not in tents. Peary decides to drag out the next expedition with the Inuit. In an attempt to save John Verhoeff, Henson loses a glove. Due to the loss he suffered frostbite on his hand; to the further expedition not to hinder, he must return to the base. There he receives another gift from the Inuit: a pair of pants from the skin of a polar bear. During the stay in the base Henson deepened his friendship with Iqwah and his fellow man. Kommandor Peary and his crew reached on July 4, 1892 cliff, the Peary gives the name Navy Cliff. One located near Bay Peary is the name Independence Fjord. Josephine Peary gives birth to a daughter.

Returned to the USA

After returning to the United States presents the results of the Peary expedition in a public speech before. Henson appears in the room with the sled dogs and the Inuit clothing and impressed the audience. Later, Henson, Peary asked to attend the next expedition. Peary agrees. While still Preparations for the next expedition, the Norwegians reach the Independence Fjord from the East, which underlined that Greenland is an island. Henson can convince you to start the next expedition on Ellesmere Iceland and to establish as a base Fort Conger. Peary receives from Morris Jesup the approval of the next trip.

Second Expedition: Ellesmere Iceland

When they get the approval to start Robert Peary, Matthew Henson and other members of the expedition another trip. Before winter they reach Ellesmere Iceland. According to previous assumptions, they want to come in the spring to Fort Conger. When they reach the island, brings an Inuk named Ootah, along with a group of other Inuit, the news that there is a ship with a Norwegian expedition in the vicinity. Peary, for fear that the Norwegians can reach the North Pole first, do not wait on board the ship until spring - start immediately all Participants of the expedition and the Inuit a 250 -mile trip to Fort Conger. Unfortunately Peary lost eight of his toes through frostbite, and after 47 days on foot all return to the ship. The end of June came Peary's wife, Josephine, and discovered his deception with an Inuit woman named Aleqasina. Josephine told him that the second daughter had died at the age of eight months. This all leads to a separation.

After these events, the participants of the expedition of Ellesmere Iceland went out on the ice of the frozen Arctic Ocean. Already in the spring hidden in the ice Matthew Henson food supplies for the returning from the North Pole expedition, marking them with flags. However, inventories are untraceable. The situation is exacerbated when the Inuit repent and leave the expedition because of their faith. The lack of food forces the members of the expedition, cancel travel 200 miles from the finish. To survive, they have to eat on the way back dog meat.

Second return to USA

Robert Peary persuaded the Inuit to give him a meteorite. This is made ​​of metal and is sold to finance the next trip. He convinced four of the Inuit to travel with him to the United States. Six months after their arrival in the United States die every four of pneumonia. The bodies of two of them: Ahnalkah and Iqwah will be exhibited in a museum. At that time Henson meets Lucy Ross and her other African American relatives or friends who argue with him each other about the meaning of these events, about the meaning of the provision of funds for this purpose and in this endeavor take someone out of their communities, while in Harlem a poverty prevails. Some time later, Henson is married with his girlfriend Lucy Ross.

Third expedition: the North Pole

Six months after the wedding Henson Henson and Peary break on the next trip north on board the new ship Roosevelt. Peary tried a new approach: During the expedition is part of the crew with food, remain on the line for the later returning parts of the expedition. The North Pole will reach only two groups: the Peary and which erweisende as the strongest. The rest will remain in the camps on the track. Peary at this time 52 years old.

Leave on March 1, 1909, both the crew and the Inuit Cape Columbia at temperatures of -17 ° C. In one camp, 30 miles from the North Pole Henson hears by chance a conversation between Peary and Bartlett, another member of the expedition. Peary shares this with that not he, but only Henson to accompany him on the remaining stretch. He justifies this with the greater experience of Matthew Henson. But explained as an additional argument, contradicting the last statement, Peary that. Due to lack of character, which is a matter of race, Henson could not lead the people back to the ship Later, however, told Henson that the next morning traveling Peary with his group. Henson but to begin the March one hour later. Suddenly Henson goes secretly, without warning, along with Inuk Ootah, but voluntarily stops for about two hours on foot before the alleged North Pole. When they meet, says Henson that he alone could reach the North Pole, but he wanted to wait for him to share with him the victory, although Peary did not want to share the victory with Henson. Finally, they go with a group of Inuit according to the North Pole.

Final Information

• Peary's opponents denied that he was the first to reach the North Pole.
• Admiral Robert Peary died in 1920 at the age of 64 years.
• Henson died at the age of 82 years.
• On April 6, 1988 Matthew Henson's ashes are handed over to the National Cemetery in Arlington County, and was buried next to the grave of Robert Peary.