Telling the awe-inspiring story of the first successful attempt on the peak of Mount Everest, this thrilling and important piece of adventuring history will be available to own on DVD, Blu-ray and Digital on May 29 - the same date the party made it to the peak.

Narrated by Meredith Edwards (A Run For Your Money) and featuring the mountaineers Sir Edmund Hillary, Wilfred Noyce and Tenzing Norgay, the documentary details the history, preparation and description of the route as well as fascinating footage of previous attempts and the social context of the achievement. 

In order to document the entire ascent, the producers had to rely on footage from the climbing team themselves. Select members were given rudimentary training and equipped with cameras and a variety of lenses, which they had to lug around in addition to the actual essentials, such as their oxygen tanks. They also carried a few experimental automatic cameras that were as small as cigarette packets and much easier to use. Original cameraman Tom Stobart fell ill at the lower level, so George Lowe, Hillary’s climbing partner, took over as director and came back with dozens of magazines of footage. The news of the expedition’s success was received on the morning of the Queen’s coronation and helped further cement its place in history.

Winner of the BAFTA for Best Documentary and nominated for an Oscar, THE CONQUEST OF EVEREST is a truly unique document of an epic journey. Following a painstaking restoration process, this important historic document is released looking better than ever before and comes complete with new special features.

It's important to note that this is a genuine restoration rather than a recreation. It's not made to look like a modern fim, but retains the look, feel and sound of a film of its time, just with improved colour and polish. The film comes with a warning that it refelects social norms that were acceptable at the time but may not be now.

For anyone who watched the original film over the years the most welcome  part of this production will probably be the extras contained on the DVD: A series of contemporary interviews about how the film was made, from the commissioning process to how George Lowe ended up taking over from Tom Stobart on the mountain. 

For anyone seriously interested in Everest history this is an essential addition to any library as the most genuine and authentic record of the expedition. Rather than just covering the ascent the film gives first hand records of every stage of the expedition from the selection of sherpas and porters, through the walk-in to base camp, to the ascent and the news being released to the world.