SIX-PART MINI-SERIES “HILLARY” REVEALS THE MAN WHO CONQUERED MT. EVEREST

SIX-PART MINI-SERIES “HILLARY” REVEALS

THE MAN WHO CONQUERED MT. EVEREST

Available on Digital HD July 16

Available on DVD August 21 from PBS Distribution

 

Arlington, Va. – July 3, 2018 – PBS Distribution announces the release of “HILLARY,” on Digital HD July 16 and DVD August 21. This program, from New Zealand, is a six-part mini-series based on the life of mountaineer and philanthropist Sir Edmund Hillary. Capturing Hillary’s life of incredible bravery and heartbreaking tragedy, the program lovingly and vividly brings back to life the man New Zealander’s affectionately called “Sir Ed.”

“HILLARY” will be available for digital download on July 16 and on DVD ($34.99 SRP) August 21, 2018. The program has a run time of approximately 262 minutes.

 

Based on thousands of hours of exclusive interviews, “HILLARY” tells the story of the first man to conquer Mt. Everest. The program recounts his beekeeping days in South Auckland, to his ascent of the world’s highest mountain with climbing partner Tenzing Norgay, to the plane crash that killed his wife and daughter.

 

When he summited Everest in May 1953 and, as he told it, “knocked the bastard off,” Hillary put his small home country on the map. He was so beloved in New Zealand that his likeness is featured on the five-dollar note, and he was given a state funeral after his 2008 death.

 

Andrew Munro (The Kick) stars as Hillary, while Dean O’Gorman (The Hobbit) plays George Lowe, his longtime friend and climbing partner, and Amy Usherwood (“Shortland Street”) plays his wife, Lady Louise Hillary.

 

“HILLARY” is written by Tom Scott (Rage), with whom Hillary entrusted his life story. The series is directed by Danny Mulheron (Fresh Meat), executive produced by Phillip Smith (“Coast New Zealand”) and produced by Carmen Leonard (Erebus: Operation Overdue).

 

Episodes for this program include:

 

“STANDING TALL”

Hillary becomes fascinated with the Himalaya after reading about the range. He hopes to help the war effort, but his father wants him to continue beekeeping. After serving in the air force, he meets George Lowe, his lifelong friend and climbing partner.

 

“LOUISE”
Hillary falls in love with Louise, but is too shy to approach her. He and his hero, mountaineer Eric Shipton, discover a new route up Mt. Everest and hope to be the first to reach the top–until they are thwarted by a Swiss expedition.

 

“EVEREST”

The Swiss expedition fails, and Hillary meets a new climbing partner, Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who is equally driven to ascend Everest. Together, and with Lowe’s support, they seize the opportunity to reach the peak.

 

“HOME”

Hillary arrives home to worldwide fame. He marries Louise and returns to beekeeping. When he is offered the chance to join an Antarctica expedition, he must choose between a new adventure and staying behind with his growing family.

 

“THE RACE TO THE POLE”

Hillary is homesick and bored with setting up supply bases for the Antarctica expedition. He decides to try for another major achievement: reaching the South Pole himself.

 

“HEARTBREAK”

After suffering a medical emergency, Hillary devotes himself to building schools and hospitals in Nepal. He faces his biggest struggle yet–forgiving himself–when Louise and their youngest child die in a plane crash on the way to visit him.

 

About PBS Distribution

PBS Distribution is a leading distributor of public media content reaching global audiences through multiple platforms including PBS-branded OTT channels, digital download and streaming services, theatrical and inflight entertainment, DVD and Blu-ray sales and international licensing.   


 


PBS Distribution offers consumers and educators over 4,000 hours of the highest quality factual, scripted and children’s programming, including films from producer Ken Burns, hit dramas from MASTERPIECE, entertaining and educational children’s series and award-winning documentaries from NOVA, FRONTLINE, AMERICAN MASTERS, NATURE, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE and many independent producers. We extend the reach of programming beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system, stations and producers.

 

HILLARY

Street Date: August 21, 2018

Genre: Drama

Run Time: Approximately 262 minutes on 2 discs

SRP: DVD, $34.99

Format: DVD and Digital HD