Dead of Winter: The Donner Party

Doug Glover
2015-11-27

How far would you go to keep your family safe?
0
84 min

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.

Cast

Name Character Team
Powers Boothe Narrator Unowned
Darby Hinton George Donner Unowned
Kim Lankford Tamsen Donner Unowned
Darrin Miller James Reed Unowned
Libby Baker Margaret Reed Unowned
Danielle Shumard Virginia Reed Unowned
David White William Eddy Unowned
Kit Leonard Dennis Patrick Breen Unowned
Bear Fuerst Lewis Keseberg Unowned
Greg Webb William Foster Unowned
Alex Barry Patrick Dolan Unowned
Romi Williams Patty Reed Unowned
Ryan Cole Charles Stanton Unowned
Luis Juarez Luis Unowned
Sean Kervin Salvador Unowned
Calen John Neal John Snyder Unowned
Elizabeth Austin Commentator (Atmospheric Physicist) Unowned
Gabrielle Burton Commentator (Author) Unowned
Ethan Rarick Commentator (Author) Unowned
Frank X. Mullen Commentator (Author) Unowned
Mark McLaughlin Commentator (Author) Unowned
Creek Stewart Commentator (Survival Expert) Unowned