The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau (TV Series) The Flight of Penguins (1974) User Reviews

Cousteau and his crew hang out with some of the less cute penguins!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 26 September 2015]

My summary above is correct, but this is NOT to say it is a bad episode of the old Jacques Cousteau series. In this show, the Calypso travels to Antarctica and investigates three species of penguins: the Adelie, Chinstrap and Gentoo. They aren't as adorable as the Jackass or Fairy Penguins but these species are found further north (around South Africa and Australia/New Zealand respectively). They still are cute and very endearing and the film shows the penguins during a portion of the nesting season. The film does NOT show the adult penguins first coming ashore or pairing up but begins just after some of the eggs have hatched and continues up until the baby penguins first start to venture out to sea. Apparently, this is the second in a series of films set 'in the frozen world' and it's very enjoyable AND not as gruesome as some (a few such documentaries show seals and orcas killing the little birds with reckless abandon and are probably best not for the little kids to watch). Aside from a skua here or there, it's mostly just a lot of cute birds--occasionally interacting with Cousteau and his crew. This interaction is something that makes these old films adorable to watch but very different and less scientific in tone than many newer films on the same subject. Regardless, it's very enjoyable, very well made and worth seeing. And, you can see this episode and many more online for free--just type "The Undersea World of Jacques Coustea" and you'll find links to them.