
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.

as Narrator

as George Donner

as Tamsen Donner

as James Reed

as Margaret Reed

as Virginia Reed

as William Eddy

as Patrick Breen

as Lewis Keseberg

as William Foster

as Patrick Dolan

as Patty Reed

as Charles Stanton

as Luis

as Salvador

as John Snyder

as Commentator (Atmospheric Physicist)

as Commentator (Author)

as Commentator (Author)

as Commentator (Author)

as Commentator (Author)

as Commentator (Survival Expert)