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Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History

2004 film directed by Simon Nasht

Manuscripts, fine bindings, an engraving plate and preserved performance ephemera
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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionFeb 19, 2026
Entity authorityQ60737558 ↗
Source-derived summary

Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History is a 2004 documentary focusing on the work of photographer Frank Hurley. The documentary, written and directed by Simon Nasht, describes the highly controversial work of Frank Hurley after the discovery of his fabrication of many photos which were previously thought of as extremely significant.

The documentary, from Mitra Films, is also being used in the New South Wales HSC English syllabus as an available text to explore the concept of discovery until the end of 2018. This is due to the fact that the principles of discovery are embodied by the audiences discovery of Hurley's ethical dilemma as well as the rediscoveries experienced by Papuans which is evidenced in the documentary.

The documentary is made up of narration of the events of Hurley's life, which also includes discussion from historians, journalists and other professionals as to the implications of his work. Additionally, Hurley's personal diary is shared with the audience in order to capture his thoughts and feelings throughout the dramatic events in his life.

Plot

The documentary examines the controversy of Hurley employing composite photographs for more stunning photographs. In particular, Hurley's work in Antarctica, both world wars and his expeditions to Papua New Guinea. The film includes strongly divided opinions on the ethical implications of his deceit, as well as a discussion of the consequences of Hurley's subjugation of the native Papuan population. Nasht also touches on Hurley's later work chronicling the Australian continent through photographs.

Editorial summary

The public source identifies “Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History” as 2004 film directed by Simon Nasht. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Frank, Hurley and Made.

Editorial reviewBest approached as a cultural-object dossier: authorship and date matter, but circulation and reception often explain the wider significance. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—2004, 2018—that can be checked directly. The linked authority record independently contributes the date 2004-08-23. Its value is orientation rather than verdict, with Frank, Hurley and Made providing the first useful test.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History”, the useful work is to connect “2004 film directed by Simon Nasht” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.

Evidence profile

Object files, edition statements, performance records and contemporary criticism preserve different stages of the work’s history. The source revision retrieved here is dated Feb 19, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q60737558. 1 of 1 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank. The first chronological checks are 2004 and 2018.

Critical limits

Titles can refer to several editions, objects or performances, making precise identification essential before interpretation. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Separate the work, its editions or performances, and its later reception. Catalogue records, publication histories and object files often preserve different parts of that story.

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  • Identifying works and editions
  • Tracing reception history
  • Finding collection records
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The original object or edition, catalogue raisonné, performance record, rights file and holding institution.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History primary sources, Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History archive and Frank research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History”?
  2. Which edition, object, performance or recording is being described?
  3. How did later circulation or interpretation alter the work’s reception?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from “Frank Hurley: The Man who Made History” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.