A small-town girl's yearning for adventure backfires when she is shipwrecked and stranded on Arctic ice with 100 people, drifting toward the North Pole.  Resisting panic and the scorn of others, she clings to a belief in rescue by her fiancee, a great pilot; and inspires them all with the key to their survival -- build a runway.

SYNOPSIS:

(Based on a true story)

Victoria is a small-town girl, young -- in love -- and engaged to Tony, a likeable, barnstorming pilot. Her only desire is for broader horizons, and that's why she joins an Arctic research voyage seeking adventure in the footsteps of her idol, Amelia Earhart. When Tony doesn't share her enthusiasm for the extreme voyage, they part angrily.

The New York Times headlines on Feb. 15, 1934 announces the tragedy to the world. A ship with 101 people aboard is being crushed by Arctic ice. The ship sinks, forcing them all, including ten wives and two babies, to shelter on the ice floe drifting toward the North Pole. To survive, they build a village on the ice -- and pray.

Victoria's regret over her wrong decision that also alienated Tony is compounded by fear and misery, and verges on despair. On top of the freezing conditions and constant fear of the ice breaking up underfoot, as the single woman, she is barely able to fend off the advances of the aggressive men who could become an ugly mob if their despair turns into panic -- worst of all is Drake, the first mate, whose personality is as dark as his repulsive features.

Captain Jensen alone brings discipline and order out of the chaos. A strong, bearded bear of a commander, he becomes Victoria's friend and protector. The two of them forge a strong bond of loyalty that in any other situation could become ardent.

The first mate, Drake, is deceitful, conniving and a clever force for anarchy, with his subtle efforts to gain control from Jensen by inciting the crew to mutiny.

Ice-breaking ships can't reach them. Vehicles and dog teams can't find them in fog and snow. When Jensen is ready to give up in despair, Victoria clings to one hope. Her flier will come. That's what gives her the idea! She motivates Jensen with new resolve -- that their only hope of rescue is by air. To build a runway on the ice! Each night the ice shifts and cracks. Each day they use shovels and tools to hack the ice level again and pray for a plane.

Tony leads fliers from across the country in open cockpit planes to attempt rescue from Alaska. They are aerobatic circus pilots, test pilots, stunt pilots - the best in the world. But they are forced to conform to the Navy's vision of "safe rescue operations," which isn't the way they fly at all. Navy officials try to ground Tony for recklessness.

Tony locates the camp and, in joyous disbelief, lands on the runway. The lovers are kept apart by the crowd frantic for rescue. He is forced to take off with an overloaded plane, leaving Victoria behind

Drake, obsessed with Victoria, abducts her and imprisons her in an ice cave near camp. He reveals his goal of living there in his "kingdom" alone with her.

Days turn into weeks as other planes land and rescue two or three at a time. Tony thinks Victoria is rescued by another plane. Severe weather and sub-zero freezing cold make each flight torture. And the spring thaw starts making the runway shorter.

The loyal fliers accomplish near impossible rescues of the entire party. As the camp begins sinking, Jensen battles Drake to save Victoria. And Tony's fierce dedication and flying skill reunites them

Only one person from the stranded party does not survive

ICEWORLD