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Third Man on the Mountain
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Wikipedia article
'Third Man on the Mountain' is a 1959 American family adventure film by Walt Disney Productions, directed by Ken Annakin and starring Michael Rennie, James MacArthur and Janet Munro. Set during the golden age of alpinism, its plot concerns a young Swiss man who conquers the mountain that killed his father. It is based on 'Banner in the Sky', a James Ramsey Ullman 1955 novel about the first ascent of the Citadel, and was televised under this name.
Cast
*Michael Rennie as Captain John Winter
*James MacArthur as Rudi Matt
*Janet Munro as Lizbeth Hempel
*James Donald as Franz Lerner
*Herbert Lom as Emil Saxo
*Laurence Naismith as Teo Zurbriggen
*Lee Patterson as Klaus Wesselhoft
*Walter Fitzgerald as Herr Hempel
*Nora Swinburne as Frau Matt
*Ferdy Mayne as Andreas Krickel
*Roger Delgado as Italian climber (uncredited)
*Helen Hayes as a tourist (uncredited)
*Kenneth Brannan as a tourist (uncredited)
Production
Original novel
The film was based on the 1954 novel 'Banner in the Sky' by James Ramsey Ullman, who had written 'The White Tower'. The novel was based on the real life first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865.Tales of MountaineeringT.M.L. The Christian Science Monitor November 11, 1954: 17. Captain John Winter was based on Edward Whymper but the young character of Rudi was entirely fictional. 'The New York Times' called it "a superb mountain climbing story for younger readers".The Challenge: BANNER IN THE SKY. By James Ramsey Ullman. 252 pp. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. $2.75. For Ages 14 to 16.
Lent, Henry B. New York Times September 12, 1954: BR32
Development
Movie rights were bought by Disney in July 1957.OF PEOPLE AND PICTURES: Film Version of Turgenev's 'Month in The Country' Planned--Other ItemsBy A.H. WEILER. New York Times June 23, 1957: 93 It was his fifth film shot in Britain, following 'Treasure Island', 'Robin Hood', 'The Sword and the Rose' and 'Rob Roy'.
In January the lead role was given to James MacArthur, who had just been in Disney's 'The Light in the Forest'. Eleanor Griffin was assigned to write the script.Disney's Next Stop for Film: Switzerland
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune January 15, 1958: a9. The job of directing was given to Ken Annakin, who had made a number of films for Disney. David Niven was to play the other lead.W. C. Handy's Life Screens: Nat (King) Cole Sings Blues in Toned-Down Music Film
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times April 24, 1958: B9.
In June 1958 Michael Rennie replaced David Niven.FILM EVENTS: Stewart in New China Picture
Los Angeles Times June 21, 1958: B3.
Janet Munro made the film as the second in a five-picture deal with Disney, the first being 'Darby O'Gill and the Little People'.Of Local Origin
New York Times June 5, 1958: 39.
Shooting
Filming began June 23, 1958. The film was made on location in Switzerland with Gaston Rbuffat as the head of the mountain second unit photography. it was mostly shot in Zermatt, a location that Walt Disney was familiar with from his ski trips. The studio portions of the film were done in London. Zermatt was the model for the fictional town of Kurtal. Mountaineering scenes were shot in Rotenboden.The entire cast and crew, numbering 170, did a course in mountaineering before filming began on June 23, 1958.
James Donald fell eighteen feet off a crag shooting a scene but escaped with minor injuries. Assistant cameraman Pierre Tairraz fell in a crevasse and broke three ribs.
The extraordinary difficulty of making this film on the Matterhorn was chronicled in the "Perilous Assignments" episode of Walt Disney Presents.
Helen Hayes visited her son MacArthur on location and told Disney that she wished she could be in the film. Disney had a small role written for her.Looking at Hollywood: Helen Hayes Greets Disney, Gets Role
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune July 21, 1958: a2.
"On my day off I climbed the Matterhorn," said MacArthur.THE TV SCENE---: MacArthur Joins Irish Parade
Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times March 16, 1959: A10.
Post-production
The musical score for 'Third Man on the Mountain' was composed by William Alwyn and features the original song "Climb the Mountain" by Franklyn Marks.Reception
Bosley Crowther of 'The New York Times' wrote that "it is open to question whether the techniques of climbing pictured here, and some of the desperate deeds of mountaineering, were used almost a hundred years ago. Be that as it may, and however one feels about accuracy, the business of mountain climbing is excitingly visioned all the way ... What's more, the scenery is lovely."Crowther, Bosley (November 12, 1959). "Screen: Disney Adventure". 'The New York Times'. 27. 'Variety' said, "It has the sort of high altitude thrills to send the viewer cowering deep in his seat and the sort of moving drama to put him on the edge of it.""Film Reviews: Third Man on Mountain". 'Variety'. September 16, 1959. 6. Philip K. Scheuer of the 'Los Angeles Times' wrote, "The scenery alone ... is worth the price. A Walt Disney company spent grueling months in the Swiss Alps grinding out painful shot after shot, but they came back with a Technicolor treat that is high on suspense, excitement and simple, uncomplicated fun."Scheuer, Philip K. (November 11, 1959). "'Third Man' Scenery Worth Price". 'Los Angeles Times'. Part I, p. 27. Richard L. Coe of 'The Washington Post' declared it "a fine example of a Disney Fiction Film, well photographed and welcomely wholesome."Coe, Richard L. (November 26, 1959). "Disney Tale Aptly Scales the Alps". 'The Washington Post' B10. 'Harrison's Reports' said, "As is the case with most Disney productions, meticulous attention has been paid to production values, and the film is overloaded with cloying sentiment. However, it is difficult to present a logical argument against a successful formula, and there seems to be no reason to deviate businesswise from the recent Disney pattern.""'Third Man on the Mountain' with Michael Rennie, Janet Munro and James MacArthur". 'Harrison's Reports'. September 19, 1959. 150. 'The Monthly Film Bulletin' called the mountain scenes "almost continuously impressive and terrifying. But Ken Annakin seems happier selecting camera angles and arranging foolhardy action sequences than directing dialogue. Everyone but Michael Rennie and James MacArthur overacts vigorously, possibly in an effort to prevent the valley scenes seeming too elementary for schoolboy audiences. But in fact the whole buoyant and absurdly exciting production seems set fair to become a children's screen classic."
The film inspired the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction at Disneyland Park when Disney sent a souvenir on a postcard to his lead imagineer at the time writing only two words: build this.p.267 Barrier, Michael. 'The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney' 2008 University of California Press
See also
* List of American films of 1959
References
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