Moviecut—Third Man on the Mountain

source: Third Man on the Mountain

A Walt Disney Production, released by Buena Vista in the USA: November 1959. New York opening at the Normandie: 11 November 1959. U.K. release through Walt Disney: November 1959. Australian release through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: 17 March 1960. 105 minutes. U.S. TV title: Banner in the Sky. SYNOPSIS: A juvenile re-make of "The White Tower" which was based on a 1945 novel of the same name by — guess who? — James Ramsey Ullman. The bitterness and astringency of the 1945 novel has been considerably toned down here. The engagingly hard, lead characters, played in the 1950 film by Glenn Ford and Alida Valli, have been translated into porous teenagers, whilst the embittered philosopher (originally enacted by Claude Rains) has been transformed into a slightly physically handicapped but overall unconvincingly comic figure (Laurence Naismith). The less said about the rest of Ullman's self-bowdlerizations, the more you will enjoy "Third Man on the Mountain". NOTES: Location scenes filmed in Zermatt, Switzerland. Although the story is fictitious, the events closely parallel the first ascent of the Matterhorn by Edward Whymper, an Englishman, in 1865. Four members of the expedition were killed after reaching the summit. But the remaining three — including Whymper and a Swiss youth — returned safely. (Available on an excellent Walt Disney DVD). COMMENT: Despite all the compliments handed out to "Third Man on the Mountain" by contemporary critics, it is possible to justify a few negative comments: Though set in 1865, disappointingly little use is made of the period background; James Macarthur and Janet Munro are hardly convincing as Swiss peasants; but then neither are James Donald or Laurence Naismith; and my final gripe is that the story is both derivative and ridiculously clichéd, whilst the dialogue is often embarrassingly, amateurishly theatrical. Fortunately, none of these quibbles really matter. All told, they do little to undermine the breathtaking suspense of the mountaineering sequences and the stark beauty of the alpine scenery. OTHER VIEWS: Comes near being a primer for incipient climbers, and it stays exciting to the end...Like so many Walt Disney productions in this genre, it maintains a 'boy's book' tone... The suspense, which is high, springs from the very authoritativeness of setting and incident. — Paul V. Beckley in The N.Y. Herald Tribune.

I love the Disney live action movies, 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Treasure Island and so many more. Now, I am a fan of both them and actor James Donald, so when I had a chance to watch it I jumped at the chance. What a great way to spend an evening, great story filmed in beautiful surroundings and wonderful performances. Why isn't this available more widely? I'm not going to recap the story as other reviewers have already done so. It is, however, full of tension in marvellously filmed climbing sequences, just watching it for those is worthwhile. As I said earlier, great performances from a largely British cast with every role perfectly cast, Janet Munro runs circles around the modern Disney starlets for a start, always excellent Michael Rennie and Laurence Naismith and a young and cute James MacArthur as the lead, but, as a big fan of James Donald it was fantastic to see him playing something other than a soldier or doctor and doing his usual solid and terrific job and to see him smiling broadly at the end was an added treat, what a badly underused actor he was. Anyway, enough of the fangirl, this is one worth seeking out and I hope that Disney+ will show it, after seeing The Island At The Top Of The World being shown (another favourite) I live in hope.

I am in my 30's and I never heard of this film but after a night out I came home and watched it on television. How lucky I was. What a great cast. James MacArthur is as solid as it gets in the history of Disney films. He plays Rudy Matt, the son of the famous mountain climber Joseph Matt who tragically lost his life while climbing the famed Citadel mountain. Rudy's father sacrificed his own life to save the climber that he was responsible for as his guide. People talk about Harry Potter's character Hermoine, but she cant' hold a candle to the great Janet Munro playing Rudy's love interest Lizbeth. Janet Munro could melt any mans heart. She is sweet, fun, spunky and outgoing. A beautiful ball of energy. It's easy to realize why Walt Disney saw so much in her. The great Micheal Rennie as the famous climber captain Winter helps Rudy with his support when his uncle, played by James Donald, does not want him to be a guide and meet with the same fate as his father. Laurence Naismith as always gives a great performance as Teo; the older friend and climber of Rudy's father who was there when he died. Teo's bark is worse than his bite and his warmth and love for both Lizbeth and Rudy is seen in many ways. There chemistry is fun and sweet. The acting is amazing, the cinematography is breathtaking. As is said this was filmed on location in Zermatt Switzerland where the 14,000 foot Matterhorn stands. Walt Disney named the famous ride after the Matterhorn. It still remains one of the most beautiful climbing films of all time. If you are a fan of Walt Disney, this is a must see film. Rarely is there a film that I never tire of, and this one is it. If you have even half a heart, you will love this film. This is the way movies should be made. It's sad Hollywood does not do it like this anymore.

I was an eye witness of the shooting in Zermatt. It was impressing, though (fortunately) not comparable to movie sets nowadays. But the narrow location of the village would anyway not have allowed the giant machinery of today. I like the movie very much, though the story does not exactly correspond to the real first access to the top and the names of mountain, village and persons are fictional. My report with photos are on the website of Michael Barrier (Disney expert in US). As Url's are not allowed, I can lead you to the site: Just type "Barrier Disney Third" in your browser. The first climbing took place in July 1865 - the 150th anniversary is the major event in Zermatt just these days !

I saw this movie around 1962 and never forgot it. At that time I lived in a small country town and the cinema was practically our only entertainment. One weekend, Saturday, I went to see "Third Man on the Mountain" and I was completely entranced with the movie. The story touched me deeply impressed me and landscapes. It was as if, somehow, I always had that picture in mind, then, suddenly, I saw on the screen. It was an amazing experience. Back then, in my small town, the film screened on Saturday was repeated on Sunday afternoon and there I was again. In the following years I tried a lot but could not find it. Time passed. Only now fifty years later could see him again and the feeling was the same. It's a film that I bring in my heart forever.

Third Man On The Mountain has young James MacArthur working as a dishwasher in his uncle James Donald's hotel for tourists in Switzerland. But MacArthur longs to be a mountain climber guide as his father who was a legend in the field. The father was killed attempting a climb up a forbidding mountain outside their village some 16 years earlier. Both Donald and MacArthur's mother Nora Swinburne keep him away from mountaineering, but he does it on his own. When he saves visiting British mountain climber Michael Rennie, Rennie becomes his champion. Third Man On The Mountain is a fine coming of age film and it's perfectly cast. Both James MacArthur and Janet Munro were being cast in a lot of Disney films at that time and they made perfect young leads. I should also note the presence of Herbert Lom in the cast as a bragging mountaineer from another village who shames the men of MacArthur's village by accompanying Rennie on an attempt up the local Everest. He steals the film when he's on screen. After 60 years Third Man On The Mountain holds up well and it's fine family viewing.

The story opens in the mid-19th century in a picturesque Swiss village under the towering Citadel. Young Rudi Matt (James MacArthur) wants desperately to be a famous climbing guide like his late father and finally gets the chance to accompany an English climber (Michael Rennie) on a trek up the never-before-scaled mountain. If you like mountain climbing, you'll love this movie which was beautifully filmed on location in Zermatt and the Matterhorn. The story is pure Disney with an idealist hero, his spunky girl friend (Janet Munroe), and lot of lovable villagers looking after them. MacArthur is sweet and boyish and contrasts well with Rennie's sophisticated gentleman. The first half of the movie was more interesting for me than the final ascent (featuring Herbert Lom as a semi-villain), which was somewhat anti-climatic, but it's a feel-good movie all the same. An interesting note: Walt Disney loved the location so much that he built the Matterhorn bobsled ride at Disneyland after filming this movie.

A young hotel dishwasher dreams of conquering the mountain that claimed the life of his father. This is a strong (and at times exciting) entry into the Disney catalogue of live-action movies that combines excellent production values with a very good central character arc. 'Third Man On The Mountain' has a simple character-driven plot about the realisation of young person's ambition through a perilous adventure and his struggle for acceptance. As you should expect with Disney, the central characters are well defined, with Rudi having a clear goal from the opening scene. Underpinning this are some great themes about being true to yourself and following your dreams in the face of adversity. At the same time it makes a point of showing that ambitions can be sacrificed in the right circumstance and highlights the greater importance of human life. Rudi's arc and the decisions he makes towards the climax of the movie are the high point. It showcases some truly great action-adventure scenes. My heart was in my mouth watching the climbers attempt certain feats and for me this is the other great aspect of the movie. Considering it was shot in 1959 these sequences easily stand the test of time. My 5 year old daughter, who is accustomed to the spectacle of modern filmmaking, was genuinely thrilled by scenes of climbers tackling vertical or overhanging rock faces, crevasses, pinnacles, caving and their frequent brushes with death. All this is set to a beautiful alpine backdrop. Unfortunately it suffers from uneven pacing, as the village scenes at times kill the momentum created by the suspense and excitement of the mountaineering. I think if the exchanges of dialogue between the villagers were shorter (or better) it would work, as these characters are not as interesting as Rudi's adventure. That being said the look and feel of Kurtal is very well done. Production values are high with great sets, props, costuming and a reasonably authentic sense of period. Performances for me are a mixed bag. James McArthur looks and acts the part of the caged young alpine adventurer. It feels almost like he's playing a version of Fritz from 'Swiss Family Robinson' in the days before they left for New Guinea. Michael Rennie has a natural charm and certain awe about him as a famous mountaineer. Janet Munro, James Donald and Herbert Lom are all good but, along with the remaining cast play relatively contrived caricatures that exist for the sake of Rudi's emotional journey.