The White Tower (1950)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Writers:

Paul Jarrico (writer)
James Ramsey Ullman (novel)

Release Date:

24 June 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Tagline:

Every gasping thrill in color by Technicolor!

Plot:

Six people come together in the Swiss Alps to climb a mountain, known as 'The White Tower,' which has never been climbed. While struggling together to conquer the obstacle, each climber shows his true worth, or lack of.

Plot Keywords:

Mountain | Climbing | Mountaineer | Nazi | Snow

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	Martin Ordway
Alida Valli	...	Carla Alton (as Valli)
Claude Rains	...	Paul DeLambre
Oskar Homolka	...	Andreas
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Dr. Nicholas Radcliffe
Lloyd Bridges	...	Mr. Hein
June Clayworth	...	Mme. Astrid DeLambre
Lotte Stein	...	Frau Andreas
Fred Essler	...	Knubel
Edit Angold	...	Frau Knubel

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Spain:7 | Sweden:15 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Alps, Haute-Savoie, France

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Quotes:

Martin Ordway: Oh, what do we have here?
Paul DeLambre: [holding two bottles] Brandy. One for medicinal purposes, and one for celebration - when we reach the top.
Martin Ordway: What if you don't?
Paul DeLambre: Then for consolation.

Because it's there

Because it's there - well, I suppose that's a good enough reason to climb a mountain. It was motivation enough to climb Everest. However, in "The White Tower" everyone has a different reason for wanting to climb a magnificent mountain peak in the Swiss Alps that defeated the father of Carla Alten (Valli), a young woman whose goal in climbing is closure. Glenn Ford, as Ordway, is finally convinced to take the climb - his goal is Valli. And so it goes, as six climbers start on a ascent to the top.

This is a gorgeous Technicolor film that was intended to be seen in a theater. The scenery is magnificent, and the cast of climbers is excellent: Ford, Valli, Claude Rains, Lloyd Bridges, Oscar Homolka, and Cedric Hardwicke. Like Walter Slezak in "Lifeboat," Bridges plays the Aryan Nazi, Hein, who hasn't forgotten his Fuhrer. He puts himself in competition with Ordway (Ford), the American looking for some post-war peace, and he hates Raines and Homolka for being the "weaklings" who are holding the team back. Rains is an alcoholic writer - he is unhappily married and wants to feel again; Hardwicke was a friend of Valli's father and wants to support her quest. Homolka is a reluctant guide who goes on the trip in spite of himself.

Valli is much more vivacious and outdoorsy than she was in "The Third Man" or "The Parradine Case." Ford always has such a wonderful quality - shy, with a gentle manner, beautiful smile and that disarming, soft voice - how any woman could resist him is a mystery, though I give Valli credit for trying. He'll be 90 on May 1, bless his heart. The film has some suspenseful moments and is definitely worth a watch.