The White Tower (1950)

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.

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Writers:

Paul Jarrico (screenplay), James Ramsey Ullman (novel)

Stars:

Glenn Ford, Alida Valli, Claude Rains

Cast

Cast overview:
Glenn Ford	...	Martin Ordway
Alida Valli	...	Carla Alton (as Valli)
Claude Rains	...	Paul DeLambre
Oskar Homolka	...	Andreas (as Oscar Homolka)
Cedric Hardwicke	...	Dr. Nicholas Radcliffe (as Sir Cedric Hardwicke)
Lloyd Bridges	...	Mr. Hein
June Clayworth	...	Mme. Astrid DeLambre
Lotte Stein	...	Frau Andreas

Storyline

The White Tower, a Matterhorn-like mountain in the Swiss Alps, has never been climbed. Carla Alten's father, a famous mountaineer, died in a long-ago attempt. Now, Carla, determined to fulfill her father's dream, has assembled an unusual climbing party to tackle the nearly-impossible ascent.

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Plot Keywords:

mountain | swiss | mountaineer | climbing | grave | 

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Taglines:

Every gasping thrill in color by Technicolor!

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Genres:

Adventure

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 June 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hölle am weißen Turm

Filming Locations:

Alps, Haute-Savoie, France

Company Credits

Production Co:

RKO Radio Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When scaling the last bit of the peak near the end, it's obvious that studio lights were being used as there are multiple shadows of Glenn Ford going in multiple directions.

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Quotes

Mr. Hein: [Admonishing his fellow climbers for resting too frequently] To rest is not to conquer.

User Reviews

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.