Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16037 in VHS
• Released on: 1995-04-18
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Running time: 105 minutes

Amazon.com
In these days when the natural wonders of the world can be so easily synthesized on film by computers, it's a little tough to look upon studio sets of mountain exteriors as anything but unsatisfactory. But that's the situation with Edward Dmytryk's 1956 drama The Mountain, starring Spencer Tracy as a retired mountain guide who accompanies his brash young brother (Robert Wagner) on the ascent of a rugged slope to the site of a plane crash. Essentially, Tracy goes along to keep his venal sibling from getting killed, but once at the crash location his attention shifts toward helping a Hindu survivor (Anna Kashfi) reach safety. Not so the agenda of Wagner's character, whose real mission is looting valuables from the dead. The strains and dangers of the climb up and down perfectly mirror the tense dynamics between the two men, and on this score Dmytryk (The Caine Mutiny) does a splendid job. Less compelling, however, is the action, which requires far too much suspension of disbelief even for the late '50s. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

One of my Spencer Tracy all time favorites
This is absolutley one of my favorite all time movies. Spencer Tracy plays an old famous Mountaineer who has retired to his modest home to tend sheep. Then an Airplane crash on a nearby mountaintop changes his life. His young greedy womanizing brother (Played by a very young Robert Wagner) gets him to lead a climb to the crash site.

It's also a good love story. The old man makes some very heart wrenching decisions.

The climbing scenes are very authentic for mid-1900 style climbing styles and I believe this is Spencer's finest movie. Some of the others actors aren't quite as good but I watch the movie at least once a year on VHS to rejuvenate me.

Mountain Madness
If you enjoy action movies that slowly build to an exciting climax you will enjoy this one. Spencer Tracy as the older brother was a bit old to play the older brother to Robert Wagner but I guess they felt the younger brother needed to be much younger and irresponsible. As for Tracy's feat of strength, people in stressful situations get the adrenaline flowing and can do some incredible things. You have to be strong to endure that type of climbing. This movie takes place on a mountain where the two brothers go to see if there are survivors to a plane crash. Tracy's intentions are pure of heart while Wagner's are of looting. The turmoil between the two and the treacherous mountain terrain make it a movie that will draw you into this well made drama.

If you climb, this movie is for you!
This movie is a classic and a great one to watch if you are a climber. If you teach climbing or outdoor skills, it it great to use for staff training. the plot is OK, but brings about many conversations about human nature and family ties. I highly recommend it!