The Castaways Of Mont Blanc

The Castaways Of Mont Blanc

2002 · 53 min · ★ 10.0 · History, Documentary, Drama

This documentary is a reconstruction, based on archive footage, testimonies, and filmed reconstructions, of the Vincendon / Henry tragedy. December 1956: Jean Vincendon and François Henry, two young mountaineers, aspire to join the High Mountain Group. Lacking experience, they set out to climb Mont Blanc via the Brenva spur in the middle of winter. The weather conditions deteriorated, and they decided to give up before meeting Walter Bonatti and Sylvano Gheser. They then decided to continue the climb and set off in two different roped parties. Bonatti decided to take refuge at the Vallot refuge higher up, rather than descend. The two young mountaineers, overcome by the poor weather conditions and fatigue, remained stuck for several days at 4,000 meters. What followed was a completely disorganized rescue operation that became, for more than ten days, a spectacle for all of France and a national tragedy.

Directed by Denis Ducroz · Written by Denis Ducroz

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Cast

Jean Vincendon Self (archive footage)
François Henry Self (archive footage)
Claude Dufourmantelle Self
Lionel Terray Self (archive footage)
Walter Bonatti Self (archive footage)
Pierre Couttet Self
Gilbert Chappaz Self
Jacques Petetin Self
Jean Brissaud Self
Honoré Bonnet Self
Jean Minster Self
Louis Piraly Self (archive footage)

Make it a double feature

2h 25m together

The Castaways Of Mont Blanc

Au Nord De L'Hiver

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