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10.0 0h 53m

The Castaways Of Mont Blanc

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.

Top Cast

  • Jean Vincendon

    Jean Vincendon

    Self (archive footage)

  • François Henry

    François Henry

    Self (archive footage)

  • Claude Dufourmantelle

    Claude Dufourmantelle

    Self

  • Lionel Terray

    Lionel Terray

    Self (archive footage)

  • Walter Bonatti

    Walter Bonatti

    Self (archive footage)

  • Pierre Couttet

    Pierre Couttet

    Self

  • Gilbert Chappaz

    Gilbert Chappaz

    Self

  • Jacques Petetin

    Jacques Petetin

    Self

  • Jean Brissaud

    Jean Brissaud

    Self

Overview

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.

Rating

10.0 / 10
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