Lovesusti The Worst Film Ever

BallWubba Wow! What a bizarre film! Unfortunately the few funny moments there were were quite overshadowed by it's completely weird and random vibe throughout.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Spikeopath The Mountain is directed by Edward Dmytryk and adapted to screenplay by Ranald MacDougall from the novel written by Henry Troyat. It stars Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, Claire Trevor, William Demarest, Barbara Darrow, Richard Arlen, E.G. Marshall and Anna Kashfi. A VistaVision/Technicolor production with music by Danielle Amfitheatrot and cinematography by Franz F. Planer.Greedy Chris Teller (Wagner) pressures his older brother, Zachary (Tracy) a retired climber, to escort him on a treacherous climb up Bald Mountain to loot the bodies of victims of a recently crashed airliner.ATTACHEZ VOS CEINTURES!Two brothers, one old, wise and saintly, the other young, flashy and despicable, these two characterisations form the basis for Edward Dmytryk's The Mountain. After the picture opens with the plane crash, which is rather well done, characters are introduced and we are left in no doubt about who is good and evil here. The mountain of the title is a constant looming presence overlooking the town, and soon enough the two very different brothers are undertaking a perilous climb up said mountain for very different reasons. The VistaVision/Technicolor photography is often sublime, the Mont-Blanc locale in France beautifully realised, and Dymtryk wrings out great suspense as the ascent for the two lads proves dangerously arduous. Then there's a turn of events that changes things, and then another, until we get to the finale where the moral is laid on heavy and the picture smugly clocks out. It's real safe and enjoyable entertainment, even if the casting of Tracy and Wagner as brothers (with 30 years between them) is most odd (why not write it as a more believable father and son axis for the film?). While some cheap studio shots seep into the production to dampen the awe built up elsewhere.Hard to dislike in spite of some flaws, and a must for mountaineer types and fans of the effortless acting style of Tracy. 7/10

vincentlynch-moonoi I waited many years for this film's conversion to DVD. As a kid I remember so well watching this in black and white on "Saturday Night At The Movies". I first bought the DVD of this, and now the Blu-Ray version, both produced by Olive Films. It's a fairly good transfer, and the Blu-Ray is decidedly better (as it should be). However, the film has not been fully restored, so there are some scenes where the color seems to fluctuate...but, that may just be a result of the age of the film (well over 50 years). Certainly not enough of a problem to make the movie less enjoyable, although oddly enough, it's the in-studio "mountain climbing" where the color varies the most, not the natural Alps footage. And, considering that much of this movie was actually filmed in the French Alps, well, it's still magnificent Vista Vision photography! And, they do a great job of combining in-studio footage with Alps backgrounds, making this more realistic than many films of its era. Unfortunately, despite being in the Alps and it's snowing...you can't see their breath! Even in Ronald Colman's 1937 film "Lost Horizon" they worked in a large freezer so you could see their breath in the mountain scenes. But again, one really shouldn't get lost in these shortcomings, because Spencer Tracy's acting makes up for it all.Spencer Tracy has been my favorite actor pretty much all of my life, and I'm in my mid-60s (tied perhaps with Cary Grant). But it wasn't until I watched this for the third time that I fully realized why I so admired Spencer Tracy's acting -- believeablily; almost instant believability. Portraying a Clarence Darrow lawyer figure...instant believability. Portraying a judge at the Nuremburg Trials, instant believability. Portraying a father whose daughter is about to marry a Black man, instant believability. And now playing an old sheepherder who once climbed mountains...instant believability. And here, as usual, playing the moral center of the picture.And then there is Robert Wagner, It's a good performance, although I wonder why he accepted the role. It's about as unlikable a character as you will find in any film, short of a rapist or murderer. He's brave enough to slap and belittle and old man, but a coward once he gets on the mountain. It occurred to me that Wagner's character is very much like a roommate I had for a couple of years. One evening he said, "I'm very sensitive." I responded with, "No, you're half of sensitivity -- the selfish have...you have no sensitivity toward others." (Sorry Dang). Robert Wagner was the "pretty boy" in the film, but does reasonably well. There are two problems with this film. First, the age difference between Spencer Tracy and Robert Wagner was not reasonable to make them brothers. Father and son would have been believable, and in my view, would have worked. But then again, in most movies you have to suspend belief in one area or another, so, okay...I can live with it. The other issue here is that Robert Wagner is such a jerk (I was going to say...well, you know) that you not only know he's going to die climbing the mountain, but from the moment early on in the film when he slaps Spencer Tracy in the face, you're rooting for him falling to his death off the mountain! But, okay there, too! ;-) While we all know that Spencer Tracy wasn't doing the actual mountain climbing here -- he was already 56 and in somewhat declining health -- this must have been a tough movie for him to make. He may not have yet been the lion in winter, but he was certainly well into late autumn. But, over the years, as Tracy aged he only improved. His later years saw most of his finest performances...and this is one. The double used for the climbing did an excllent job. You could almost believe it was Tracy.It's surprising to see Robert Wagner in such a negative role, but it's just as surprising to see Claire Trevor as a very mature washer woman in the village who has her eye on Spencer Tracy. E.G. Marshall is here, as well as William Demarest, but they both have very, very minor roles.Many have criticized the closing scene as Tracy's character reports that he had all the ill intent while his brother was a hero. I have mixed feelings about the ending. Why should a thief and coward be given credit for something he didn't do. I understand that Spencer Tracy didn't really like this film. I wonder if it was the film itself or the strenuous nature of the project at his age.A fine film and a different story...well worth viewing.

fitzmikepat I'd just like to say that I was pleased that there were so few remarks about the age difference between Robert and Spencer in this movie. In fact it actually gave 'me' pause. However, in my own family, my own grandfather was actually (basically) raised by his older brother (by over 25 years!). Further, his even younger brother looked back at a father who was born 70 years before his birth! Shoot, back in the day this stuff happened! I even went to college with a young Hawaiian kid who's Dad was over 75yrs old! Kudos to the fans who had no issue with the age difference! Good-on-ya! Finally, a great 'passion play'! All about 'what's right'! And lastly, just nice to see Spencer Tracy plying his trade! What a treat!

princesshm27 Quite a classic esp for its time. The scenes are magnificent. The creation is awesome. Its another great performance by Spencer. I cant believe he cud actually carry himself like that. It's somewhat slow which makes it a bit boring but its a solid story. The twists make it interesting & also highlights the difference between the responsibility & ethics of the eldest compared to the restlessness & superficiality of the younger which does strike most families.Also the sacrifices the elder brother makes risking himself for the pleasure of the younger. Glad Chris got what he deserved. It's also funny how Zach responds to the Hindu girl esp when u can understand what she's saying! It's a good watch for a relaxed mind & esp if you like to watch something with good landscapes.