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==Production==
==Production==
===Original Novel===
⚫
The film was made on location in [[Switzerland]] with [[Gaston Rébuffat]] as the head of the mountain [[second unit]] photography.<ref>http://www.ultimatedisney.com/thirdman.html</ref> The film was shot in the summer of 1958 in [[Zermatt]], a location that Walt Disney was familiar with from his ski trips. The studio portions of the film were done in London.<ref>p.267 Barrier, Michael. ''The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney'' 2008 University of California Press</ref>
The film was based on the 1954 novel ''Banner in the Sky'' by James Ramsey Ullman, who had written ''The White Tower''. The novel was based on the real life [[First ascent of the Matterhorn|first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865]].<ref>Tales of Mountaineering
T.M.L. The Christian Science Monitor 11 Nov 1954: 17. </ref> Captain John Winter was based on [[Edward Whymper]] but the young character of Rudi was entirely fictional. The ''New York Times'' called it "a superb moutain climbing story for younger readers".<ref>The Challenge: BANNER IN THE SKY. By James Ramsey Ullman. 252 pp. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. $2.75. For Ages 14 to 16.
Lent, Henry B. New York Times 12 Sep 1954: BR32</ref>
===Development===
Movie rights were bought by Disney in July 1957.<ref>OF PEOPLE AND PICTURES: Film Version of Turgenev's 'Month in The Country' Planned--Other Items
By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 23 June 1957: 93</ref> It was his fifth film shot in Britain, following ''Treasure Island'', ''Robbin Hood'', ''The Sword and the Rose'' and ''Rob Roy''.<ref name="new"/>


In January the lead role was given to James MacArthur, who had just been in Disney's ''The Light in the Forest''. Eleanor Griffin was assigned to write the script.<ref>Disney's Next Stop for Film: Switzerland
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 15 Jan 1958: a9. </ref> The job of directing was given to Ken Annakin, who had made a number of films for Disney. David Niven was to play the other lead.<ref>W. C. Handy's Life Screens: Nat (King) Cole Sings Blues in Toned-Down Music Film
Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 24 Apr 1958: B9. </ref>

In June 1958 Michael Rennie replaced [[David Niven]].<ref>FILM EVENTS: Stewart in New China Picture
Los Angeles Times 21 June 1958: B3.</ref>

Janet Munro made the film as the second in a five picture deal with Disney, the first being ''[[Darby O'Gill and the Little People]]''.<ref>Of Local Origin
New York Times 5 June 1958: 39. </ref>
===Shooting===
⚫
Filming began 23 June 1958. The film was made on location in [[Switzerland]] with [[Gaston Rébuffat]] as the head of the mountain [[second unit]] photography.<ref>http://www.ultimatedisney.com/thirdman.html</ref> it was mostly shot in [[Zermatt]], a location that Walt Disney was familiar with from his ski trips. The studio portions of the film were done in London.<ref>p.267 Barrier, Michael. ''The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney'' 2008 University of California Press</ref> Zermatt was the model for the fictional town of Kurtal. Mountaineering scenes were shot in [[Rotenboden]].

The entire cast and crew, numbering 170, did a course in mountaineering before filming began on 23 June 1958.<ref name="new"/>

James Donald fell eighteen feet off a crag shooting a film but escaped with minor injuries. Assistant cameraman Pierre Tairraz fell in a crevasse and broke three ribs.<ref name="new"/>
The extraordinary difficulty of making this film on the [[Matterhorn]] was chronicled in the "Perilous Assignments" episode of [[Walt Disney Presents]].
The extraordinary difficulty of making this film on the [[Matterhorn]] was chronicled in the "Perilous Assignments" episode of [[Walt Disney Presents]].


Helen Hayes visited her son MacArthur on location and told Disney that she wished she could be in the film. Disney had a small role written for her.<ref>Looking at Hollywood: Helen Hayes Greets Disney, Gets Role
Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 21 July 1958: a2. </ref>

"On my day off I climbed the Mattehorn," said MacArthur.<ref>THE TV SCENE---: MacArthur Joins Irish Parade
Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 16 Mar 1959: A10. </ref>
===Post Production===
The [[film score|musical score]] for ''Third Man on the Mountain'' was composed by [[William Alwyn]] and features the original song "Climb the Mountain" by [[Franklyn Marks]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Ian|title=William Alwyn: The Art of Film Music|date=2005|publisher=[[Boydell & Brewer|Boydell Press]]|location=[[Woodbridge, Suffolk]]|isbn=1843831597|page=288}}</ref>
The [[film score|musical score]] for ''Third Man on the Mountain'' was composed by [[William Alwyn]] and features the original song "Climb the Mountain" by [[Franklyn Marks]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Ian|title=William Alwyn: The Art of Film Music|date=2005|publisher=[[Boydell & Brewer|Boydell Press]]|location=[[Woodbridge, Suffolk]]|isbn=1843831597|page=288}}</ref>


Revision as of 05:04, 20 April 2019

Third Man on the Mountain
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKen Annakin
Written byEleanore Griffin
Produced byBill Anderson, Walt Disney
StarringMichael Rennie
James MacArthur
CinematographyHarry Waxman
Music byWilliam Alwyn
Production
company
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution
Release date
  • November 10, 1959 (1959-11-10)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$2 million[1]
Box office$1,700,000 (US/ Canada)[2]

Third Man on the Mountain is a 1959 American Walt Disney Productions film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Michael Rennie and James MacArthur. Set during the golden age of alpinism, its plot concerns a young Swiss man who conquers the mountain that killed his father. It is based on Banner in the Sky, a James Ramsey Ullman novel about the first ascent of the Citadel, and was televised under this name. The film inspired the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction at Disneyland Park.[3]

Cast

Production

Original Novel

The film was based on the 1954 novel Banner in the Sky by James Ramsey Ullman, who had written The White Tower. The novel was based on the real life first ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865.[4] Captain John Winter was based on Edward Whymper but the young character of Rudi was entirely fictional. The New York Times called it "a superb moutain climbing story for younger readers".[5]

Development

Movie rights were bought by Disney in July 1957.[6] It was his fifth film shot in Britain, following Treasure Island, Robbin Hood, The Sword and the Rose and Rob Roy.[1]

In January the lead role was given to James MacArthur, who had just been in Disney's The Light in the Forest. Eleanor Griffin was assigned to write the script.[7] The job of directing was given to Ken Annakin, who had made a number of films for Disney. David Niven was to play the other lead.[8]

In June 1958 Michael Rennie replaced David Niven.[9]

Janet Munro made the film as the second in a five picture deal with Disney, the first being Darby O'Gill and the Little People.[10]

Shooting

Filming began 23 June 1958. The film was made on location in Switzerland with Gaston Rébuffat as the head of the mountain second unit photography.[11] it was mostly shot in Zermatt, a location that Walt Disney was familiar with from his ski trips. The studio portions of the film were done in London.[12] Zermatt was the model for the fictional town of Kurtal. Mountaineering scenes were shot in Rotenboden.

The entire cast and crew, numbering 170, did a course in mountaineering before filming began on 23 June 1958.[1]

James Donald fell eighteen feet off a crag shooting a film but escaped with minor injuries. Assistant cameraman Pierre Tairraz fell in a crevasse and broke three ribs.[1]

The extraordinary difficulty of making this film on the Matterhorn was chronicled in the "Perilous Assignments" episode of Walt Disney Presents.

Helen Hayes visited her son MacArthur on location and told Disney that she wished she could be in the film. Disney had a small role written for her.[13]

"On my day off I climbed the Mattehorn," said MacArthur.[14]

Post Production

The musical score for Third Man on the Mountain was composed by William Alwyn and features the original song "Climb the Mountain" by Franklyn Marks.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d ALPINE MISSION OF A MOVIE-MAKING HANNIBAL By LEONARD SHANNONZERMATT, SWITZ. New York Times 21 Sep 1958: X9.
  2. ^ "Rental Potentials of 1960", Variety, 4 January 1961 p 47. Please note figures are rentals as opposed to total gross.
  3. ^ p.267 Barrier, Michael. The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney 2008 University of California Press
  4. ^ Tales of Mountaineering T.M.L. The Christian Science Monitor 11 Nov 1954: 17.
  5. ^ The Challenge: BANNER IN THE SKY. By James Ramsey Ullman. 252 pp. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company. $2.75. For Ages 14 to 16. Lent, Henry B. New York Times 12 Sep 1954: BR32
  6. ^ OF PEOPLE AND PICTURES: Film Version of Turgenev's 'Month in The Country' Planned--Other Items By A.H. WEILER. New York Times 23 June 1957: 93
  7. ^ Disney's Next Stop for Film: Switzerland Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 15 Jan 1958: a9.
  8. ^ W. C. Handy's Life Screens: Nat (King) Cole Sings Blues in Toned-Down Music Film Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 24 Apr 1958: B9.
  9. ^ FILM EVENTS: Stewart in New China Picture Los Angeles Times 21 June 1958: B3.
  10. ^ Of Local Origin New York Times 5 June 1958: 39.
  11. ^ http://www.ultimatedisney.com/thirdman.html
  12. ^ p.267 Barrier, Michael. The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney 2008 University of California Press
  13. ^ Looking at Hollywood: Helen Hayes Greets Disney, Gets Role Hopper, Hedda. Chicago Daily Tribune 21 July 1958: a2.
  14. ^ THE TV SCENE---: MacArthur Joins Irish Parade Smith, Cecil. Los Angeles Times 16 Mar 1959: A10.
  15. ^ Johnson, Ian (2005). William Alwyn: The Art of Film Music. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press. p. 288. ISBN 1843831597.

External links

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