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Third Man on the Mountain | 
 enlarge | Director: Ken Annakin
Actors: Michael Rennie, James Macarthur, Janet Munro, James Donald, Herbert Lom
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $17.99
You Save: $2.00 (10%)
Rating:  16 reviews
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 107 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 786936245073
UPC: 786936245073
EAN: 0786936245073
ASIN: B0001Z51LC
Theatrical Release Date: November 10, 1959
Release Date: September 7, 2004
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
An account of the life of kitchen worker Rudi Matt who trains with the help of a famed English climber to climb a mountain called \""The Citadel\"" which claimed his father's life.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: G
Release Date: 7-SEP-2004
Media Type: DVD
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
 A testament to the old Disney studio. August 4, 2008
Robert Busko (Waynesville, NC USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Third Man on the Mountain is, without question, one of the finest movies that Disney turned out in the late 50's. I saw this movie as an 11 year old and was captivated immediately. Comparing Third Man to some of the Disney product today will tell you just how far that company as slipped in the effort to make a profit, and more broadly, how much our society has changed.
With a cast of first rate actors that include Michael Rennie (Capt. John Winter), James MacArthur (Rudi Matt), Janet Munro (Lizbeth Hempel, Rudi's love interest) who sadly, died in 1972, Herbert Lom, a wonderful character actor (Emil Saxo), and James Donald (Franz Lerner, Rudi's stepfather) and then a wonderful director in Ken Annakin, Third Man on the Mountain is certainly a worthwhile movie to watch. I agree with another reviewer that today's children may not sit for the long wind-up to the movies climatic ending, and that is a shame.
Filmed on location in the area surrounding the Matterhorn and with many scenes shot from the side of a mountain, the cinematography is first rate, though the print that made the DVD copy certainly wasn't up to par. The DVD product also lacks many of the extra features we've become so accustomed to, but other reviewers have discussed these facts. This should not keep you from purchasing this wonderful movie, however.
Rudi's father, a climbing guide, was killed while climbing the Matterhorn when Rudi was a small child because he refused to leave an injured climber. Rudi, knowing the story, is very much caught up, not only in adoring his father's memory, but in wanting to conquer the mountain that took his father's life. Constantly testing and developing his climbing skills on smaller peaks in the area, he works as a dishwasher in the local hotel; not the life the son of a famous climber should be living. On one of these outings he finds Capt. Winters trapped in a crevasse and manages to single-handedly save this world famous climber. Having been befriended by Capt. Winter, Rudi's taste for climbing only grows stronger. Acting against his stepfathers orders, he ends up on the Matterhorn, with Winters, and others and in the end history repeats itself.
Full of adventure, suspense, and nail biting drama, Third Man is a terrific children's movie and though lacking any hint of off color humor, should appeal to certain adults as well.
I strongly recommend.
Ignore The Complaints About The DVD Quality And Enjoy The Adventure! June 6, 2008
K. O. Edwards (Helena, Montana)
This movie inspired me to become a mountain climber, scaling the second highest mountain in California at the age of 11. Fourteen years later (1977) I spent 10 days at the base of the Matterhorn (German words Matte, meaning meadow, and Horn, which means peak) hoping to scale the mountain of my dreams and that inspired me to climb mountains. Much to my disappointment, due to extremely hot weather causing numerous avalanches, the Matterhorn never reopened for climbing; and I never got to scale the "Citadel." As compensation, I had skied the slopes of the Matterhorn in 1975 and 1976! But in those 10 days I hiked all around the area, recognizing and enjoying even more the beauty of the Zermatt region, before hiking down river to cross over the pass used by Hannibal to cross the Alps with his elephants. Moreover, during the three years I was stationed in Germany, I managed to climb three Alps in Germany, two in Switzerland, and one in Austria--all because of "Third Man on the Mountain."
The spectacular scenery and wonderful photography of climbing and living in that scenery, are not the only wonders of this daring film. "Third Man on the Mountain" is, perhaps more so than of mountain climbing, a story about friendship, duty, honor, and self-sacrifice--all values that I assimilated into my own belief system that has guided my life. It demonstrates the codes and necessary attributes of being a mountain climber; be it professional guide or capable enthusiast. In deed, I wish more--if not most--climbers I have encountered in my life would watch and heed the morals of "Third Man on the Mountain."
It is from this value system that the movie derives the name "Third Man on the Mountain." Michael Rennie as Captain John Winter, lead by Herbert Lom as Emil Saxo--a guide from another village--and accompanied by James MacArthur as Rudi Matt and James Donald as Franz Lerner, are encamped below the final ascent, and Emil Saxo attempts to convince Franz Lerner to leave the injured Captain John Winter and climb to the top to claim the "glory" of being the first to "conquer" the mountain. But Franz will have nothing to do with it, so early the next morning Emil takes off on his own; but Rudi Matt hears him leave and follows him--also alone. Emile falls, is injured, and cynically tells Rudi to go and be the hero. But Rudi's value system prevails and he helps Emil back to the base camp. While preparing Emil for the ordeal, Franz and Captain Winter unwittingly pass by--as they cannot see Rudi and Emil below them--and successfully ascend to the top. There Captain Winter in true companionship ties a red "banner" at the peak in memory of Rudi's father and Rudi himself; for if Rudi had gone back, instead of staying with the injured Emil, Rudi would have in fact been the "Third Man on the Mountain." It is Rudi's duty, honor, and self-sacrifice, that prevent him from vanity and glory, but earn him true friends and a reputation as a true mountain climber and guide.
"Third Man on the Mountain" is the epitome of "wholesome family movies" that Walt Disney strove to make. But, please do not let this prevent you from deciding to buy/watch "Third Man on the Mountain." Please watch it because it is a wonderfully engaging movie; it is a tour of the Alps; it is about man's desire to go where others/few dare to go; it is about mountain climbing; and it is a quick glance into the culture of 1800s Switzerland and the Alps. Watch "Third Man on the Mountain" to see a movie that deserves far more attention than it gets--especially in light of all the complaints about the DVD itself. On the other hand, I must also state that in this era of high tech and fast past living, many--especially younger children--may find the pace too slow: "Third Man on the Mountain" is a movie you enjoy and enter into, not a movie that "stimulates" or "thrills" rather than engaging.
As for the "technical" complaints about the poor quality of the film in DVD format, the full screen format, and the lack of supplemental features, I can say that they are all true. But for such a great film, I can only say that it is a fool who lets that get in the way. In deed, for many of us old enough to remember, the film quality is nothing new: I have seen such "dirty" films in theaters and on television!
For a good "historical" note about the Matterhorn I recommend you look at Wickipedia to learn more about the various attempts to scale the mountain.
Update--1 July 2008: If this review was not helpful to you, I would appreciate learning the reason(s) so I can improve my reviews. My goal is to provide help to potential buyers, not get into any arguments. So, if you only disagree with my opinion, could you please say so in the comments and not indicate that the review was not helpful. Thanks.
Matterhorn Disney style March 29, 2007
Sacred Chapel (California)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is a lovely movie, about a young man whose famous father died on the Matterhorn. Out to prove his fathers theory was right on how the mountain could be conquered, he has to deal with the obstacles his family has placed in his way, to keep him safe from "the citadel" as the matterhorn is called in this story. The characters, scenery, the village, and the hut on the mountain are all places I will visit again and again.
 Mountaineering adventure March 26, 2007
Michael Liles
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Excellent family movie, all good clean adventure with a moral, with many very realistic period Alpine climbing sequences. One of the best of its kind.
Finally Bought It February 3, 2007
E. Weisman (Weston, Fl United States)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've loved this movie since I was a kid and saw it in the theater when I was seven. I hadn't bought the DVD for all these years because of all the reviews here at Amazon that scare you away by describing the quality as horrendous. Let me tell anyone who loves this movie but hasn't bought it due to the bad quality reviews....they're all nuts! The quality is great, superb! On a 65" widescreen TV the movie was just breathtaking to watch...it's so moving and uplifting. No bundle of firewood this DVD.
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