Lumsdal Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

CrawlerChunky In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Twilightfa Watch something else. There are very few redeeming qualities to this film.

Prismark10 The White Tower is a rather plodding mountain climbing film made in 1950. What it lacks in a thrilling script it makes up for in dramatic scenery (filmed in the Alps) and wonderful colour photography.Alida Valli is Carla, the daughter of a legendary Italian mountaineer who wants to reach the summit of the The White Tower, the mountain that killed her father.She assembles a climbing party of six people for the ascent. Lloyd Bridges is the German Hein still true to Nazi beliefs of superiority and will power to conquer this mountain alone A reason why he sets a pace so others cannot keep up with him.Claude Rains is Paul Delambre, a French alcoholic writer who initially keeps up the pace with Hein but later struggles with his demons. Glenn Ford is the American former fighter pilot who was shot down in the area during the war. He is reluctant to join the party but has fallen for Carla.It is really a case of who will last the pace and who will fall by the wayside. Bridges rather misfires his German accent, as the film was made just a few years after the war finished, at least he does not get to hold back his villainy.

Juha Hämäläinen While watching this on TV as a black and white version I began to wonder the unusually heavy looking make-up on the faces of the actors. Well, now I am wiser to know that this was originally a Technicolor film and therefore required heavier make-ups. Simple.But I only wish I'd seen the color version because of the breathtaking scenery. I still enjoyed the film very much, though. Excellent cast and fine camera work. The outdoor scenery and a little clumsier parts made in studio blended together rather nicely, anyway.The cast includes no big name stars but you won't miss any either. Valli and the boys deliver their roles as believable and interesting characters without fuss or glamor. Their appearances are very earthy just like the surroundings and it gives good contrast to the story which seems to develop slowly at first, but reaches very dramatic and symbolic levels towards the end. These symbolic levels are also treated so that it doesn't start to bury the story too much. You can take this simply as a romantic adventure drama with a few surprises, if you like. This romantic piece sure has a heart but also brains and it uses them well.

krorie It takes a while for "The White Tower" to take off. After the long, slow start, this film keeps picking up speed until the surprise ending (or near the end), which takes on new meaning today as a result of the recent controversy concerning Mt. Everest and comments by Sir Edmund Hillary. I don't want to give away the ending of the film, but be sure and read what Sir Edmund Hillary had to say a few days ago about the peak he conquered in 1953, three years after "The White Tower" was released and relate his words to what happens in the picture.In beautiful Technicolor but before Cinemascope, it is easy to spot the interior sets, yet the exterior ones are breathtaking, even on a small screen. The cinematography is first rate. Too bad the script and direction weren't as effective. The script attempts to work a soap opera romance into the proceedings which becomes so melodramatic and naive that the viewer is asked to believe that attractive and likable Glenn Ford as Martin Ordway would risk his life and limb for the loves of a woman, even the vivacious Alida Valli as Carla Alton. The performers do the best they can with what they're given. Lloyd Bridges as Hein, the never-say-die Nazi, makes a hearty effort to bring his despicable character to life as does Claude Rains in the somewhat nondescript role of Paul DeLambre. Enjoy the scenery, the fine cast, and the excitement of the last fifteen minutes or so of the show and maybe you'll forget about the tired, hackneyed beginning and middle.

geordie5cs Which has lasted the test of time.An odd bunch of people who come together with the goal of climbing the Alpine mountain as in the name of the movie but they make it work.It does not use up to much time getting to know the group letting their stories unfold as the movie story unfolds.Glenn Ford does not have much kit but he seems to scrounge it just when he needs it without ever having to ask.As in most films there is a love story which fits right in with the plot.A canny feel good movie and a pleasant way to spend 98 minutes of anyone's time.