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The Castaways Of Mont Blanc
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The Castaways Of Mont Blanc

2002-01-01 · 53 min · ★ 10.0

History · Documentary · Drama

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.

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Production details

Directors
Denis Ducroz
Production companies
France•3, MFP, France•5
Countries
France
Status
Released

Top Cast

Jean VincendonJean VincendonSelf (archive footage)
François HenryFrançois HenrySelf (archive footage)
Claude DufourmantelleClaude DufourmantelleSelf
Lionel TerrayLionel TerraySelf (archive footage)
Walter BonattiWalter BonattiSelf (archive footage)
Pierre CouttetSelf
Gilbert ChappazSelf
Jacques PetetinSelf
Jean BrissaudSelf
Honoré BonnetSelf
Jean MinsterSelf
Louis PiralySelf (archive footage)
Olivier ParisetNarrator
Jean-Yves BertelootJean-Yves BertelootNarrator

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