-
Documentary / Historical
Call out - The first 60 years
(2007)
Call out - The first 60 years is a documentary about alpinism that takes place in Blencathra. It was produced in 2007 by Fluid Productions. It features Chris Bonington.
- 2007
- UK
Call out - The first 60 years is a documentary about alpinism that takes place in Blencathra. It was produced in 2007 by Fluid Productions. It features Chris Bonington.Climbing locations
-
Documentary / Biographical
Bonington - Mountaineer
Keith Partridge (2017)
The film retraces the life of one of the world’s best-known mountaineers, Sir Chris Bonington, from his rock climbing days in the UK to visionary ascents on the peaks of the Himalayas. Stories of friendship, love, risk and loss run deep through this intimate journey of one man’s dream. The drive for exploration is echoed in the first British ascent of the north wall of the Eiger, new routes on Mont Blanc and the ascent of ‘The Old Man of Hoy’, along with the virgin summits of Annapurna 2, Nuptse, The Ogre and the Central Tower of Paine.- 2017
- UK
- 79 min
The film retraces the life of one of the world’s best-known mountaineers, Sir Chris Bonington, from his rock climbing days in the UK to visionary ascents on the peaks of the Himalayas. Stories of friendship, love, risk and loss run deep through this intimate journey of one man’s dream. The drive for exploration is echoed in the first British ascent of the north wall of the Eiger, new routes on Mont Blanc and the ascent of ‘The Old Man of Hoy’, along with the virgin summits of Annapurna 2, Nuptse, The Ogre and the Central Tower of Paine.Climbing locations
Availability
DVD / BLU-RAY Video on Demand -
Documentary / Expedition Journal
The last great climb
Alastair Lee (2013)
Are rock stars Leo Houlding, Sean “Stanley” Leary, and Jason Pickles up to their old tricks again? Maybe so, but they’ve brought along a few new friends and hopes of a bold new line on a remote spire in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. They’re going big again – the majestic unclimbed Ulvetanna Peak is their goal this time. But they’re in the middle of nowhere, miserably cold, a bit delirious. Hopefully it’s nothing a little adrenaline can’t cure.- 2013
- UK
- 60 min
Are rock stars Leo Houlding, Sean “Stanley” Leary, and Jason Pickles up to their old tricks again? Maybe so, but they’ve brought along a few new friends and hopes of a bold new line on a remote spire in Queen Maud Land, Antarctica. They’re going big again – the majestic unclimbed Ulvetanna Peak is their goal this time. But they’re in the middle of nowhere, miserably cold, a bit delirious. Hopefully it’s nothing a little adrenaline can’t cure.Climbing locations
Availability
DVD / BLU-RAY Video on Demand -
Documentary / Portrait
Messner
Les Guthman (2002)
In this exclusive documentary, Reinhold Messner looks back over his career with surprising candor and personal revelation. It is the career of a man who began climbing with his father in the exquisite Italian Dolomites, but whose restless quest for self-knowledge through extreme adventures made him the greatest climber of modern times- 2002
- USA
- 47 min
In this exclusive documentary, Reinhold Messner looks back over his career with surprising candor and personal revelation. It is the career of a man who began climbing with his father in the exquisite Italian Dolomites, but whose restless quest for self-knowledge through extreme adventures made him the greatest climber of modern timesClimbing locations
Availability
Watch Free DVD / BLU-RAY Video on Demand -
Documentary / Historical
Everest - Najťažšia cesta
Pavol Barabáš (2020)
When Chris Bonington and his team set out in 1975 to climb the South West face of Everest they were attempting the ultimate challenge of mountaineering - to conquer the steepest and highest face in the world. Many international expeditions had tried to climb it in previous years. Bonington called the route leading through the southwest face - the Hard Way and said that it was impossible to climb in alpine style, which means without supplementary oxygen, fixed ropes, and Sherpas. His reflection on the Hard Way became a challenge for the young mountaineering generation. The climbers from Slovakia set the Hard Way as their goal. Is it really impossible to climb it in Alpine style?- 2020
- Slovakia
- 52 min
When Chris Bonington and his team set out in 1975 to climb the South West face of Everest they were attempting the ultimate challenge of mountaineering - to conquer the steepest and highest face in the world. Many international expeditions had tried to climb it in previous years. Bonington called the route leading through the southwest face - the Hard Way and said that it was impossible to climb in alpine style, which means without supplementary oxygen, fixed ropes, and Sherpas. His reflection on the Hard Way became a challenge for the young mountaineering generation. The climbers from Slovakia set the Hard Way as their goal. Is it really impossible to climb it in Alpine style?Climbing locations
-
Documentary / Expedition Journal
The Towers of Paine
Leo Dickinson (2007)
Leo Dickinson’s re-editing of the classic first ascent of the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia, filmed by Vic Bray. The 44-year-old original footage was salvaged from a loft and shows Chris Bonington and Don Whillans in action. Readings from Don’s journal add depth and a recreation of a double rope snapping incident adds the necessary spice. What marks this film apart is the film stock which makes the image seem to glow and the leisurely pace Leo has treated the edit. It makes a refreshing contrast to many contemporary films and modern digital filmmakers could be well served by taking note.- 2007
- UK
- 26 min
Leo Dickinson’s re-editing of the classic first ascent of the Central Tower of Paine in Patagonia, filmed by Vic Bray. The 44-year-old original footage was salvaged from a loft and shows Chris Bonington and Don Whillans in action. Readings from Don’s journal add depth and a recreation of a double rope snapping incident adds the necessary spice. What marks this film apart is the film stock which makes the image seem to glow and the leisurely pace Leo has treated the edit. It makes a refreshing contrast to many contemporary films and modern digital filmmakers could be well served by taking note.Climbing locations
Availability
DVD / BLU-RAY -
Documentary / Historical
The games climbers play...
Richard Else (1992)
Fifht episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. This episode contrasts the traditions of climbers in Britain and on the continent of Europe, the former developing a technique of free climbing and the latter employing aids such as spanners, bolts and drills to climb routes that would otherwise be inaccessible. The program includes old footage of the 1946 film by Alain Pol 'L'appel des cimes' and of a young Joe Brown climbing in Snowdonia in 1957 in a program of the BBC 'Eye to eye' series.- 1992
- UK
- 30 min
Fifht episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. This episode contrasts the traditions of climbers in Britain and on the continent of Europe, the former developing a technique of free climbing and the latter employing aids such as spanners, bolts and drills to climb routes that would otherwise be inaccessible. The program includes old footage of the 1946 film by Alain Pol 'L'appel des cimes' and of a young Joe Brown climbing in Snowdonia in 1957 in a program of the BBC 'Eye to eye' series.Climbing locations
-
Documentary / Historical
Portrait of a snow lion
Richard Else (1992)
Fourth episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. This episode portraits Reinhold Messner, the most famous mountaineer in the history of the sport. He was the first person to climb all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, and the first, with Peter Habeler, to climb Everest without artificial oxygen. Chris Bonington visits Messner in his Tyrol castle. The program also highlights the figure of Doug Scott and the way he approached the highest Himalayan peaks.- 1992
- UK
- 30 min
Fourth episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. This episode portraits Reinhold Messner, the most famous mountaineer in the history of the sport. He was the first person to climb all 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, and the first, with Peter Habeler, to climb Everest without artificial oxygen. Chris Bonington visits Messner in his Tyrol castle. The program also highlights the figure of Doug Scott and the way he approached the highest Himalayan peaks.Climbing locations
-
Documentary / Historical
Old game... New rules
Richard Else (1992)
Sixth and last episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. This episode tells how climbing appears to have changed radically during the last ten years - from sport into a spectacle. But Chris Bonington argues is that, whatever it is, climbing has always been about new challenges... The program reviews outstanding ascents by French top climbers like Christophe Profit, Eric Escoffier, and Jean-Marc Boivin.- 1992
- UK
- 30 min
Sixth and last episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. This episode tells how climbing appears to have changed radically during the last ten years - from sport into a spectacle. But Chris Bonington argues is that, whatever it is, climbing has always been about new challenges... The program reviews outstanding ascents by French top climbers like Christophe Profit, Eric Escoffier, and Jean-Marc Boivin.Climbing locations
-
Documentary / Historical
K2 - Triumph and tragedy on the savage mountain
Barry Reynolds (1988)
Chris Bonington and Jim Curran trace the history of K2 expeditions from 1903 to the disastrous loss of life in the summer of 1986, when 13 climbers died on K2, climbing tragedies that aggressively carved the epithet the 'savage mountain' into the public consciousness. Jim Curran was hired by the British 'Fuller’s K2' team to document their attempt on the unclimbed NW Ridge, so he was at the mountain, all summer. Inevitably, his documentary ended up drifting into a gripping narrative from the front line of the disastrous and tragic summer that killed 13 climbers on K2.K2 - Triumph and tragedy on the savage mountain
Barry Reynolds, Allen Jewhurst
- 1988
- UK
- 50 min
Chris Bonington and Jim Curran trace the history of K2 expeditions from 1903 to the disastrous loss of life in the summer of 1986, when 13 climbers died on K2, climbing tragedies that aggressively carved the epithet the 'savage mountain' into the public consciousness. Jim Curran was hired by the British 'Fuller’s K2' team to document their attempt on the unclimbed NW Ridge, so he was at the mountain, all summer. Inevitably, his documentary ended up drifting into a gripping narrative from the front line of the disastrous and tragic summer that killed 13 climbers on K2.Climbing locations
-
Documentary / Historical
In the long shadow of the mountains
Richard Else (1991)
Second episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. In this episode, Chris Bonington makes a two-week trek to the Diamir Face of the Nanga Parbat -the most unforgiving of mountains- in the company of German mountaineer Sigi Hupfauer and the American veteran Charles Houston. Bonington considers the part this mountain played in the development of climbing nationalism between the wars when rival national teams competed to conquer this and other peaks.In the long shadow of the mountains
- 1991
- UK
- 30 min
Second episode of 'The climbers', a six-part series on the history of mountaineering by Chris Bonington and Richard Else produced by the BBC. In this episode, Chris Bonington makes a two-week trek to the Diamir Face of the Nanga Parbat -the most unforgiving of mountains- in the company of German mountaineer Sigi Hupfauer and the American veteran Charles Houston. Bonington considers the part this mountain played in the development of climbing nationalism between the wars when rival national teams competed to conquer this and other peaks.Climbing locations
-
Documentary / Biographical
Don Whillans - Myth and legend
Leo Dickinson (2006)
Don Whillans was one of the leading rock climbers of his generation. This film examines Don’s gritstone horrors, his hard routes in Wales, then follows him to the Alps and beyond on several of his epic expeditions. But it also focuses on Don’s unique humor, his devastating oneliners that pricked pomposity wherever he found it and poked fun at those who deserved it. Don may have died 20 years ago but the myth surrounding Whillans can still be heard whenever climbers reminisce about a time when hard men were hard and legends were being made. Perhaps his partner Joe Brown best sums him up, 'Don was unique'.Don Whillans - Myth and legend
- 2006
- UK
- 80 min
Don Whillans was one of the leading rock climbers of his generation. This film examines Don’s gritstone horrors, his hard routes in Wales, then follows him to the Alps and beyond on several of his epic expeditions. But it also focuses on Don’s unique humor, his devastating oneliners that pricked pomposity wherever he found it and poked fun at those who deserved it. Don may have died 20 years ago but the myth surrounding Whillans can still be heard whenever climbers reminisce about a time when hard men were hard and legends were being made. Perhaps his partner Joe Brown best sums him up, 'Don was unique'.Climbing locations
Availability
DVD / BLU-RAY
