Filmography

Don Whillans

22 films

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  • Documentary / Portrait

    Final Ascent - The legend of Hamish MacInnes

    Final Ascent - The legend of Hamish MacInnes

    Robbie Fraser (2019)

    The legend of Hamish MacInnes began early. At 16 he climbed the Matterhorn. At 17 he built his first motor car from scratch. He attempted Everest in 1953 with his friend Johnny Cunningham. As an explorer, expedition leader, and engineer he achieved world fame. As inventor of the all-metal ice axe, author of the International Mountain Rescue Handbook and founder of Glencoe Mountain Rescue he has been responsible for saving hundreds of lives, if not thousands. But at the age of 84, his accomplishments could not save him from being institutionalized against his will, suffering from delirium. This film tells the story of his life by mirroring his greatest challenge: to recover his memories and rescue himself.

    UK / 80 min

    Final Ascent - The legend of Hamish MacInnes

    Robbie Fraser

    • 2019
    • UK
    • 80 min
    The legend of Hamish MacInnes began early. At 16 he climbed the Matterhorn. At 17 he built his first motor car from scratch. He attempted Everest in 1953 with his friend Johnny Cunningham. As an explorer, expedition leader, and engineer he achieved world fame. As inventor of the all-metal ice axe, author of the International Mountain Rescue Handbook and founder of Glencoe Mountain Rescue he has been responsible for saving hundreds of lives, if not thousands. But at the age of 84, his accomplishments could not save him from being institutionalized against his will, suffering from delirium. This film tells the story of his life by mirroring his greatest challenge: to recover his memories and rescue himself.

    Climbing locations

  • Documentary / Biographical

    Bonington - Mountaineer Vod

    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.

    UK / 79 min

    Bonington - Mountaineer

    Keith Partridge, Brian Hall

    • 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 / Historical

    Everest - Blood, sweat and tears

    Everest - Blood, sweat and tears

    Allen Jewhurst (1993)

    In this documentary first broadcast in 1993, Chris Bonington looks back at the first ever expeditions to conquer Mount Everest and the effect that the achievement of climbing the mountain had on climbing as a whole worldwide.

    UK / 51 min

    Everest - Blood, sweat and tears

    Allen Jewhurst

    • 1993
    • UK
    • 51 min
    In this documentary first broadcast in 1993, Chris Bonington looks back at the first ever expeditions to conquer Mount Everest and the effect that the achievement of climbing the mountain had on climbing as a whole worldwide.

    Climbing locations

  • Documentary / Expedition Journal

    Towers of temptation DVD

    Towers of temptation

    Leo Dickinson (2013)

    This is the story of two expeditions to two mountains, one in Argentina the other in Chile. Despite being twelve years apart, one man went on both trips. Don Whillans was an icon of British climbing in the 50s and 60s and his routes are still test pieces today.

    UK / 50 min

    Towers of temptation

    Leo Dickinson

    • 2013
    • UK
    • 50 min
    This is the story of two expeditions to two mountains, one in Argentina the other in Chile. Despite being twelve years apart, one man went on both trips. Don Whillans was an icon of British climbing in the 50s and 60s and his routes are still test pieces today.

    Climbing locations

    Availability

    DVD / BLU-RAY
  • Documentary / Historical

    Eiger - Die wand der wände DVD

    Eiger - Die wand der wände

    Gerald Salmina (2012)

    Eiger - Die wand der wände is a documentary about alpinism that takes place in Eiger. It was directed by Gerald Salmina in 2012 and produced by Bluebird Film. It is a part of the series Bergwelten. It features Robert Jasper, Roger Schäli, John Harlin III, Rainer Rettner, Chris Bonington, Adolf Rubi and others.

    Austria / 53 min

    Eiger - Die wand der wände

    Gerald Salmina, Tom Dauer

    • 2012
    • Austria
    • 53 min
    Eiger - Die wand der wände is a documentary about alpinism that takes place in Eiger. It was directed by Gerald Salmina in 2012 and produced by Bluebird Film. It is a part of the series Bergwelten. It features Robert Jasper, Roger Schäli, John Harlin III, Rainer Rettner, Chris Bonington, Adolf Rubi and others.

    Climbing locations

    Availability

    DVD / BLU-RAY
  • Documentary / Historical

    Die Eiger Nordwand

    Die Eiger Nordwand

    Gerald Salmina (2013)

    Die Eiger Nordwand is a documentary about alpinism that takes place in Eiger. It was directed by Gerald Salmina in 2013 and produced by Bluebird Film. It is a part of the series Die dunkle seite der Alpen (1/6). It features Robert Jasper, Roger Schäli, John Harlin III, Rainer Rettner, Chris Bonington, Adolf Rubi and others.

    Austria / 43 min

    Die Eiger Nordwand

    Gerald Salmina, Tom Dauer

    • 2013
    • Austria
    • 43 min
    Die Eiger Nordwand is a documentary about alpinism that takes place in Eiger. It was directed by Gerald Salmina in 2013 and produced by Bluebird Film. It is a part of the series Die dunkle seite der Alpen (1/6). It features Robert Jasper, Roger Schäli, John Harlin III, Rainer Rettner, Chris Bonington, Adolf Rubi and others.

    Climbing locations

  • Documentary / Biographical

    Zum dritten pol DVD

    Zum dritten pol

    Jürgen Czwienk (2008)

    Norman Dyhrenfurth, 90, tells for the first time the extraordinary story of his parents, husband and wife mountaineers and filmmakers Hettie and Günter Dyhrenfurth, and their 1930s expeditions to the Himalayas (Kanchenjunga, Hidden Peak). These family expeditions equalled those of their state-sponsored Nazi rivals and beat them in setting world climbing records. In doing so, the Dyhrenfurths took the first moving pictures at high altitude. Norman himself put the first Americans on top of Mount Everest in 1963 and led the first traverse of an 8000-metre peak. Through engaging interviews, Chris Bonington and Reinhold Messner put the Dyhrenfurth expeditions into contemporary context and convey an intense compassion for the heroic achievements and tragic failures of this family.

    Germany / 87 min

    Zum dritten pol

    Jürgen Czwienk, Andreas Nickel

    • 2008
    • Germany
    • 87 min
    Norman Dyhrenfurth, 90, tells for the first time the extraordinary story of his parents, husband and wife mountaineers and filmmakers Hettie and Günter Dyhrenfurth, and their 1930s expeditions to the Himalayas (Kanchenjunga, Hidden Peak). These family expeditions equalled those of their state-sponsored Nazi rivals and beat them in setting world climbing records. In doing so, the Dyhrenfurths took the first moving pictures at high altitude. Norman himself put the first Americans on top of Mount Everest in 1963 and led the first traverse of an 8000-metre peak. Through engaging interviews, Chris Bonington and Reinhold Messner put the Dyhrenfurth expeditions into contemporary context and convey an intense compassion for the heroic achievements and tragic failures of this family.

    Climbing locations

    Availability

    DVD / BLU-RAY
  • Documentary / Making Of

    The making of a climbing series

    The making of a climbing series

    Jo Wright (1985)

    The making of a climbing series is a documentary about rock climbing that takes place in Eagle Crag and Dove Crag. It was directed by Jo Wright in 1985 and produced by Border Television. It is a part of the series Lakeland rock (6/6). It features Chris Bonington, Bill Peascod, Don Whillans, Pete Livesey, Gill Price, Jill Lawrence and others.

    UK / 30 min

    The making of a climbing series

    Jo Wright

    • 1985
    • UK
    • 30 min
    The making of a climbing series is a documentary about rock climbing that takes place in Eagle Crag and Dove Crag. It was directed by Jo Wright in 1985 and produced by Border Television. It is a part of the series Lakeland rock (6/6). It features Chris Bonington, Bill Peascod, Don Whillans, Pete Livesey, Gill Price, Jill Lawrence and others.

    Climbing locations

  • Documentary / Historical

    Lakeland rock DVD

    Lakeland rock

    Paul Berriff (1990)

    In the company of Chris Bonington, who at 50 has recently succeeded on Everest, Bill Peascod returns to Eagle Front at the age of 64 to attempt the route which established him at the top of British climbing in the 1940's.

    UK / 98 min

    Lakeland rock

    Paul Berriff

    • 1990
    • UK
    • 98 min
    In the company of Chris Bonington, who at 50 has recently succeeded on Everest, Bill Peascod returns to Eagle Front at the age of 64 to attempt the route which established him at the top of British climbing in the 1940's.

    Climbing locations

    Availability

    DVD / BLU-RAY
  • Documentary / Historical

    Dovedale Groove

    Dovedale Groove

    Paul Berriff (1985)

    Dovedale Groove is a documentary about rock climbing that takes place in Dove Crag. It was directed by Paul Berriff in 1985 and produced by Border Television. It is a part of the series Lakeland rock (2/6). It features Chris Bonington and Don Whillans.

    UK / 45 min

    Dovedale Groove

    Paul Berriff

    • 1985
    • UK
    • 45 min
    Dovedale Groove is a documentary about rock climbing that takes place in Dove Crag. It was directed by Paul Berriff in 1985 and produced by Border Television. It is a part of the series Lakeland rock (2/6). It features Chris Bonington and Don Whillans.

    Climbing locations

  • Documentary / Expedition Journal

    The Towers of Paine DVD

    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.

    UK / 26 min

    The Towers of Paine

    Leo Dickinson, Vic Bray

    • 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

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