The official record of Mallory and Irvine's 1924 expedition.The official record of Mallory and Irvine's 1924 expedition.The official record of Mallory and Irvine's 1924 expedition.
- Director
- Writer
- Stars
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film has a 100% rating based on 10 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Cameramen Who Dared (1989)
Featured review
Documentary on Mallory's Fateful Mt. Everest Ascent
After he had filmed an earlier 1922 Mt. Everest Expedition and released 'Climbing Mt. Everest,' John Noel received funding from the British Everest Committee to make an even more ambitious movie on the latest effort to scale the world's highest mountain, which had never been climbed to its summit, in early 1924. Similar to Ponting's design, Noel's purpose was to recoup the production's-and the expedition's-expenses by fundraising lectures along with showing the film.
Noel's 14 camera-crew recorded the support and climbing team, including George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, setting up camps at the base of Mt. Everest as well as at higher elevations, including one at 22,000 feet. He set up a 20-inch telephoto lens where he could film the climbers scaling almost the entire mountain. On the morning of June 8, Noel positioned his telescopic camera at the spot Mallory said he would be on his final ascent to Mt. Everest's summit. He failed to see him and his partner by 10 a.m. When clouds swept over the top, blocking his view.
The closest climber to Mallory and Irvine, Noel Odell, claimed he saw the two in the far distance approaching the summit, but because of the mist enveloping the mountain, he lost sight of them. There was a question whether Mallory and Irvine ever reached the top since the pair never returned. A 1999 search for their remains discovered the well-preserved body of Mallory found at 26,500 feet, indicating he didn't fall far from his initial tumble .
Noel had no idea what the circumstances befell the missing pair as the hours passed by. With no sign of them, the film producer returned to England and assembled his documentary "The Epic of Everest." The film made the little known climber, George Mallory, who previously the public was unaware of, into an heroic figure. Noel wanted to gin up his audience numbers by creating a total theatrical Tibetan experience. He recreated an exotic village bracketed by Himalayan peaks drawn on the walls of the stage. To further the Everest atmosphere Noel recruited a group of monks from Tibet to perform musical numbers before the film was shown.
The Tibetan government got wind of what it considered a sacrilegious display organized by the British and was greatly upset. Known as the 'Affair of the Dancing Lamas,' the diplomatic controversy was so serious that Tibet prohibited any expeditions to Mt. Everest for 10 years. Undeterred, Noel organized a road show with the monks and the movie throughout England, Germany and across the Pond to Canada and the United States, playing before packed houses. However, the costs of the productions and the political controversy abruptly ended the extravaganza. When Mt. Everest was finally conquered in 1953, Noel went back on the lecture circuit, showing his "The Epic of Everest" to appreciative audiences. He gave up the film business after the tour to pursue his passion of restoring old houses. He passed away in March 1989 at 99 years old.
Noel's 14 camera-crew recorded the support and climbing team, including George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, setting up camps at the base of Mt. Everest as well as at higher elevations, including one at 22,000 feet. He set up a 20-inch telephoto lens where he could film the climbers scaling almost the entire mountain. On the morning of June 8, Noel positioned his telescopic camera at the spot Mallory said he would be on his final ascent to Mt. Everest's summit. He failed to see him and his partner by 10 a.m. When clouds swept over the top, blocking his view.
The closest climber to Mallory and Irvine, Noel Odell, claimed he saw the two in the far distance approaching the summit, but because of the mist enveloping the mountain, he lost sight of them. There was a question whether Mallory and Irvine ever reached the top since the pair never returned. A 1999 search for their remains discovered the well-preserved body of Mallory found at 26,500 feet, indicating he didn't fall far from his initial tumble .
Noel had no idea what the circumstances befell the missing pair as the hours passed by. With no sign of them, the film producer returned to England and assembled his documentary "The Epic of Everest." The film made the little known climber, George Mallory, who previously the public was unaware of, into an heroic figure. Noel wanted to gin up his audience numbers by creating a total theatrical Tibetan experience. He recreated an exotic village bracketed by Himalayan peaks drawn on the walls of the stage. To further the Everest atmosphere Noel recruited a group of monks from Tibet to perform musical numbers before the film was shown.
The Tibetan government got wind of what it considered a sacrilegious display organized by the British and was greatly upset. Known as the 'Affair of the Dancing Lamas,' the diplomatic controversy was so serious that Tibet prohibited any expeditions to Mt. Everest for 10 years. Undeterred, Noel organized a road show with the monks and the movie throughout England, Germany and across the Pond to Canada and the United States, playing before packed houses. However, the costs of the productions and the political controversy abruptly ended the extravaganza. When Mt. Everest was finally conquered in 1953, Noel went back on the lecture circuit, showing his "The Epic of Everest" to appreciative audiences. He gave up the film business after the tour to pursue his passion of restoring old houses. He passed away in March 1989 at 99 years old.
helpful•00
- springfieldrental
- Jan 4, 2022
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Эпос Эвереста
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $112,035
- Runtime1 hour 27 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content