Der Berg Ruft (1937)

Der Berg Ruft (The Mountain Calls) was directed by one of the foremost specialists in the German "mountain film" genre, Luis Trenker. The film recreates in meticulous and loving detail the first successful ascent of the Matterhorn in 1865 by Englishman Edward Whymper. Herbert Dirmoser is cast as Whymper, while Trenker himself essays the part of nominal romantic lead Carrel. To add box-office allure to what was already a highly-charged narrative, Trenker and his fellow scenarists cook up a fictional love affair between Carrel and mountain lass Felicitas (Heidemarie Hatheyer, one of the director's many "discoveries"). The English-language version of Der Berg Ruft, The Challenge, was codirected by Luis Trenker and Vincent Korda. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi