The White Hell Of Pitz Palu

The White Hell of Pitz Palu (Die Weibe Holle Vom Piz Palu) (1929)

Runtime: 134 minutes

Directed by: Arnold Fanck/G.W. Pabst

Starring: Gustav Diessl, Leni Riefenstahl, Ernst Petersen, Otto Spring, Ernst Udet

From: Sokal-Film GbmH

Ladies, get yourself a man like Dr. Johannes Krafft.

One of the many great aspects of being a hardcore movie fan is that no matter how long you're in the game, new information and even new genres can be learned about. Not that long ago came the revelation to me that in the time between World Wars there was a “mountain film” genre, popularized by co-director Arnold Fanck in the 1920's and '30's. Of course there are various movies made in the past 80 years that involve the climbing of a mountain but Franck popularized that nearly a century ago. Just judging by this movie, it was impressive with the technology of the time to see these actors in a frigid real life setting with the potential of an avalanche causing actual harm. From research, I know that lead actress Leni Riefenstahl had health problems after this shoot for the rest of her life due to all the time spent in freezing temperatures... whether or not you feel bad for her due to what she made in the 30's is up to you...

The plot has Johannes Kraftt lose his wife in the opening scene due to an accident while attempting to climb the titular Pitz Palu, a real life Swiss mountain where this was filmed. He is forever haunted by this; besides the love of his life dying, he wants to recover her body, presumably so she can receive a proper burial. A few years later an engaged couple are in the area; they meet up with Kraftt and due to compassion they volunteer to help him on this latest climb... even though Palu is quite dangerous and in fact there are others who perish the same time the trio are making the trek.

Seeing these actors do their own stunts in an environment without trick photography or other effects (and presumably without stunt doubles) is still impressive in 2021. Given the direct references to the film in Inglourious Basterds, QT must feel the same way. It is always a compelling drama where you enjoy all three leads as they are simply nice problem; of course conflict happens but it is not trite and when peril occurs, they are all rather sympathetic. I put over Johannes as a character which could be appealing to the ladies (or any gender, of course) as not only does he want to find his dead wife's corpse, he does some other noble acts throughout.

A major asset is that Fanck did not direct this alone; none other than the legendary G.W. Pabst did the non-mountain scenes and also assisted with the overall plot. The performances were also fine in this silent; in a cute moment, real life World War I fighter pilot (from kills, only The Red Baron was better) Ernest Udet appears as himself as he assists in an aerial search of the peak. As I say often, in the future I'll have to see another example or two of this genre.