UKC

Cliffhanger again

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 Al Evans 30 Mar 2007
Years since I watched it but came across it in a cupboard today. There was some recent conversation on here abour climbing films, Vertical Limit, K2,Mission Impossible, Eiger Sanction etc, and I championed Cliffhanger.
So I thought I'd have a quick look at it again.
Wow I was right you know, its the one amongst all those. For a start do you know its loosely based on a true happening that John Long ( a well known Yosemitie activist) may or may have not been involved , He wrote about in Mountain Magazine at the time and his script for Cliffhanger was conceived on the back of this 'happening'.
It would take research to get it right, but if anybody is interested I might just be persuaded to jog a few memories and see what I can do.
Secondly Sly is brill in it and its a good action movie, if you have never seen it , catch it if you can.
Al
 Rob Exile Ward 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans: Lynne Hill's autobiography covers this fairly extensively...

Personally, I think it's one of the worst action films ever made, having enough internal contradictions to make 30s adventure films look like documentaries. IMHO.
 Rob Exile Ward 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Rob Exile Ward: There again, if you look at my Ursine challenge below, maybe it's not so unbelievable...
Carpe Diem 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

The Everest vetran David Breashears talks about the true events behind cliffhanger in his book High exposure.

Very good book BTW
 Blue Straggler 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Rob Exile Ward:
>
>
> Personally, I think it's one of the worst action films ever made

Really?
I honestly think it's one of the best, if by "action film" we are allowed to include unrealistic, formulaic and outrageous stuff.
It always gets unfairly judged as if it were a 'climbing' film.
It delivers in spades. I love it.
 Rob Exile Ward 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Blue Straggler: Don't get me wrong, I love action films. But Cliffhanger ... one minute they're above the snowline, next they're below it, then they cross a via ferrata, and then they find a 'Museum' above the snowline (very handy, popular with tourists) that contains usable climbing equipment, FFS...

K2 was a documentary compared to this, and a much better action film as well IMHO. But there's room for all sorts.
 Marc C 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans: I've said this many times on here over the years, but IMO the opening 10 minute sequence is brilliant - breathtaking and spectacular. The rest of the film is enjoyable if unbelievable hokum.
Deejay 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Marc C:
> (In reply to Al Evans) I've said this many times on here over the years, but IMO the opening 10 minute sequence is brilliant - breathtaking and spectacular. The rest of the film is enjoyable if unbelievable hokum.


Agreed. It's not a documentary but, with a little bit of suspension of disbelief, it's a good action romp.

DJ
 Blue Straggler 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Rob Exile Ward: Hey Rob. I've actually never seen K2, to my chagrin. I will try to remedy this, I actually really like Michael Biehn, shame he never really made it as a leading man (being killed indirectly by Ed Harris twice onscreen must hurt too )
 Rob Exile Ward 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Blue Straggler: Well I thought it was great, anyway, though I seem to be in a minority. Nothing new there.
OP Al Evans 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Rob Exile Ward: I'm with Marc and Blue Straggler here. And I have personal reasons for detesting K2.And the fact that so many 'real' people (climbers) know the story behind it (CH) takes it for me.
Carpe Diem 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:
> (In reply to Rob Exile Ward) I'm with Marc and Blue Straggler here. And I have personal reasons for detesting K2.And the fact that so many 'real' people (climbers) know the story behind it (CH) takes it for me.



What's the story behind it Al?
 Rob Exile Ward 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans: I think the connection between CH and the reality is a bit tenuous to be honest. 1) They're set in different ranges - Rockies vs the Sierra. 2) It was a cargo of cannabis, not money. 3) The plane 'belonged' to a drugs cartel not the CIA.

Apart from that, practically a docu-drama! And I still like K2 - the tension between the friends, and the very prescient depiction of the commercialisation of the Himalaya.
 Rob Exile Ward 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Carpe Diem: Plane crashed in the Californian Sierra one winter in the 70s, that contained a cargo of cannabis plus cash, address books, all sorts.

The DEA were told that it would be inaccesible until the spring thaw, however nobody told the climbers who were used to backpacking in the winter...

There were stories of climbers trekking out, then dumping their gear once they reached the wreck to trek out with full sacks of dope. Other darker stories of people being killed for address books that they'd retrieved from the wreckage. Lynn Hill didn't seem to feel that she'd missed out much by not participating.
OP Al Evans 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Carpe Diem: It is tenuous, but most agree that it is what inspired Long, I will sort out the actual details and post them when I have cos its an interesting bit of climbing history.
I have to say most of Rob Exile Ward's observations are spot on and correct, but obviously even from what he says other influential US climbers see the story as influencing the story. How much Long stuck to facts is about as much as Arthur Conan Doyle stuck to real life crime cases in the Sherlock Holmes stories, but there was a basis, and its still interesting, but I want to get it right before I say anything about it.
OP Al Evans 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Carpe Diem: Errr I dont know where to start yet, maybe it will make an interesting article if Mick likes the idea?
Deejay 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

Go on Al, it'd be a good read.

DJ
Carpe Diem 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Rob Exile Ward:

Im aware of the links between cliffhanger and the 70's plane crash.

my question was in regards to Al's comments about the story behind K2.

Allan McDonald 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans: I've just finished watching 'Scream of Stone' with Stefan Glowacz et al and to be honest that makes CH look 100% real !
 Blue Straggler 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Allan McDonald:
> (In reply to Al Evans) I've just finished watching 'Scream of Stone' with Stefan Glowacz et al and to be honest that makes CH look 100% real !

Eh?

There's no special effects or back-projection in Scream of Stone.

They were out there in Patagonia filming it. Granted, there were no real solo ascents of Cerro Torre (presumably a few heli drop-offs for a few scenes) but it is a pretty authentic climbing film, I always bring it up when people whinge about Cliffhanger, K2 and Vertical Limit, as Scream of Stone is an example of why a realistic fictional(*) feature film about climbing, is not actually that exciting (I still think the final 20 minutes are exhilarating though)

* yes I know it's based upon the Maestri controversy
 Blue Straggler 30 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

Continuing the digression, has anyone seen this?
http://imdb.com/title/tt0100697/

I saw it in a local charity shop and now I wish I'd bought it. Oh well.
Might see if I can track down Riefenstahl's "The Blue Light", and augment the Herzog collection with this:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087317/

A nice list here (scroll down to about a third of the way down)
http://www.tradgirl.com/climbing_faq/other_2.shtml
Carpe Diem 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Blue Straggler:
> (In reply to Al Evans)
>
> Continuing the digression, has anyone seen this?
> http://imdb.com/title/tt0100697/
>


I saw this one afternoon on ch5 some years back.

The climbing was understated and boring,just people plodding up snow slopes.It portrayed the yanks as gung ho adventurer's with a few Brits in it too.I remember Doug Scott being played in it.It also portrayed Jon Roskelly as an arrogant so and so.

I think it also dealt with a russian all woman team that died on the summit in a very bad storm.
Regis Von Goatlips 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

Sorry Al, but Cliffhanger?
P.U.
No accounting for taste though come to think of it I've yet to see a really outstanding climbing film whether documentary or dramatization. Usually we're treated to an icon speaking throughout in a monotone about the ascent, or huge Hollywood stars in incredibly implausable poorly researched extravaganzas.
 Bruce Hooker 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

Cliffhanger.. good film? Climbing film?

[Must be some mistake. Ed.?]
OP Al Evans 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Carpe Diem:
> (In reply to Rob Exile Ward)
>
> Im aware of the links between cliffhanger and the 70's plane crash.
>
> my question was in regards to Al's comments about the story behind K2.

I'm not sure how much I'm able to say, but I'll just say , plagarism, do certain scenes remind you of anything? And big money stinks big time, and a film that has since been made but was supressed for years by K2.
 hutchm 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

I'm with you on this one - Cliffhanger is an entertaining watch. I don't think anyone is claiming documentary status for it.

It's a bit like expecting the Bourne Identity or Mission Impossibles to be accurate representations of the activities of US intelligence agencies...

No doubt someone will be along in a minute to tell me they are, though.
Removed User 31 Mar 2007
In reply to hutchm:
They are Hutch!
Same as The Bill is a blue print for the Met Police Force
Casualty / Holby City is for the NHS
Londons Burning is for the Fire Service etc

Cliffhanger was a great film. An adventure film based around mountains and persons therein. Simple as that.
People haven't been chuntering on about Vertical Limit which surprises me!!
 Ridge 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

Agreed. It may be packed full of bolt guns, 1 armed pull ups, bizarrely failing BD harnesses, dolomite VFs in America, but it's an entertaining romp. Point Break isn't exactly a surfing documentary either, but it's another good action film.
Regis Von Goatlips 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Ridge:
> (In reply to Al Evans)
>
> ..... it's an entertaining romp. Point Break isn't exactly a surfing documentary either, but it's another good action film.


Fulla bluescreen FX more like.
I don't remember much climbing taking place at all in Cliffhanger.
That and the utter lack of anything resembling a script is what had me miffed most if memory serves.

But who cares.
Al paid for the rental anyway, right?

OI Al.....where ya keep the popcorn?

.....and I think your loo may now be out of order.
 Marc C 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Regis Von Goatlips: er, man feels responsible for death of ex-girlfriend, becomes grieving recluse, finds redemption by thwarting evil criminal gang searching for $millions lost in the mountains.

How anyone COULD shoot Pa Walton is till beyond me (sob)
Thought they would have least have said 'good night Pa' as they blew him away
Carpe Diem 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

Mail me Al.

OP Al Evans 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Carpe Diem: Will do, but why dont you mail me and tell me why?
OP Al Evans 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Ridge:
> (In reply to Al Evans)
>
> Agreed. It may be packed full of bolt guns, 1 armed pull ups, bizarrely failing BD harnesses, dolomite VFs in America, but it's an entertaining romp. Point Break isn't exactly a surfing documentary either, but it's another good action film.

OOOh, somewhere I have a copy of Point Break too, must dig it out for tonights viewing
OP Al Evans 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Regis Von Goatlips:
> Al paid for the rental anyway, right?

Frayed knot, I own these videos
OP Al Evans 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Removed User:
> (In reply to Removed Userhutchm)
> Same as The Bill is a blue print for the Met Police Force

Hey I used to live in Merton, its where The Bill is filmed, it used to be hysterical, Morden (Merton) has one of the lowest crime rates in London purely because the regular police chases and high profile police (The Bill) presence kept the criminals on their toes. Surely an argument for 'bobbies on the beat'.
Carpe Diem 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans:

You have mail
OP Al Evans 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Carpe Diem: Replied.
Allan McDonald 31 Mar 2007
In reply to Al Evans: i've got the Storm and Sorrow one from Oxfam a few weeks back but not got round to watching it.
Will probably do so tomorrow as Girlfriend away and I have TV to myself (god I' getting old a few years ago it would be entirely different DVD's lol)
Will post on here what I think of it if my opinion matters !

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