Third Man On The Mountain (1959)

Set in Switzerland, a young kitchen worker (James MacArthur) is determined to conquer the Citadel, a jagged snowcapped peak that claimed his father's life. Encouraged by a his devoted girlfriend (Janet Munro) and a famous British climber (Michael Rennie), he goes through a grueling training period before he is ready to climb the killer mountain. Based on the novel BANNER IN THE SKY by James Ramsey Ullman and directed by Ken Annakin (THOSE MAGNIFICENT YOUNG MEN IN THEIR FLYING MACHINES). Although it's a family friendly Walt Disney production, this is skewered as much to adults as kids, perhaps even more so. Sentimentality and schmaltz are eliminated and what we get in an often exciting peek into the world of mountain climbers. The Swiss location and the stunning mountain vistas bring a sense of authenticity to the movie. The film inspired the Matterhorn bobsled ride at Disneyland. With Helen Hayes (MacArthur's mother), Joyce Bulifant (MacArthur's wife), Herbert Lom, James Donald, Lee Patterson, Laurence Naismith and Nora Swinburne.