The Castaways Of Mont Blanc

This documentary is a reconstruction, based on archive footage, testimonies, and filmed reconstructions, of the Vincendon / Henry tragedy. December 1956: Jean Vincendon and François Henry, two young mountaineers, aspire to join the High Mountain Group. Lacking experience, they set out to climb Mont Blanc via the Brenva spur in the middle of winter. The weather conditions deteriorated, and they decided to give up before meeting Walter Bonatti and Sylvano Gheser. They then decided to continue the climb and set off in two different roped parties. Bonatti decided to take refuge at the Vallot refuge higher up, rather than descend. The two young mountaineers, overcome by the poor weather conditions and fatigue, remained stuck for several days at 4,000 meters. What followed was a completely disorganized rescue operation that became, for more than ten days, a spectacle for all of France and a national tragedy.

Cast

Jean Vincendon

Jean Vincendon

as Self (archive footage)

François Henry

François Henry

as Self (archive footage)

Claude Dufourmantelle

Claude Dufourmantelle

as Self

Lionel Terray

Lionel Terray

as Self (archive footage)

Walter Bonatti

Walter Bonatti

as Self (archive footage)

Pierre Couttet

Pierre Couttet

as Self

Gilbert Chappaz

Gilbert Chappaz

as Self

Jacques Petetin

Jacques Petetin

as Self

Jean Brissaud

Jean Brissaud

as Self

Honoré Bonnet

Honoré Bonnet

as Self

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