The White Hell of Pitz Palu

The credits state that the story is based on a idea of Arnold Fanck, but the viewer should be aware that this film is simply a remake of Fanck's own "Die weisse Hölle vom Piz Palü" of 1929. It is no improvement: the writer did not even try to correct the shortcomings of the flimsy drama, it includes all those of the original. Rolf Hansen could have overcome some with inspired direction, but it seems to me that he stayed in the valley letting everyone else do as they seemed fit up there in the mountains.

So again here are Dr. Johannes Kraft (played by Hans Albers, who does not show any interest) sacrificing himself in a pre-fascist mood for no apparent reason (unless he was afraid for another remake) and a couple whose (love) life is as interesting as seeing melting ice. And again it is not clear why the trio proceeds climbing the mountain knowing that bad weather is coming.

In this her first German film 20 year old Liselotte Pulver is totally miscast; she tries hard to make something out of it, but she is no Leni Riefenstahl (good example of: we have a new star, but know not what to do with her). Adrian Hoven should not have been rescued at all.

Cameraman Richard Angst already collaborated on Fanck's film and again it is the splendid cinematography of the mountains, the light effects of the torches, the ice etc. that keeps the interest. However, seeing that there were quite some differences in the film material used, I suspect the makers of using old stock and possibly material of Fanck's film as well.