''Struggle for the Matterhorn'' (german: Der Kampf ums Matterhorn) is a 1928 German-Swiss silent

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

co-directed by

Mario Bonnard Mario Bonnard (24 December 1889 – 22 March 1965) was an Italian actor and film director. Bonnard was born and died in Rome. He began his cinematic career as an actor becoming a popular romantic lead in numerous silent films made before World ...

and

Nunzio Malasomma Nunzio Malasomma (4 February 1894 – 12 January 1974) was an Italian film director and screenwriter. He directed 41 films between 1923 and 1968. Selected filmography * '' Mister Radio'' (1924) * '' Orient'' (1924) * '' The Doll Queen'' ...

and starring Luis Trenker,

Marcella Albani Marcella Albani (born Ida Fidalma Angela Maranca; 7 December 1899 – 11 May 1959), was an Italian actress and writer. Although largely forgotten today, Albani was an idol of European cinema in the 1920s, and appeared in 50 films between 1919 and ...

, and Alexandra Schmitt. The film is part of the popular cycle of

mountain films A mountain film is a film genre that focuses on mountaineering and especially the battle of human against nature. In addition to mere adventure, the protagonists who return from the mountain come back changed, usually gaining wisdom and enlighten ...

of the 1920s and 1930s. Art direction was by Heinrich Richter. Trenker later remade the film as '' The Challenge'' in 1938. It was shot at the

Johannisthal Studios The Johannisthal Studios were film studios located in the Berlin area of Johannisthal. Founded in 1920 on the site of a former airfield, they were a centre of production during the Weimar and Nazi eras. Nearly four hundred films were made at Joha ...

Berlin Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...

and on location in Switzerland.

Plot

Based on a 1928 novel by Carl Haensel, the film depicts the battle between British and Italian climbers to be the first to climb the

Matterhorn The (, ; it, Cervino, ; french: Cervin, ; rm, Matterhorn) is a mountain of the Alps, straddling the main watershed and border between Switzerland and Italy. It is a large, near-symmetric pyramidal peak in the extended Monte Rosa area of the ...

Cast

* Luis Trenker as Jean-Antoine Carrel *

as Felicitas, Carrel's wife * as Mother of Carrel *

Clifford McLaglen Clifford McLaglen (15 June 1892 – 9 September 1978) was a Stepney, London or Cape Town, Cape Colony - born film actor. He was one of nine or ten children and brother of several actors including Victor McLaglen, Oscar winner for best actor, '' ...

as Giaccomo *

Peter Voß Peter Voß (29 June 1891 – 9 January 1979) was a German film actor. Partial filmography * '' Love and Trumpets'' (1925) - Rekrut Dirmoser * '' Struggle for the Matterhorn'' (1928) - Edward Whymper * ''Diane - Die Geschichte einer Pariserin'' ...

as Edward Whymper *

Paul Graetz Paul Graetz (8 August 1889 – 16 February 1937) was a German actor and star of the Weimar cabaret. Selected filmography * ''The Peruvian'' (1919) * ''The Princess of the Nile'' (1920) * ''Christian Wahnschaffe'' (1920) * ''Mary Magdalene'' (192 ...

as Meynet * as Meynet's wife *

Hannes Schneider Johann "Hannes" Schneider (24 June 1890 – 26 April 1955) was an Austrian ski instructor of the first half of the 20th century, famous for pioneering the Arlberg technique of instruction. Many consider him the Father of Modern Day Skiing. A ...

as Cross * Ernst Petersen as Hadow *

Hugo Lehner Hugo Lehner (1902 – 14 October 1952) was a Swiss mountain guide and skier. He competed together with Fritz Kuhn, Otto Furrer and Anton Julen in military patrol at the second winter Olympics in St. Moritz in 1928, where the team placed thi ...

as Hudson *Luggi as Lord Douglas *

Heinrich Gretler Heinrich Gretler (1897–1977) was a Swiss film and television actor, who also starred on stage at the Bernhard-Theater in Zurich. Selected filmography * '' The Mysterious Mirror'' (1928) * '' Struggle for the Matterhorn'' (1928) * ''The Man ...

as Seiler, hotel Host

References

External links

* 1920s adventure drama films 1920s historical films German historical films German drama films German adventure films Swiss drama films Films of the Weimar Republic German silent feature films Swiss silent films Films directed by Nunzio Malasomma Films directed by Mario Bonnard Films set in Switzerland Films set in Italy Films set in England Films set in the Alps Films set in the 1860s Films set in the 19th century Films shot in Switzerland Mountaineering films Films based on German novels Matterhorn Films shot at Johannisthal Studios UFA GmbH films German black-and-white films Silent drama films Silent adventure films 1920s German films {{Switzerland-film-stub