THE WHITE HELL OF PITZ PALU (1929) Gustav Diessl & Leni Riefenstahl | Action | B&W | Cinema Gem

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The White Hell of Pitz Palu (German: Die weiße Hölle vom Piz Palü) is a 1929 German silent mountain film co-directed by Arnold Fanck and G. W. Pabst and starring Leni Riefenstahl, Gustav Diessl, Ernst Petersen, and World War I pilot Ernst Udet. Written by Fanck and Ladislaus Vajda, the film is about a man who loses his wife in an avalanche while climbing the Piz Palü mountain, and spends the next few years searching the mountain alone for her body. Four years later he meets a young couple who agree to accompany him on his next climb. The White Hell of Pitz Palu was filmed on location in the Bernina Range in Graubünden, Switzerland.

Synopsis:

Dr. Johannes Krafft and his bride Maria embark on a honeymoon climb in the Bernina Alps, but an avalanche claims Maria’s life, leaving Krafft haunted by her loss. Four years later, engaged couple Maria Maioni and Hans Brandt arrive at the Diavolezza-Hütte to climb Piz Palü, where they meet the grief-stricken Krafft. Hans and Maria join him on an ascent, but an avalanche leaves them stranded on a ledge. Krafft, injured, signals for help as a rescue team struggles against worsening conditions. Pilot Ernst Udet attempts an airdrop, but supplies fail to reach them. With no rescue in sight, Krafft sacrifices himself to save Hans and Maria. Guide Christian eventually rescues the couple, but Krafft chooses to perish in the ice, reunited in death with his lost bride.

Cast & Crew:

Gustav Diessl as Dr. Johannes Krafft
Leni Riefenstahl as Maria Maioni
Ernst Petersen as Hans Brandt
Ernst Udet as himself
Mizzi Götzel as Maria Krafft, the wife of Dr. Johannes Krafft
Christian Klucker as Christian, the mountain guide (Otto Spring)
Kurt Gerron as a night club guest

Directed by: Arnold Fanck, G. W. Pabst
Written by: Arnold Fanck, Ladislaus Vajda
Produced by: Harry R. Sokal
Cinematography: Sepp Allgeier, Richard Angst, Hans Schneeberger
Edited by: Arnold Fanck, Hermann Haller
Music by: Willy Schmidt-Gentner
Production Company: H. R. Sokal-Film GmbH
Distributed by: Aafa-Film AG
Release Date: 15 November 1929 (Germany)
Running Time: 150 minutes
Country: Germany
Languages: Silent film, German intertitles