HIGH ICE
US, 1980, 95 minutes, Colour.
David Janssen, Madge Sinclair, Tony Musante, Dorian Harewood.
Directed by Eugene S. Jones.
High Ice is an entertaining formula telemovie. It is in the disaster and rescue vein.
The film focuses on two couples climbing a hostile mountain and the dangerous situation when they are stranded. The film also shows a veteran mountain-climber (with a Scottish tradition) attempting the rescues, often against good advice. There are melodramatic interactions - and the expected characterisations. The colour photography is impressive and the film conveys the atmosphere of mountain climbing, its exhilaration and dangers. It was one of David Janssen's last films.
1. An entertaining disaster movie? Audiences identifying with the situations, characters, dangers, rescue? The comparison with other films of this kind?
2. The impact for television? For home audiences? The blend of formula situations and characters with exciting action? The use of locations photography? The stunt work and effects for the dangers and the rescue? The musical score to give heightened atmosphere?
3. The background of dangerous sport? Risks? Challenges? The people involved and their preparations, cautions? The repercussions on rescue teams? Heroism in giving life for others?
4. The picturing of the two couples (Liz and Tom, Scott and Cathy)? Their setting out, their preparations, skills? The challenge of White Horse Mountain? The avalanche and Tom's death? Their being stranded? Cathy's reaction and her inability to help, nerves? The unreachable ledge? The height? Inaccessibility? The car being discovered? The beginning of the rescue operation? The difficulties of the weather, the wind? The effect of the exposure on the group? Hypothermia and its affecting Scott? His behaviour with the cable hoist, grabbing it, causing the helicopter to crash into the mountain? The growing danger? The skilled rescuers? Scott and his inability to focus and understand? Problems for the rescuers? The skid landing by the helicopter and Liz and Scott being saved? Cathy saved by MacDonald? The value of the attempt at climbing the mountain in comparison with the results, the deaths?
5. MacDonald? and his Scots background? His skill? Experience as a Ranger? His knowledge of the mountain? His arguments with the officials? The discussions with Thatcher? Persuading the Army to make the rescue attempts? The rock collapsing? MacDonald? trapped above the climbers? The self-sacrifice by MacDonald? His death?
6. Search and rescue operations? Skills, equipment, accidents, the weather? Deaths? Thatcher and his decisions, discussions with MacDonald? The squad and their skills, the doctor and the skill in hypothermia?
7. The film as formula material - potentially interesting material, available for popular audiences to identify with? Confronting audiences with themes of challenges of life and death? Ability and inability? Self-sacrifice?
