Not even bad in a good way

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Old-fashioned in the best sense, this mountaineering adventure boasts a stellar cast--Glenn Ford, Alida Valli, Cedric Hardwicke, Claude Rains, Lloyd Bridges, and Oskar Homolka--and a simple premise: a young woman (Valli) returns to the Swiss Alps to conquer the eponymous mountain that claimed her father's life years before. But she has to persuade several other climbers to brave the perilous ascent with her. Each has his own reason for accepting, while the lone American member (Ford), at first tagging along just to spend time with the beautiful Valli, gradually finds a deeper reason of his own.The recent Second World War looms large over the story. Indeed, the White Tower itself is a clear metaphor for it: the three main characters all have something left to prove, and the higher they climb, the more the reveal about themselves, the more fractured the team becomes. It's not as psychologically complex as it sounds, though. You can easily work out who's who and how the relationships are going to develop as the story unfolds.The joys here are the cast, the scenery, several gripping climbing sequences, and a lush score that evokes that aching sense of something lost that's also somehow within reach again...if only love can prevail.Corny, maybe, but if you like old Hollywood and adventure films, this one will work like a charm.

SPOILER ALERT Whenever I think of films about mountain climbing, the first that comes to mind is Spencer Tracy's "The Mountain". This film pales in comparison, but it's still a pretty good film. And speaking of "pales", this film desperately needs a complete restoration. The scenery of the mountains and glaciers (particularly the longer distance shots) -- actually filmed in the Alps -- would be stunning except for the extreme fading of the print that is currently being shown on TCM.The one real problem I have with this film is the thought of Claude Rains (age 61 at the filming), Oskar Homolka (age 62 at the filming), and Sir Cedric Hardwicke (age 57 at the filming) climbing what was supposed to be the most challenging mountain in all of Europe. That's my age range, and I find it at best unlikely, and at worst preposterous. But okay...it's only a movie.There comes a time about a third of the way into the film when suddenly the photography changes from real settings to sets, and it's startlingly obvious...perhaps a film restoration would make it less so. The melding of real shots versus sets is rather well done, however, and a word of credit should be given to some of the real climbers (whoever) they were who stood in for the actors. I do have to give the actors credit here. Although the difficult climbing scenes with the actors are clearly on sets, I think they had to expend quite a bit of energy...and they do a rather convincing job of it.In terms of the acting, I very much appreciate the performance here of Glenn Ford. In fact, it reminds me a bit of how Spencer Tracy would approach many roles -- with subtlety, which only shows off the strengths more prominently.Valli, whom I usually think of for her role in "The Miracle Of The Bells" does okay here, although she was not as convincing as some actresses might have been in the role because she just doesn't appear tough enough.The role that really gets shortchanged here is that of Claude Rains. Oh, Rains is good, but the character is never developed to the extent that we understand his motivations. SPOILER ALERT -- When he is the first to die, of getting drunk in an untenable location -- why? Is it as simple as a nagging wife...whose nagging didn't seem very bad at all? Oskar Homolka as the local guide is quite good...but I wish he would have trimmed those eyebrows! Sir Cedric Hardwicke is, in my view, unconvincing here. But I think it's more the fault of the role than of his acting.And then we come Lloyd Bridges as the German and former Nazi...at least it's insinuated since part of the conflict of the film is between a Nazi flyer and Ford, an American flyer who was shot down. I've always thought of Bridges as more an actor for the small screen, although here he does quite nicely...better than in any other big screen film in which he appeared. And it's interesting -- little mention is made of their military past...yet it's that tension that exists between them throughout the whole film...that's good screen writing and direction! This is far from being a perfect film. In fact, I find it rather flawed. But it is still very interesting, with an intriguingly strong cast, even if the roles are not always sufficiently explored.

While watching this on TV as a black and white version I began to wonder the unusually heavy looking make-up on the faces of the actors. Well, now I am wiser to know that this was originally a Technicolor film and therefore required heavier make-ups. Simple.But I only wish I'd seen the color version because of the breathtaking scenery. I still enjoyed the film very much, though. Excellent cast and fine camera work. The outdoor scenery and a little clumsier parts made in studio blended together rather nicely, anyway.The cast includes no big name stars but you won't miss any either. Valli and the boys deliver their roles as believable and interesting characters without fuss or glamor. Their appearances are very earthy just like the surroundings and it gives good contrast to the story which seems to develop slowly at first, but reaches very dramatic and symbolic levels towards the end. These symbolic levels are also treated so that it doesn't start to bury the story too much. You can take this simply as a romantic adventure drama with a few surprises, if you like. This romantic piece sure has a heart but also brains and it uses them well.

This is one of those movies that is fitting to it's era... Actually, not a bad and personal romance and adventure with odd assortment of characters who each for their own reasons want to climb this 'White Tower' mountain... With a great cast.. Claude Rains, L Bridges, C Hardwick, etc.. but most of all VALLI, a special woman among women.. (also in the 'The Third Man')... I'm a great fan of 'The Third Man' and fell in love with her,.... and seeing Valli again was a real treat..Great vistas (quite abit of on-location shooting in the French Alps), photography, color.... For those who know what I mean,.. this has a 'kinda' "High and Mighty" feel to it.. One other note germane to that era of film making, the ages to the characters/actors.. all older and more mature than what we're used to today... Chauk one up for the good old days.. ENJOY