Calf-length waterproofs, knee-high red socks, cigarettes, and a first ascent of the Centre Tower...
For anyone with an appetite for mountaineers in bright red knee length socks, calf-length red waterproof jackets and a glimpse of the early days of slacklining, Tower of the Paine was this year’s unmissable film at Kendal:-)
It revisits the 1963 expedition when Barrie Page, Chris Bonington, Ian Clough, Don Whillans, Derek Walker and Vic Bray made a first ascent of the central Tower of Paine in Patagonia. We’ve all seen the classic photos but few will have seen a film like this before.
Original footage from 1963
It uses the original footage from 1963, which was made with technology that no longer exists. Added to that is a 2007 soundtrack featuring Don Whillans voice, returned from the grave and performed by one of the remaining expedition members, who stuck pencils up his nose to achieve the nasal accent.
The result is 25 minutes of stunning landscapes, great humour, and downright laddishness, as the team swim nude in a lake to cure their hangovers, smoke copious numbers of cigarettes, and persuade a group of Italian mountaineers to attempt the South Tower, leaving the Central one free for their own first ascent. Well, Bonnington and co were there first, after all!
Broken ropes
As you’d expect of any first ascent on old nylon ropes there were some scary moments too – no less than four ropes broke in the course of the expedition and Bonnington survived one of many near-death experiences in the course of his career. Even the re-enactment of his close encounter with a precipice took on a humorous slant though, as it was preceded by a shot of Bonnington reading a book called ‘All Fall Down’. Highly appropriate.
Straight from the archives
All in all, this film is one from the archives not to miss, especially since Leo Dickinson rescued it earlier this year and worked his magic on the aging footage.
Look out for it on ‘best of Kendal’ nights. Oh yes, and just one disclaimer…
Leo Dickinson would like to announce the following: “no old age pensioners or sheep were abused in the making of this film but some sheep were eaten.”
Enjoy!
