Question for U.K. members

[Stig / Major Tom]

Michael Sheen was supposed to portray George Mallory in a bio-pic 5 yrs ago.
I've a big interest in Mallory, and Everest in general.
Can you guys find any info regarding this movie?
Have read that Mallory will reach the summit in this depiction....which is why his photo of wife, Ruth,  was not found on his person.
He'd placed it on the summit.
Thanks, Stig
(I don't think even the New Zealander, Hillary, could stop a British movie...)

[Snorvey]

'In high places', with Martin Sheen and Kelly MacDonald. I cant find much on it past 2015, so it looks like it never got off the ground. I do have a couple of movie buff friends online and offline, so ill ask.

[Stig / Major Tom]

'In high places', with Martin Sheen and Kelly MacDonald. I cant find much on it past 2015, so it looks like it never got off the ground. I do have a couple of movie buff friends online and offline, so ill ask.

Thanks!
I think a movie where he and/or Irvine make it to the summit - would be a hit in England.
Well known that 80% of the Everest fatalities occur on the way down.
Heck, if I had the beans - I'd finance it !
Go out to Colorado, keep with lots of close-ups, plenty of snow....show them gazing off the top of something at Utah in the distance and call it Nepal.
Then hunker down, lay the ice ax down, for a tea break.....and slip off.
Roll the credits with Adelle singing something....

Stig

[Snorvey]

I think you've missed your vocation in life Stig.

[Stig / Major Tom]

Last photo on his camera...
Irvine in the red.

Too soon they celebrated....
Stig

[Snorvey]

From what I can gather, this might be your answer Stig - 'Development Hell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_hell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_media_notable_for_being_in_development_hell

[Stig / Major Tom]

From what I can gather, this might be your answer Stig - 'Development Hell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_hell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_media_notable_for_being_in_development_hell

Ah shoot.
OK, thank you for your efforts.
Was hoping it might be one of those DVD movies which never made it to the theatre.

Thanks again....
Stig

[Snorvey]

Aye, the Mallory / Irvine story is fascinating.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Mallory

 ....and all the more interesting because of potentially finding Irvine's camera at some point in the future. Can you imagine the uproar after finding an Irvine/Mallory summit 'selfie?

Of course, even if they did summit, Mallory and Irvine died on the way down and, to date, they've only ever discovered the formers body (remarkably well preserved in the sub zero temperatures). The cause of death was thought to be down to him sliding down the mountain, feet first on his belly and using an ice axe as a brake. A well used technique, but fatal if the axe head hits a rock.......

Other mountaineers, whilst admiring the pairs efforts, particularly given the primitive equipment of the day.....but have pointed out that a successful climb involves a successful descent too.

....but then again, a very select band of climbers say that a successful climb doesn't involve the use of oxygen.

Climbers like Reinhold Messner.

Reinhold Andreas Messner (German pronunciation: [??a??nh?lt ?m?sn?]) (born 17 September 1944) is an Italian mountaineer, explorer, and author. He made the first solo ascent of Mount Everest and, along with Peter Habeler, the first ascent of Everest without supplemental oxygen. 

It goes on to say...:

On 8 May 1978, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler reached the summit of Mount Everest; the first men known to climb it without the use of supplemental oxygen. Prior to this ascent it was disputed whether this was possible at all.

Proper hardcore.

'Everest Unmasked'



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Messner#Mount_Everest

[Snorvey]

Watched an excellent documentary on National Geographic last night.

Essentially a small team were climbing Everest to go to look for Sandy Irvine's body. One science bod had surmised that Mallory had fallen whilst roped to Irvine, Irvine didn't have the strength to pull Mallory back up so was forced to cut him loose, but by this time Irvine's O2 had ran out and he was well off the descent path. Based on a couple of possible sightings, the theory is that he may have climbed into one of a series of fissures in the rock face for shelter and froze to death.

The team had used drones to take high res photos to try an look into the fissures..

This is the Nat Geo article on the film, with some pretty decent photos.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2020/07/our-team-climbed-everest-to-try-to-solve-its-greatest-mystery-feature/

[Stig / Major Tom]

Ah, Nat Geo want's $ from me to read the page.
I'll look to get the show from my city library when available.

Just finished the novel, Paths Of Glory By Jeffrey Archer. And watched The Wildest Dream on youtube recently.

To look at pix of an congo-line of novice climbers, waiting by the scores,  going up the fixed ropes and aluminum ladders - towed along by Sherpas…. Is disgusting. At least they're freezing and miserable, I hope, as they wait for the celebrity ahead of them to move.

I believe the boys made it up in '24. The climber in the Wildest Dream showed that that 'step' was climbable  without fixed ropes or a ladder.

Hillary and Tensing were the 3rd and 4th to summit...…which they probably knew.
Getting down wins the accolades. Being the first is a personal joy.

I read that 3 girls claimed to be engaged to the late Irvine. He was a handsome rascal. I do hope they find him someday, before a tourist does.


My daughter laughs at my interest in Everest and these 2 guys.....she & I are both not fond of heights.
I was downed twice in Huey's flying as a medic in Vietnam..... Doors were removed, and I could watch clearly as we went down. Fortunately, both pilots has mastered "auto-rotation" taught at Ft f***er.

Appreciate any further reading you might come across.

Ride safe.
Stig