Anyone old enough (say around 20) to have watched this on its initial release, five years after the end of the war would have had no problem with the subtext - for example for them the Lloyd Bridges character may as well have had a sign "Nazi Fanatic" around his neck - but 66 years later a 20-30 year old with little or no interest in history may well be content to watch it as a mild thriller in which an ill-assorted sextet pit themselves against nature in the shape of the eponymous white tower, a peak that remains unconquered. For me the cast is intriguing with only one out-and-out leading man and five top-of-the-line supporting players though not necessarily the team I would nominate to climb a mountain. The team in this case is assembled by Valli, an undoubted beauty and decent enough actress, anxious in this case to finish what her late father started and reach the summit. Oscar Homolka, a mountain guide, and Lloyd Bridges, an unrepentant Nazi, are the only ones with serious credentials and with a reasonable chance of completing the climb, the others are there for various reasons. The movie is guilty of the same errors as Black Narcissus, where David Farrar persisted in walking around naked from the waist upward in spite of being several thousand feet above sea level. Here all six climbers eschew gloves until the very last stages of the climb whilst Glen Ford never does actually don them and Lloyd Bridges wears three-quarter length pants that display his naked calves throughout. Despite all this it's a good yarn and keeps you watching.

As a film buff,I enjoy who is in this..but as a film lover, I just have to forget some illogical situations..a part played by Lloyd Bridges which may or may not have influenced his acting in High Noon two years later..young gun..so to speak..a young guy who thinks he is superior to the older guy or anyone else..and in each film..gets his comeuppance..albeit in two different ways..but still..beaten..charming Glen Ford..really was a subdued scene- stealer..Valli..the beauty..used here as an anchor of sorts..she's doing it for her dead father..Ford is doing it for her..and everyone doing this climb for their own reasons..but I do have a problem with the climb itself..Swiss Alps?..blowing..snow..near-blizzard conditions..cold..oh so cold..cold enough that you can sit outside in the night cold..just sitting and thinking about your life or lack of one..or later..climbing without your glasses because they are broken and you don't have another pair along for the climb..climbing without gloves in the freezing Alps..with your bare hands while circumventing the dangerous narrow path..getting snow blindness in the process and lest I forget..two people falling in love and getting hitched..see it for the cinematography..not for the plot holes..Oscar Holmolka..Sir Cedrick Hardwick..what's not to like..but I would only say see this when there's not much else on..it's a diversion and you can come up with your own plot holes..and Claude Raines..who shouldn't be climbing any mountains at all and you have a somewhat disjointed movie..unlikely team of climbers doing implausible things..but individually..you know you like the characters from what they did before and after this..and you are hoping this is a good outing..but overall you will be dis-appointed with this..but the high up there scenery is worth looking at..Nuff said..

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.

Which has lasted the test of time.An odd bunch of people who come together with the goal of climbing the Alpine mountain as in the name of the movie but they make it work.It does not use up to much time getting to know the group letting their stories unfold as the movie story unfolds.Glenn Ford does not have much kit but he seems to scrounge it just when he needs it without ever having to ask.As in most films there is a love story which fits right in with the plot.A canny feel good movie and a pleasant way to spend 98 minutes of anyone's time.