What did you do in Mission: Impossible--Ghost Protocol, when hot, butch Jeremy Renner demanded, "Next time, I get to seduce the rich guy." After spending a quality moment imagining that scene, you no doubt flashed back to a wonderful old Disney movie called Third Man on the Mountain, in which a thirtyish hiking guide complained to his friend, "Why was there never a rich Englishman waiting for me in a crevasse?" Based on the novel Banner in the Sky, the movie tells the story of a restless Swiss teen dishwasher Rudi who one fateful afternoon rescues a famous climber, John Winter [played by 6'4" Michael Rennie], and, perfectly naturally, the fatherless teen develops a major mancrush on the handsome captain. The wealthy alpinist buys the boy the best boots, ropes, and harness and takes him higher than ever before; Rudi forgets all about his tomboy girlfriend. The movie is the perfect valentine for gearheads turned on by pitons and crampons, or for anyone who wants to spend 100 minutes with a not very veiled romance in the shadow of the Matterhorn. Filmed on location in Zermatt in 1959.
UPDATE: Jeff Kurtti sends two new links from the Walt Disney Family Museum about the making of the movie and its young star (who also appeared in Kidnapped, Swiss Family Robinson, and 11 years on Hawaii Five-0). Third Man on the Mountain was the museum's January film.
I loved that movie when it was first released, saw it in the theater and then every time I could when it was on TV. I even read the book. No wonder I liked it! I'll have to get it from the library and see how it looks now.
Posted by: Duncan | February 14, 2012 at 07:27 AM
Wow--submerged memory now coming into view! Thanks for bringing it back!
Posted by: Kergan Edwards-Stout | February 14, 2012 at 01:12 PM
You continue to be the most intelligent and slyly funny gay blog on the planet. Oh, how I loved this movie. Miss Hayes' son was the best beefcake around.
Posted by: Armistead Maupin | February 14, 2012 at 02:18 PM