The Climb (1999)

John Langer, (John Hurt -Two-time Academy Award nominee, Elephant Man, Midnight Express) a crusty old civic engineer, has an arsenal full of memories. With irreverent wit, he rattles on, in his irascible humorous style, burning his spicy stories into the imagination of a young neighbor kid, Danny Himes (Gregory Smith, TV's Everwood). Danny is a gifted, spirited athlete with something to prove. Worldly, old man Langer has turned his back on proving anything at all. It's post WWII. Danny's father, Earl, (David Strathairn, Academy Award nominee, Good Night, and Good Luck) did not serve in the military and is considered a coward. Danny excels to overcome his father's reputation while Earl is actually more a man than the town knows. 'You don't smoke, you don't drink, and you don't screw. What kind of man are you anyway?' old man Langer asks Danny. The more appropriate question is: 'What kind of men are they?' Produced by Mark McClafferty, Robert Rea, Pamela Edwards McClafferty, and Tom Parkinson. Product Description

A Very Suspenseful Tale Of Courage

Oh goodness!! I saw this on the television aeons ago, or that's what it feels like!! I remember absolutely loving this film, due to it's suspense, and it's courageousness, and its touching nature. I had been searching and searching and searching for this movie for a very long time, and I am very happy to now have it in my possession to watch whenever I wish. It's a great film for all ages! Very sad and very good. January 8, 2008

How high can you climb

In "The Climb," a boy named Danny wants to climb a tower in order to prove to his father and the bullies that he's not a coward. He finds an old man that wants to commit suicide. Since Danny (Gregory Smith) won't get the gun for the old man, the man agrees to help him get to the top of the tower just as long as he thinks he can get back down. But there's one thing that goes wrong, Danny breaks his arm a few days before he plans to climb to the top of the tower.

"The Climb" is a little slow getting started, so you probably won't get real interested in it until Danny and the old man actually go to the tower and start carrying out their plan. About the only thing that will keep you interested before then is the old man's performance, he does a great job and so does Danny.

If you like drama movies, I would recommend seeing "The Climb." It is interesting and toward the end of the movie when the climb is taking place, it has some good suspense. August 28, 2000

Poignant, Suspenseful and Perfectly Acted

Poignant, suspenseful and perfectly acted, The Climb is as rare as its unlikely central friendship -- and as full of humanity. - Sheila Benson, film critic.

A solidly crafted film from the director Bob Swaim, The Climb is an engaging tale of growing up in the 1950's. - David Rooney, VARIETY

In a world where marketplace spin and the one-line pitch meeting has diminished movie-making to deplorably predictable levels, it is a joy to see Bob Swaim's multi-leveled and richly-textured new film. Instead of Hollywood clichés and cardboard figures, he gives us believable characters and situations alive with all the nuance of real life. Defying all easy categorization, THE CLIMB is destined to become a classic. -William Hjortzberg author (Falling Angel, Legend, Angel Heart)

.. one of those sterling independent films that sometimes unfortunately slip through cracks. ...THE CLIMB is a little jewel well worth seeking out... - Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune Movie Critic.

The Climb' is a moving coming-of-age drama with a juicy performance by John Hurt as a cantankerous, chain-smoking, bourbon-slugging geezer. David Strathairn displays his typical understated brilliance playing a father who redefines heroism. -Annette Insdorf, Columbia University Film Department

Brilliant cast, insightful and sensitive direction. Without question some of John Hurt's finest work. Bob Swaim grew through his high school years in California, and it shows, for unlike most Europeans his vision of US life is honest to the core though clearly his years in French cinema give him an intuition most Americans desperately lack about their own culture. -David Franzoni screenwriter, Citizen Cohn, Amistad, Gladiator,Jumpin' Jack Flash

Funny, touching and thought-provoking. An island of reality and humanity in a sea of effects films. - Daniel Will-Harris, editor, eFuse.com December 4, 1999

Poignant, Suspenseful and Perfectly Acted

Poignant, suspenseful and perfectly acted, The Climb is as rare as its unlikely central friendship -- and as full of humanity. - Sheila Benson, film critic

A solidly crafted film from the director Bob Swaim, The Climb is an engaging tale of growing up in the 1950's. - David Rooney, VARIETY

In a world where marketplace spin and the one-line pitch meeting has diminished movie-making to deplorably predictable levels, it is a joy to see Bob Swaim's multi-leveled and richly-textured new film. Instead of Hollywood clichés and cardboard figures, he gives us believable characters and situations alive with all the nuance of real life. Defying all easy categorization, THE CLIMB is destined to become a classic. -William Hjortzberg author (Falling Angel, Legend, Angel Heart)

.. one of those sterling independent films that sometimes unfortunately slip through cracks. ...THE CLIMB is a little jewel well worth seeking out... - Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune Movie Critic.

The Climb' is a moving coming-of-age drama with a juicy performance by John Hurt as a cantankerous, chain-smoking, bourbon-slugging geezer. David Strathairn displays his typical understated brilliance playing a father who redefines heroism. -Annette Insdorf, Columbia University

Brilliant cast, insightful and sensitive direction. Without question some of John Hurt's finest work. Bob Swaim grew through his high school years in California, and it shows, for unlike most Europeans his vision of US life is honest to the core though clearly his years in French cinema give him an intuition most Americans desperately lack about their own culture. -David Franzoni screenwriter, Citizen Cohn, Amistad, Gladiator,Jumpin' Jack Flash

Funny, touching and thought-provoking. An island of reality and humanity in a sea of effects films. - Daniel Will-Harris, editor, eFuse.com December 1, 1999

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