A compelling new one-hour documentary recounts the true mission impossible of the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division during WWII. After backbreaking training, the legendary alpine fighting force was sent to dislodge the entrenched Germans on Italy’s mountaintops. The rest is history. The 10th turned the tide for the Allies in Italy, revolutionized winter mountain warfare, transformed winter sports and inspired a new generation of soldiers.
Buy Last Ridge, The: The 10th Mountain Division on DVD.
uring World War II, the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division embarked on a true mission impossible, giving new meaning to the phrase “uphill battle”. Now a compelling new one-hour documentary recounts their remarkable history as a legendary alpine fighting force. Although 10th soldiers were superstars, they quickly learned that winter, mountains and the invincible German Army were a deadly combination. The 10th Mountain Division’s claim to fame begins with the Germans entrenched in Italy’s heavily fortified mountaintops, blocking the Allied advance. After losing 15,000 soldiers attempting to capture this critical high ground, U.S. Army brass called up the 10th Mountain Division, and the rest is history. The 10th Mountain turned the tide for the Allies in Italy, revolutionized winter mountain warfare, inspired a new generation of soldiers and transformed winter sports.
Today’s extreme sports have nothing on the 10th. The 10th invented extreme sports – and then used that skill and determination in battle. The Last Ridge: The Uphill Battles of the 10th Mountain Division takes an active history approach to breakthrough to younger viewers, weaving together re-creations, eyewitness accounts, 3-D animation, Allied and captured German archival footage and newly discovered letters. The film also looks at how the current 10th Mountain Division is taking the legacy from here, featuring 10th soldiers patrolling in Afghanistan, and the wounded recuperating in Army hospitals. The 10th Mountain story begins during backbreaking training. Soldiers lived outdoors in extreme -34 C cold for weeks at a time shouldering 40 kilo backpacks at altitudes approaching 4267 meters. There were no tanks, no trucks, no jeeps. Just the men, their skis and whatever they could carry.
10th Mountain descendant and producer Abbie Kealy filmed extensively in Italy, Afghanistan, Slovenia and across the U.S. to recount the story of the highest mountains, the toughest conditions, and the most extraordinary soldiers. “We hoped to make the program of record about the 10th but it’s turned out to be a story that transcends time,” reflects Kealy. “The 10th Mountain Division are part of history, making history, and changing history.”
Details
LENGTH: 1 x 60 Minutes
FORMAT: Special
CAMERA: Digibeta
INTERNATIONAL TRACK: Yes
TEXTLESS: Yes
CLOSED CAPTIONS: No
ASPECT RATIO: 4:3
PRODUCTION YEAR: 2007
RELEASE YEAR: 2007
SUPPLIER: Abbie Kealy, Inc.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
RIGHTS TERRITORY: Worldwide exclusive of USA
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