Americans on Everest
1963 USA
Duration: 53 mins
Overview
Narrated by Orson Welles, Americans on Everest documents the first U.S. team to successfully summit the world's highest mountain in May of 1963. Although this year’s special guest, Jim Whittaker, was the first American atop Everest, this film introduces you to the rest of the team, including Tom Hornbein and Willy Unsoeld who made the legendary first ascent from the peak’s West Ridge. The expedition, organized by National Geographic, resulted in this film that was the Geographic’s first television special. —DH