Doomed Battalion
Cast & Crew
Cyril Gardner
Luis Trenker
Tala Birell
Victor Varconi
Albert Conti
Henry Armetta
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1914, Arturo Franchini climbs the pinnacle of Devil's Peak in the Dolomites with his Austrian friend and guide, Florian Dimai. When they hear the bells of Corvere peal, they climb down to the town and find that Austria has declared war. Arturo returns to Rome, while Florian receives his orders and reluctantly leaves his pregnant wife, Maria. By 1915, Italy has joined the war against Austria, and Arturo is sent to Corvere under orders to take the mountain outpost of Collalto, which is the last post to hold out against Italian forces. Arturo stays with Maria, as the war has not changed their friendship, and both are unaware that Florian is stationed nearby on Collalto. A year passes, and Florian and his troops suffer deprivation because of severe mountain snowstorms, and an avalanche that kills their supply troops. Still, they resist the attacks of the Italian forces. Finally, Arturo conceives of a plan to drill into Collalto, then dynamite the tunnel to destroy the outpost. Aware that the Italians are up to something, Florian's lieutenant sends him with a detachment to Devil's Peak, where they discover that the Italians are undermining Collalto. Florian's climbing partner is shot, but Florian returns safely to make his report. The troops are ordered to stay on Collalto, no matter the cost, as it is the most important part of the front. One day, the drilling stops, and the Austrians realize they are doomed unless they can learn the exact time the mines are to be set off, so that they can abandon their post, then return to fight. Florian volunteers to go to Corvere and determine the time, as he knows the mountains intimately. He steals a uniform and skis from the Italian encampment and skiis down to Corvere. Florian surprises his wife, who is thrilled to see he is safe, and while Florian is hiding, Arturo's orderly, Angelo, tells Maria that Collalto will be blasted at six o'clock. Maria pleads with Florian to stay with her, but he adamantly insists on returning to Collalto, and while she goes to get the son he has never seen, he slips out and makes the trip back to his post. The Italians bombard the Austrian outpost, and an Austrian soldier shoots Florian in the arm, believing him to be an Italian. Florian warns his troops just in time to save them from the blast, and they recapture Collalto. After the war, Arturo and Florian, who has lost an arm, return to Devil's Peak once more as friends.
Director
Cyril Gardner
Cast
Luis Trenker
Tala Birell
Victor Varconi
Albert Conti
Henry Armetta
Gustav Von Seyffertitz
C. Henry Gordon
Gibson Gowland
Crew
Sepp Allgeier
Dr. Giuseppe Becce
Albert Benitz
Charles Delac
Roman Freulich
Martin Glouner
Karl Hartl
Karl Hartl
C. Roy Hunter
Patrick Kearney
Walter R. Koessler
Paul Kohner
Clarence Kolster
Jacob Kull
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle
John Martin
Paul Perez
Maurice Pivar
Charles Stumar
Luis Trenker
Luis Trenker
Luis Trenker
Dale Van Every
Marcel Vandal
Giovanni Vitrotti
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
A German Tonfilm production based on the same source, called Berge in Flammen, directed by Karl Hartl and Luis Trenker and starring Luis Trenker, Lissy Arna and Luigi Serventi, was released in Germany in September 1931. Based on credits and contemporary reviews, portions of the German film appear to have been incorporated into the Universal version. Principally filmed on location in Austria, the Universal version was completed at Universal City. Doomed Battalion also credited the following members of the German production: Producer Marcel Vandal and Charles Delac; Photography Sepp Allgeier, Albert Benitz and Giovanni Vitrotti; Music Giuseppe Becce. The working title was Mountains in Flame. Although the role of "Innerhofer," played by Gibson Gowland, is credited in reviews and included in the copyright synopsis, he did not appear in the viewed print. Motion Picture Herald notes that New York's Rivoli Theatre projected the film on a "wide screen" and states that the picture has "among the most impressive photographic effects ever caught by a film camera" of skiing and mountain scenes. In addition, the Variety review predicted that "Stumar-Allgeier's work will rate an award of some sort," while New York Times commented that "the genuine artistry of the work in this picture is striking." According to a news item in Film Daily, the Washington premiere, which cost three dollars per ticket, was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, and was heralded by a Goodyear blimp floating over the theater.
