Main content

The pioneer of 'Mountain Filming'

How a German filmmaker, Arnold Fanck, shot films high in the mountains in the 1920s. He and his team even attached cameras to their skis to make their early action films.

In 1920 a German filmmaker called Arnold Fanck shot his first film - 'Marvels of the Snowshoe' - high in the mountains. He and his team dragged cameras on sledges to reach the highest peaks. They even attached cameras to their skis to make the early action films. Johannes Dell has been watching some of those films and talking to his grandson Matthias Fanck.

Photo: A still from one of Fanck's early Mountain Films. Copyright: Matthias Fanck.

Available now

9 minutes

Last on

Wed 9 Dec 202003:50GMT
BBC World Service

More episodes

Previous

The life and work of Chester Himes

Next

Chief Albert Luthuli wins the Nobel Prize for Peace

See all episodes from Witness History

Broadcasts

  • Tue 8 Dec 202008:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Tue 8 Dec 202012:50GMT
    BBC World Service
  • Tue 8 Dec 202018:50GMT
    BBC World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
  • Tue 8 Dec 202023:50GMT
    BBC World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
  • Wed 9 Dec 202003:50GMT
    BBC World Service

Podcast