Epic of Everest returns to the big screen

Posted by Tina Gardner on 27/08/2013
Somervell's music score of Tibetan folk songs. Photo: MHT

The newly-restored official film record of the legendary 1924 Everest expedition will be out in cinemas this autumn, 90 years on from its first release.

This record of the third British attempt to climb Everest is one of the most remarkable films in the British Film Institute (BFI) national archive.  The Epic of Everest (directed by Captain John Noel) will have a remarkable new score performed live by composer Simon Fisher Turner and a specially created musical ensemble.
 
The world premiere will be screened at the Odeon Leicester Square in London on Friday 18 October as part of the BFI London Film Festival. The film will be released in cinemas across the UK coinciding with the premiere.
 
Maxine Willett, Mountain Heritage Trust (MHT) archivist said: "The restoration and therefore access to such a monumental piece of mountaineering history is wondrous and two fold. It allows the viewer to experience the feelings of excitement and curiosity of those who originally queued to see the film on its initial release. Plus it enables the viewer to be caught up in the expedition as a whole and see it for the awe-inspiring endeavour it was, which still has reverberations throughout today’s mountaineering community."
 
The MHT archive holds a copy of Everest expedition member T Howard Somervell’s transposed musical score of Tibetan Folk Songs and was able to pass this on to composer Simon Fisher Turner for him to incorporate in the finished score. 
 
For more information about the film and festival you can download a press release or visit the British Film Institute (BFI) website.


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