Backdrop image for movie Everest Unmasked

Everest Unmasked (1978)

Record of the first ascent of Everest made without the use of oxygen equipment, made in May 1978 by Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler. Could it be done? Would their blood vessels burst? Would they suffer brain damage leading to madness? Nobody was sure. Messner: 'I would never come here for trying Everest with oxygen. That is not a challenge for me.' A fascinating piece of history, well filmed by Leo Dickinson and Eric Jones (above the South Col Messner used a cine camera to continue the filming), featuring Messner and Habeler's thoughts. The film follows the usual sequence from Namche to Base Camp, through the Icefall, to Camps I, II and III. It also shows historical footage of the pioneering Mallory and Shipton expeditions.

  • Documentary

Top billed cast

  • Photo of Reinhold MessnerReinhold MessnerSelf
  • Photo of Peter HabelerPeter HabelerSelf
  • Photo of Leo DickinsonLeo DickinsonSelf
  • Photo of Wolfgang NairzWolfgang NairzSelf
  • Photo of Robert SchauerRobert SchauerSelf
  • Photo of Helli HagnerHelli HagnerSelf
  • Photo of Franz OppurgFranz OppurgSelf
  • Photo of Dawa Nuru SherpaDawa Nuru SherpaSelf
  • Photo of Raimund MargreiterRaimund MargreiterSelf
  • Photo of George MalloryGeorge MallorySelf (archive footage)

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