The Climb

Story

Synopsis

Baltimore, 1959. Danny's dad is the only man in the neighborhood who didn't fight in World War II. Danny, who's 12, gets teased and folks make nasty cracks about cowards. An old radio tower on a nearby hill is about to be torn down, and Danny decides to climb it to prove his courage. Help comes from an aging neighbor, Old Man Langer, a former construction foreman who's dying of cancer and wants Danny to help him commit suicide. Langer rigs pulleys and weights to help the lad make the climb. Meanwhile, an aggressive and angry neighbor (an army vet) regularly gets drunk and shoots off his rifle, and Danny's dad must confront him. It all comes to a head one stormy night.

Director

Bob Swaim

Writers

Vince McKewin

Language

English

Country

Canada, France, New Zealand

Release date

11 March 1998

Ensemble

Cast

• 

  John Hurt

  Chuck Langer

• 

  Gregory Smith

  Danny Himes

• 

  David Strathairn

  Earl Himes

• 

  Stephen McHattie

  Jack McLaskin

• Seth Smith

  Andy Sweeney

• 

  Sarah Buxton

  Ruth Langer

• 

  Marla Sokoloff

  Leslie Himes

• Matthew Ness

  Wayne Barto

• 

  Michael Saccente

  Ed Langer

• Tina Regtien

  Eileen Barto

• Oliver Hodges

  Tommy Sweeney

• 

  Michael Galvin

  Father Cronin