Synopsis: Baltimore, 1959. Danny's dad is the only man in the neighborhood who didn't fight in World War II and Danny, now twelve, gets teased for it. An old radio tower on a nearby hill is about to be torn down, and Danny decides to climb it to prove his own courage. Help comes from an aging neighbor, "old man Langer", a former construction foreman who's dying of lung 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.

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

Favorite Quotes:
• "Go climb stuff." - Chuck Langer

• "I didn't have a heart murmur, Jack. I had a breakdown. But when the war broke out, they wouldn't take me. I wanted to go like everybody else, but they don't take head cases." - Earl

Notes:
• David and co-star Stephen McHattie both previously appeared in Call Me before reuniting for The Climb.

Production Notes:
(Excerpts from Spellbound Pictures Press Release:)

• David Strathairn, who plays Gregory's father--a widower with a few ghosts in his past--says he grabbed the opportunity to appear in the movie. "When I read the script I said immediately, yes, yea, yes please! I love stories like this. It reminded me of My Life as Dog and What's Eating Gilbert Grape--there's a warm eccentricity, in a real life situation.

"Then I heard it was going to be shot in New Zealand, and with John Hurt--I couldn't believe my luck. In fact, I actually get to say only a few lines with him!"

Critical Praise & Commentary:
• "David Strathairn displays his typical understated brilliance playing a father who redefines heroism." -Annette Insdorf, Columbia University

• "...Strathairn is both likable and understated..." -Brian Koller, Filmsgraded.com

• "Strathairn excels, Hurt is terrific!" -Curtis Morgan, Miami Herald

• "Smith is plucky and appealing, and Strathairn creates sympathy for a character written without much edge." -David Rooney, Variety

(Marla Sokoloff On David:)
• "I've met a lot of cool people. I think one of the best people I've worked with--excluding The Practice, because they're all great--I did a movie [The Climb] with John Hurt a few years ago and David Strathairn played my dad and he was such a talented, nice guy. He was one of the most amazing people I've ever worked with." -Marla Sokoloff, co-star (Leslie Himes)

Related Links:
Official U.S. Site (off site)
The Climb (in French) (off site)