First on the Rope

First on the Rope (original title Premier de cordée) is a 1944 French drama directed by Louis Daquin. The film is based on Roger Frison-Roche's 1941 novel of the same name and is regarded as a faithful screen adaptation of that book. Shooting began in June 1943, at a time when France remained under German occupation, and the outdoor sequences were filmed in the French Alps around Mont Blanc. The sets were created by art director Lucien Aguettand. Even though Daquin was known for his Communist convictions, critics of the period judged the finished picture to reflect a Pétainist ideology, some going so far as to detect more extreme elements within it. The principal roles are played by Irène Corday, André Le Gall and Lucien Blondeau, with Jacques Dufilho and Guy Decomble also appearing in the cast. At roughly 106 minutes, it counts among the early French features concerned with the mountaineering world.