In Sturm und Eis

Arnold Fanck's 1921 film Im Kampf mit dem Berge (alternative title: In Sturm und Eis) was rediscovered only a few years ago after it was lost, the second work to be so, for decades. Paul Hindemith's background music was written in a month during the summer of 1921 when Hindemith spent a few weeks at the film maker's villa. Fanck had documented the risky ascent to the frozen Lyskamm summit (4530 m) next to the Monte Rosa with a small team in the Valaisan Alps. Hindemith was present when Fanck finished the cutting and showed the film. He offered to work with Fanck and their enthusaistic and successful collaboration created one of the first original compositions of German silent film art.