Death on the Matterhorn

Reaching a height of 14,692 feet, the imposing peak known as The Matterhorn straddles the border of Switzerland and Italy. During the mid-nineteenth century, ambitious climbers from both countries raced to be the first to the top. On July 14, 1865, a team of Swiss climbers triumphed, besting their Italian competitors by a mere 1,250 feet. However, their victory was marred when four of the seven winning mountaineers fell to their deaths during the descent, with the remaining three surviving only because the rope connecting them to their unlucky companions snapped. The event has been shrouded in mystery ever since – did the rope really just break, or was it cut? Using gripping re-enactments, visits to historical locations, and interviews with experts, the documentary DEATH ON THE MATTERHORN takes a fresh look at this 150-year-old murder mystery.