In 1971, American Norman Dyhrenfurth led an expedition of 30 climbers from 13 different countries, including Don Whillans, Dougal Haston, Naomi Uemura, Pierre Mazeaud, Michel Vaucher, and others. This expedition aimed to simultaneously climb the southwest face and the direct west ridge. During the ascent, Indian climber Harsh Vardhan Bahuguna perished at Camp 3 in a storm. The expedition, already suffering from organizational problems, was severely tested after his death. The Americans decided, unilaterally, to abandon the west ridge. The Europeans, who had spent days equipping the route, were left out and felt relegated to the roles of route setters and porters. Frenchman Pierre Mazeaud, Swiss climbers Michel and Yvette Vaucher, and Italian Carlo Mauri then left the expedition. The Americans continued their ascent of the southwest face up to 8,350 meters before giving up.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Norman DyhrenfurthSelf | Self |
 Michel VaucherSelf | Self |
 Yvette VaucherSelf | Self |
 Pierre MazeaudSelf | Self |
 Carlo MauriSelf | Self |
 Don WhillansSelf | Self |
 Harsh Vardhan BahugunaSelf | Self |
 Paul ScofieldNarrator | Narrator |
| WWolfgang AxtSelf | Self |
| OOdd EliassenSelf | Self |
| DDuane BlumeSelf | Self |
| AArthur ChestermanSelf | Self |
| JJohn CleareSelf | Self |
| GGary ColliverSelf | Self |
 Dougal HastonSelf | Self |
| TToni HiebelerSelf | Self |
| JJane HowellSelf | Self |
| DDavid F. IslesSelf | Self |
| RReizo ItohSelf | Self |
| NNed KellySelf | Self |
| BBill KurbanSelf | Self |
| DDave PetersonSelf | Self |
| MMurray SayleSelf | Self |
| LLeo SchlömmerSelf | Self |
| PPeter SteeleSelf | Self |
| IIan StuartSelf | Self |
| JJerzy SurdelSelf | Self |
| JJon TeiglandSelf | Self |
| NNaomi UemuraSelf | Self |
| AAnthony ThomasSelf | Self |