The Ascent (1994): cast, story & where to watch
1994 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1994, The Ascent is an adventure and war film directed by Donald Shebib, running about 96 minutes.
What it’s about. The real-life adventure of a dashing Italian soldier who escapes a British prisoner-of-war camp because he dreams of climbing 17,000-foot Mt. Kenya and planting the Italian flag at the summit. The obsessive British camp commander pursues him, and the two men are locked in a battle of wills, fuelled by honor and their love for the same woman.
Who’s in it. The Ascent stars Vincent Spano as Franco Distassi, Ben Cross as Major Farrell, Tony Lo Bianco as Aldo and Mark Ingall as Sergeant Thomas, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, The Ascent has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Ascent page.
If you liked it. Fans of The Ascent tend to enjoy The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception, Interstellar and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The Ascent (1994)?
- In US, The Ascent is available to stream on Shout! Factory Amazon Channel. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The Ascent worth watching?
- The Ascent holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy adventure and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The Ascent?
- The Ascent stars Vincent Spano, Ben Cross, Tony Lo Bianco, Mark Ingall and Rachel Ward.
- When was The Ascent released?
- The Ascent was released in 1994, with a runtime of about 96 minutes.