Richard Fleischer repeatedly turned down Dino De Laurentiis' overtures to direct the film. He ultimately relented when he realized that the best way to make the film was to shoot it straight and tell the story as truthfully as he could.
After a child of divorce is sent to a private Catholic school by his devout mother, his faith and morality are tested when he falls in love with a girl who requires him to commit sacrilegious acts to further their relationship.
An unflinching portrait of Dean Potter, the influential and controversial climber, base jumper and highline walker, who achieves jaw-dropping feats while battling his inner demons.