Gripping story of a WWII secret mission
DVD Collector, movie guru, Action film aficionado
| Pros |
|
| Cons |
|
APR
22
2008
In the wake of The Dirty Dozen, a bevy of fictional WWII secret mission films were released by Hollywood.
Where Eagles Dare, was written by Alistair MacLean, one of the more successful novelists of the era, whose credits also include The Guns of Navarone, which made a blockbuster movie hit in 1961.
The story is reminiscent of that of The Dirty Dozen where a picked commando team is inserted behind enemy lines to penetrate a German castle where an American general is being held captive. Part of the plan is also to come back alive, although that idea, in light of the odds, is pretty far fetched.
Richard Burton is the leader of the team and it is all British save one American, played by Clint Eastwood, at his scowling best. These picked men each have invaluable specific skills like a Green Beret team or, in other words, like one of Alistair MacLean's typical fictional teams, for example, the crew in The Guns of Navarone. Clint Eastwood's particular skill is killing, and he is good at it, although it's hard to tell if he enjoys his work as he invariably has his patented scowl on. The other four or five members really do not enter into the picture as Eastwood and Burton have enough killing power between them to take on half the German army by themselves!
Once into the Alpine fastnesses of Germany, they meet up with a pair of Allied agents - feminine Allied agents, that are good looking. With the help of their contacts, the heroes then penetrate the Schloss Adler, the German HQ for their Alpine Division, as well as the prison where the US general is being kept. There are plenty of harrowing developments to keep you engrossed and the action is bracing when it erupts, making the movie seem shorter than it actually is. Both Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood are at the top of their game and they carry the movie admirably.
The story has lots of twists and turns and pretty soon you realize that the whole mission was a cover up to smoke out a mole within the British Intelligence service. I'll let you watch yourself to see how it comes out.
The director, Brian Hutton, did a great job, especially with the action set pieces. They were believable and scary. There is a fight on a cable car that is among the best action pieces ever filmed. The score, by Ron Goodwin, is epic and suits the visuals very well.
The Warner Bros DVD is presented in 2.35:1 theatrical format in color with a 155 minute running time.
Fans of action and adventure or WWII will love Where Eagles Dare.
Last edited on Apr 22, 2008
Where Eagles Dare is recommended by GeorgeChabot
 |
Search Amazon.com for Where Eagles Dare prices |
Comments about GeorgeChabot’s Review
More reviews by GeorgeChabot
300 Review - "Bogus as a Three Hundred dollar bill: 300"
Harley-Davidson Road King Classic - 2009 Motorcycle Review - "Ride em,...
Hangmen Also Die Review - "WWII Drama showing Czech Resistance: Hangmen...Harley-Davidson FLHTCUSE Screamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide -...
