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Where Eagles Dare
(US, 1968)

Director: Brian G. Hutton, Screenplay: Alistair MacLean, Associate Producer: Denis Holt, Producer: Elliott Kastner, Music: Ron Goodwin, Cinematographer: Arthur Ibbetson, Film Editor: John Jympson, Art Director: Peter Mullins, Costume Designer: Arthur Newman, Makeup Artist: Tony Sforzini, Production Supervisor: Ted Lloyd, Second Unit Manager: Tom Sachs, Assistant Director: Colin M. Brewer, Second Unit Director: Yakima Canutt, Assistant Second Unit Director: Anthony Waye, Set Dresser: Arthur Taksen, Sound Editor: Jonathan Bates, Sound Recordist: John Bramall, Dubbing Mixer: J.B. Smith, Assistant Foley Artist, Peter Dobson, Special Effects: Fred Hellenburgh, Richard Parker, Photographic Effects: Tom Howard, Continuity: Penny Daniels, Conductor: Ron Goodwin, Dialogue Coach: Al Lettieri, Assistant to Producer: Marion Rosenberg, Assistant Editor: Alan Strachan, Second Unit Photographer: H.A.R. Thomson, Camera Operator: Paul Wilson, Production Assistant: Raymond Becket, Gaffer: Bob Bremner, Military Advisor: Brian L. Davis, Grip: Dennis Fraser, Process Projectionist Trainee: Steve Pickard, Stunts: Gillian Aldam, Peter Brace, Tim Condren, George Lane Cooper, Jack Cooper, Max Faulkner, Tex Fuller, Romo Gorrara, Richard Graydon, Alf Joint, Jimmy Lodge, Dave Newman, Terence Plummer, Eddie Powell, Joe Powell, Nosher Powell, Terry Richards, Doug Robinson, Bill Sawyer, Paul Stader, Jimmy Thong, Les White, David Wilding, Terry Yorke
Cast: Richard Burton (Maj. Jonathan Smith, MC), Clint Eastwood (Lt. Morris Schaffer), Mary Ure (Mary Elison), Patrick Wymark (Col. Wyatt Turner, DSO MC), Michael Hordern (Admiral Rolland), Donald Houston (Capt. James Christiansen), Peter Barkworth (Edward Berkeley), William Squire (Capt. Philip Thomas), Robert Beatty (General George Carnaby), Brook Williams (Sgt. Harrod), Neil McCarthy (Sgt. Jock MacPherson), Vincent Ball (Carpenter), Anton Diffring (SS-Standartenführer Kramer), Ferdy Mayne (Gen. Rosemeyer), Derren Nesbitt (SS-Sturmbandführer Von Happen), Victor Beaumont (Col. Weissner), Ingrid Pitt (Heidi), John G. Heller (German Major), Guy Deghy (Maj. Wilhelm Wilner), Olga Lowe (Lt. Anne-Marie Kernitser), Richard Beale (Telephone Orderly), Ivor Dean (German Officer #2), Max Faulkner (Sgt. Hartmann ), Lyn Kennington (German Woman), Nigel Lambert  (Young German Soldier ), Anton Rodgers (German officer at airfield), Michael Rooney (British Radio Operator), Jack Silk (German officer at ammunitions shed), Philip Stone (Sky Tram Operator ), Ernst Walder (Airport Control Officer), Jim Dowdall (Extra)

The 1960s were a period in which nostalgic WW2 action dramas such as Guns of Navarone (also based on an Alistair MacLean novel), The Great Escape or The Dirty Dozen proved wildly successful. Where Eagles Dare is another fine example for this kind of two dimensional, but thoroughly entertaining roller coaster ride of impressive stunt pieces.

The plot centres around an attempt to rescue an Allied General held captive in an apparently impenetrable Nazi mountain fortress and is full of twists and turns, intrigues, counter-intrigues and treachery. The film was shot by ex-TV director Brian G. Hutton who had previously never been involved in a project of this scale. He followed the success of this film with another Eastwood WW2 actioneer, Kelly’s Heroes, before he drifted more and more into obscurity again, never really fulfilling the promise he made with his most ambitious and successful movie.

Kudos must also go to stunt icon Yakima Canutt, who – as second unit director – was in charge of a good chunk of the film’s most ambitious action scenes and had to co-ordinate the efforts of some of the world’s most sought after stunt men: Christopher Lee’s regular stunt double Eddie Powell e.g. was this time hired to perform Clint Eastwood’s stunt scenes.

Where Eagles Dare proved to be Ingrid Pitt’s first international success. She was hired for the film after losing all her money in a poker round with John Wayne in Yakima Canutt’s house. Her role as Heidi – local freedom fighting lass who blasts her way through the Nazis – secured her a part in the film’s international public relations tour. She relished the thought of being wined and dined in Top Class hotels and restaurants. In her autobiography, however, she also recalled a chilling moment that brought her down to Earth: During a lavish reception in Las Vegas the MGM president donned a Hitler tache and SS cap and thanked the Nazis for being the biggest source of entertainment. When he gave the audience a “Heil Hitler!” salute, concentration camp survivor Pitt stormed out in protest.

Also look out for genre greats like Anton Diffring and Ferdy Mayne. Film Heavy Al Lettieri – Virgil “The Turk” Sollozo in The Godfather – was hired as dialogue coach.

Further Reading:

Where Eagles Dare Fansite

Read the original novel:

Buy the book from Amazon UK!

Buy:

Buy the Region 2 DVD from Amazon UK!