jc-osms I came to this movie after reading author Alastair MacLean's novelisation of the film, not realising that unlike earlier film adaptations of his books, this time the film came first. Actually I preferred the book anyway as for me both Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood didn't suggest themselves to me as the actors who would portray Commander Smith and Major Schaffer. In fact I'd argue that they're both miscast anyway, Burton is way too old and bulky for an action movie of this type and Eastwood is too taciturn and cold in his part, probably killing more Germans than the words of dialogue he speaks. There's no real sense of camaraderie between them either.The story is naturally reminiscent of the writer's earlier success "The Guns Of Navarone", being another seemingly impossible mission to an impregnable location by a small team of crack soldiers, led by an older man with of course treachery in the air within and without the group itself. There are lots of derring action sequences including several explosions, car chases and especially the climactic scenes on top of a descending cable-car, however Eastwood's own wry rechristening of the film as "Where Doubles Dare" is borne out in almost every scene of exertion or danger as the director invariably cuts to stunt men and women in bulked up weatherproof gear, shot from the back to mask their features.In supporting roles, I liked the work of Mary Ure and Derren Nesbitt better than the leads, the former as the utility girl who secretly joins the group, the latter as a high-ranking Aryan- looking S.S. Captain but Peter Barkworth for one is wasted, barely speaking a line as one of the minor members of the team, he was of course later put to better use in this kind of setting in the BBC's long-running TV series "Colditz".The body count is pretty high throughout with the Germans as usual in films like this inexplicably missing our heroes when it's easier to shoot them, plus there are a number of jarringly obvious old-fashioned process shots in the days before green-screen. It's still a decent actioner evocatively shot in winter against a dramatic Alpine backdrop, but, like Burton in the lead role, it does rather show its age at times.

jovana-13676 Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood get along fine - Richard does the talking and Clint sticks to his one-liners, which turns out to be a great technique against the Nazis. The film is packed with clever action scenes, explosions and there's a fair share of pretty ladies, too (Ingrid Pitt - who could resist?). The cable car scenes are breathtaking, and so is the scenery. It's an upbeat wartime action flick.

Spikeopath Directed by Brian G. Hutton and adapted to the screen from his own novel by Alistair MacLean, Where Eagles Dare stars Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. Music is scored by Ron Goodwin and cinematography is by Arthur Ibbetson.A small group of allied agents are sent on a mission to rescue a Allied General from a Nazi castle stronghold. But there is more than what meets the eye here...Boys own men on a mission in grandiose strokes, MacLean's complex story makes for riveting and exciting entertainment. The story twists and turns like a Python, so full attention to conversational details is very much required, yet it's the fun and kinetic action that holds the most attention. There are stunts galore amongst the Austrian Alps (beautifully photographed by Ibbetson), and as the espionage hokum reaches its crescendo status, so does the explosions, with the makers wasting no opportunity to blow everything up. Burton is classy and enjoying himself, Eastwood laconic and cool, while good support comes from Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, Michael Hordern and Donald Houston. The running time is a touch too long as MacLean's prose is given weighty treatment for extended chatter, and some back projection work feels unnecessarily cheap, but this is good old machismo fuelled classic cinema regardless. 9/10

wadorich If you're a war movie fan don't think about it just watch this movie and you won't be disappointed! For me this movie and "The Great Escape" are two of the greatest WW2 films ever made I highly recommend them both. It has a great storyline/sequence of events and the acting is great especially the non-German actors playing German characters. Clint Eastwood is great as always and this is one of Richard Burton's greatest films as well. I must also note that the soundtrack composed/conducted by Ron Goodwin is stupendous and one of my favorites. Anyway, get this movie and watch it even if you have to order a Netflix DVD!