Alistair MacLean comes through again

Rating: 9/10 (13 December 1999)

This movie has much to commend it. As a conventional war movie, it falls short, but as an entertaining spy thriller set in central Europe during World War II, it succeeds admirably. Author Alistair MacLean is well-known for his willingness to step outside the normal conventions of war movies, and he delivers in Where Eagles Dare.
At three hours or so, this is a long film, but it always glides by for me. If you haven't yet seen it (or read MacLean's novel), you should have fun watching it and trying to guess at the numerous plot twists. I've seen the movie a handful of times and always enjoy watching the cinematography, the nicely done action sequences, and Richard Burton's performance. Although it is perhaps not quite as groomed as MacLean's The Guns of Navarone, it is at least as entertaining. (I have the feeling, however, that men probably will enjoy this film more than women. I've tried to get my wife to watch it at least twice, and she always falls asleep. Apologies to Burton and Eastwood.)
Give the film a shot. It's definitely worth the time spent.