"Major, you got me as confused as I'll ever be".

Rating: 8/10 (10 July 2008)

Where Eagles Dare is a novel by Alistair MacLean a Scottish author who specialized in well-researched, suspenseful war novels. From opening scene to final scene Alistair MacLean's screenplay is a masterpiece of the action genre with a detailed and involving plot that unfolds in a very interesting manner.
Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood are in terrific form as leaders of a mission deep behind enemy lines. The mission for Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood is to infiltrate the most inaccessible castle in the world to rescue an important American general right from under the noses of the Germans. The only way to get into the castle is via a cable car. Dressed as German soldiers, they... well, I had better leave it at that, otherwise I will give the game away. What they and the audience don't suspect is the number of twists and turns this highly thrilling film will take. Also excellent performances from Michael Hordern as British Vice Adm. Rolland and Derren Nesbitt as Nazi Major von Harpen support the performances of Burton and Eastwood.
The cinematography is breathtaking, the snow capped Alps are all around the fortress. The sets are also well made and convincing. The characters are a little shallow, especially the credulity of the Germans, but that is what one would expect in such a far-fetched plot! This movie is about action and adventure! There's also a neat plot twist in store when the commandoes manage to reach the American general -- which leads to yet another twist. The vertigo-inducing climax has made Where Eagles Dare one of the most sought-after of "early" Eastwood starring features.
Where Eagles Dare is one of those war films which have a great deal going for it, although falling into some typical traps. Even so, I found it to be entertaining enough to have watched it on a number of occasions.
Some of the action sequences look a little ropey, but generally this is an impressive film of the type they don't make any more, unfortunately.