Where Eagles Dare

Rating: 8/10 (28 September 2007)

Many people had told me that this is one of the best classic war films ever made, and certainly is one of the most exciting classics, from director Brian G. Hutton (Kelly's Heroes). Set in World War II, a British aircraft is shot down and crashes in Nazi territory, an American General, the only survivor, is captured, and he has full knowledge of D-Day. The British decide to try and rescue him so that he does not talk, led by Maj. Jonathan Smith, MC (Richard Burton), along with American Ranger Lt. Morris Schaffer (Clint Eastwood), which confuses him (being involved with the British). Parachuting to the snowy ground, one of the soldiers is killed, what looks like purposely, so there is much more than just a rescue mission. The most exciting scenes are those in the German mountain castle where Smith and Schaffer along with the other good guys are trying to escape with hostages, but are ending up running into many Nazis, having to set bombs, and stealing cable cars and buses, till eventually they get to the plane. Oh, and they also find out one of their allies is actually a bad guy, and he jumped out the plane to commit suicide. Also starring Mary Ure as Mary Ellison, Michael Hordern as Adm. Rolland; Patrick Wymark as Col. Wyatt Turner, DSO MC, Robert Beatty as Gen. George Carnaby, Anton Diffring as SS-Standartenführer Kramer, Donald Houston as Capt. James Christiansen, Ferdy Mayne as Gen. Rosemeyer, Ingrid Pitt as Heidi, Peter Barkworth as Edward Berkeley, William Squire as Capt. Philip Thomas, Brook Williams as Sgt. Harrod, Derren Nesbitt as SS-Sturmbannführer Von Hapen, Neil McCarthy as Sgt. Jock MacPherson, Vincent Ball as Carpenter and Victor Beaumont as Col. Weissner. This is one of those essential classics with the most exciting from the middle to the end, a great performance from Eastwood, and almost a James Bond type feel to it, a lot of fun! Clint Eastwood was number 18 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, and he was number 61 on The 100 Greatest Pop Culture Icons, and the film was number 21 on The 100 Greatest War Films. Very good!