Product: When Eight Bells Toll [VHS] (1972)
Rating: 4.0
a very good adaptation of alistair maclean's maritime thriller...
Scottish author Alistair MacLean (1922-87) specialized in tales of adventure and suspense, and with MacLean himself responsible for the screenplay, When Eight Bells Toll (1971) is one of the better screen adaptations of his books. The movie does a nice job of capturing the atmosphere of the novel, and the spirit of the characters, while spicing up the ending for a more exciting and cinematic finish.Typical for MacLean, what is happening is shrouded in some mystery, which unfolds as Treasury agent Philip Calvert (Anthony Hopkins) conducts an investigation into the happenings along the Scottish coast, where a number of ships carrying shipments of gold bullion have mysteriously vanished. Eventually his attention is centered on shipping tycoon Sir Anthony Skouras (Jack Hawkins), and his yacht the Shangri-La.Also operating from a boat, Calvert gets his orders via radio from Sir Arthur Arnford-Jones (aka "Uncle Arthur") who is played with great gusto by Robert Morley. Calvert gains valuable information while checking the coastline in a helicopter, but is nearly killed when the chopper is shot down, and slides into the sea. Managing to get back to his ship, Calvert is joined by Uncle Arthur, and later by Skouras' wife Charlotte (Nathalie Delon), who says that her husband has been associating with undesirable types, and has plans to stop Calvert.Featuring settings with mostly overcast skies, When Eight Bells Toll has a moist and dreary atmosphere. Calvert operates similar to James Bond, and the film includes a number of nicely executed action scenes, including some which are undersea. A community wide deception, which is at the heart of the matter, is a bit of a stretch, but it seems to play rather smoothly, as does the recruitment of local fisherman to help in the cause.Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs,The Edge) does an excellent job of carrying the film. Calvert is extremely resourceful, and capable of great ruthlessness, repeatedly killing in cold blood without hesitation. Hopkins pulls it off well, without seeming fake or overly smug. Hardly known as a man of action, Robert Morley (Theater of Blood) is nonetheless very convincing, as a desk jockey who battles seasickness, and rises to the occasion, when pressed into frontline service.Staying fairly true to the source material, this effort should appeal to most MacLean fans, and is also a solid recommendation to those looking for some 70's style intrigue and adventure. Unfortunately the film is not yet available on Region 1 DVD. Image quality of the 2011 Region 2 PAL release by JL Entertainment is good, although color saturation seems a bit light. There are no extras except a trailer, but the film is subtitled in English.