Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Talk about an adventure for the boys...

I'm dreadfully sorry, ladies, but this truly is a 'manly' film, for the boys in us who like dastardly heroes doing dastardly things and saving the world against the horrors of the Third Reich. Sure, there are a total of two plucky ladies in this one, but gender equality is not really high on the agenda here.

It also doesn't matter for this story, to be honest.

Written by Alistair Maclean, that might give you some idea as to where it all goes. A crack team of spies is sent behind enemy lines to rescue an American general who was captured. Problem is that he's held in Schloss Adler, which is a nigh impenetrable fortress on the top of a mountain. And shortly after landing, they discover there is a traitor in their midst...

Will they succeed or suck eggs?

This film stars Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, what do you think?

They both play very well off each other. Eastwood is his stoic self, actually rather close to the Man With No Name he played in the classic Sergio Leone-westerns. He also does most of the action oriented stuff. Burton is the suave Briton, who has the gift for gab. Pretty well done, considering he was mostly drunk off his rocker whilst filming this, apparently. You'd never notice.

Even though this is a fairly long film (about two and a half hours), it never gets boring. Sure, the pace isn't flashy, but for a film made in '68, it moves pretty swiftly. The action setpieces are cool (for example the chase with the bus) and the film has quite a lot of suspense going for it.

Probably my favourite scene in the entire film is a rather laidback one, where Burton is talking to a table surrounded by German commanders and he switches effortlessly between plots in plots in plots. It's a lot of fun to watch. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Eastwood's look of surprise and bewilderment was real. This scene is Burton on a roll and proof that he was a bloody good actor and a consummate professional, despite his drinking problem.

Not a lot to say, this is one fun adventure/spy romp and I thoroughly enjoy it every time I rewatch it.

Also: if you recognize Ingrid Pitt in this one, you have won extra goodwill points from me. Because that lady is legend. And if you don't know who Ingrid Pitt is, find out. Especially about her life's story. You'll be amazed.