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Home > DVD > Where Eagles Dare (1969)
Where Eagles Dare (1969)

List Price : CDN$ 18.70
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Editorial Reviews: 
Scorned by reviewers when it came out, this concentrated dose of commando death-dealing to legions of Nazi machine-gun fodder has acquired a cult over the years. In 1968 Clint Eastwood was just getting used to the notion that he might be a world-class movie star; Richard Burton, whose image had been shaped equally by classical theater training and his headline-making romance with Elizabeth Taylor, was eager to try on the action ethos Eastwood was already nudging toward caricature. Alistair MacLean's novel The Guns of Navarone had inspired the film that started the '60s vogue for World War II military capers, so he was prevailed on to write the screenplay (his first). The central location, an impregnable Alpine stronghold locked in ice and snow, is surpassing cool, but the plot and action are ultra-mechanical, and the switcheroo gamesmanship of just who is the undercover double (triple?) agent on the mission becomes aggressively silly. --Richard T. Jameson


Custom Reviews: 
Well done and intriguing spy story.
5 out of 5 stars.
If you're looking for a simple and common shoot'em up and blow'em up war movie, then this won't be a good choice for you.

This movie has a complex plot, and it focuses on that other than simple guns and shooting and killing that so many war movies focus on. There is an intricate spy story in this movie, and those who wish for simple action will miss the compelling plot that Alistar Maclean wrote specifically for this movie. (He wrote the screenplay before he wrote the actual novel).

Richard Burton was an excellent choice as the British spy, and his sidekick Clint Eastwood was another fine choice. They both play their parts very well. Some may say that Richard Burton is 'over the top' in this movie, well, you are correct. But Richard Burton ALWAYS plays his parts like that. Anybody who knows the work of the screen legend would not accept otherwise.

Do not listen to the naysayers here. This is an excellent movie that gets right into the thick of things very quickly. There is no annoying sub-plot. Everything may seem overwhelming at first glance, but there's a reason behind everything done and said. As I said prior - pay attention, you are watching one of the best war/action/adventure movies ever made.

Pay attention when you watch this one.

Commando raid at its most ludicrous
3 out of 5 stars.
OK. Stellar star cast. I'll give you that and no dearth of action as well. But to portray the German Fallschirmjaeger and alpine troops as a bunch of bungling flat footed idiots is a little far fetched. It is history at its worst portrayal and hollywood action at its golden peak. Some dumbass marine from New Jersey might fall for this drivel but not well read students of history. It gets failing grade for portrayal of reality based fiction but gets high marks for choice of location and choice of cast. If you want a better war flick, pick Operation Daybreak.

Whats up with the dubbing
3 out of 5 stars.
I happened to think that this was a cool movie.
Being a ex-marine I understand that alot of this
if not all of it is fantasy but hey its a movie not a documentary its suppose to be fun. My main concern was the dubbing was this an american movie or european ? it was Burtons and Eastwoods voices on the film but it was advanced meaning the sound occured before the action now I dont know if it was my dvd player I dont think so but man that was annoying

Yeah, I thought he looked a little nuts!
5 out of 5 stars.
Richard Burton was in need of hit, as his last several films didn't do great. He had seen The Guns of Navarone and liked the idea. So after talking to the author of the book Alistair MacLean, an idea was developed. Six weeks later MacLean handed Burton a copy of the script he had wrote called. "Where Eagles Dare." Burton stars as (Major Smith)a tough British Commando who leads a group of seven men into a rough mountain area located in the Alpines . Eastwood is (Lt Schaffer) the only American in the bunch. Although the group that lands in the mountains understands what their for (to rescue an American General who knows information about the upcoming D-Day landings) questions are still unanswered. Unkown to anyone except for Major Smith is Mary Elison (Mary Ure) who is there to help in the mission because she has connections with the Germans and SS! As Major Smith and Lt. Schaffer walk to the town around the castle in German uniforms they get a first hand account of what they are really in for. Rescue a American General and then get away. Suicide mission nonetheless, they take it and run. What happens in the first hour is nothing to what takes place in the hour plus that follows. Where the film gets touchy is the scene of the undercover agent. It takes place in a room with Nazi officals as well with Schaffer and Smith. What Elison is really along for during the mission is answered quickly (To get info and bail out Schaffer and Smith if and when they need it.) This is where the action starts and doesn't quite till the end. Some is well done and real, other parts aren't as well done. Filmed at great locations in Europe you can feel how cold and dangerous it was. I won't give away what else happens. It's a classic WWII war film with lots of action, shooting and explosions. Grade: B+

Riveting
4 out of 5 stars.
Yes Simon...there were helicopters in WWII. Ever here of the German made Focke-Wulf FW-61 developed in 1936? Awesome movie, with lots of great action and storyline. A must for war movie buffs and Burton fans alike.




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