Where Eagles Dare (1969)

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

While this is considered a "Men's Movie", it a bit too long and too dull in parts. It's also full of inaccuracies such as the Germans having a Helicopter. Clint Eastwood as a stone killer is the first best part of this, Ingrid Pitt is the second best. While it's worth watching once in a while, it's not a classic in any way.

Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood get along fine - Richard does the talking and Clint sticks to his one-liners, which turns out to be a great technique against the Nazis. The film is packed with clever action scenes, explosions and there's a fair share of pretty ladies, too (Ingrid Pitt - who could resist?). The cable car scenes are breathtaking, and so is the scenery. It's an upbeat wartime action flick.

Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton are brilliant and have very good chemistry in this World War 2 classic. The picture has a lot more than just action going for it, I personally enjoyed the talkative side and most importantly the revelations that occur throughout, but one particular scene that really stood out is when Burton and Eastwood storm in on a celebration, and make the Germans feel very uncomfortable with a bit of good old fashioned trickery, the writers and the director ensure the dialogue is enthralling and the camera angles are competently done to maintain a thrilling atmosphere and the appropriate level of tension. Brian G. Hutton's film also keeps the factor of surprise around, ensuring that the film is not predictable, Alistair Maclean's screenplay is impressive, there's plenty of great moments including a scene that clearly inspired Quentin Tarantino, as there is a similar plot device within his film, though here it's not as violent nor as inventive, it's still another very good scene in a superb motion picture.Among the supporting cast is Mary Ure, who plays an undercover agent, aiding the Brits and Eastwood. The picture is competently acted all round and some are very impressive, especially Richard Burton who steals the film away from a very good Clint, I also admired the well-choreographed action and shootouts, and the nice cinematography that showcase some nice shots of terrific scenery and well-chosen locations. The film may be extremely long, but it felt captivating, enthralling and always entertaining containing a mild but good sense of humour, complete with a satisfying conclusion, Where Eagles Dare is a Great War picture with a compelling storyline, superb writing, impressive action scenes and strong performances from both Burton and Eastwood.

When an American general is captured by the Germans and taken to an Alpine castle a small team is sent to free him before he can be forced to give the Germans plans for the opening of a second front. This is a British operation led by Major Smith; it includes five other British soldiers and American Lt Schaffer. All of them are fluent German speakers; something that is essential as they will be infiltrate the castle in German uniforms.Once they parachute into Germany things start to go wrong; one of the group is found dead; Smith announces that he broke his neck but it is clear that he knows the man was killed. Smith's behaviour quickly show that there are parts of the operation that other members of the team are being kept in the dark about as he sneaks off to meet a woman, Mary Ellison, who is later instructed to go to the castle as a member of staff. Shortly afterwards another member of the team is killed then the others are captured; Smith and Schaffer manage to escape and carry on the operation alone. Once in the castle there are a lot of revelations; traitors are exposed and the true reason for the mission revealed… once that is done they just have to get out of the castle than make their way to a nearby airfield while hundreds of Germans try to stop them.If you are looking for a gritty, realistic war film then this is likely to disappoint you but if you are looking for a 'Boy's Own' adventure full of daring-do, lots of action where heroes seldom miss, bad guys are unlikely to inflict more than a flesh wound and there are so many twists that at one point or another most of the team have suspicion pointed at them then this might be the film for you. There is lots of exciting action; this includes shooting, explosions and even a fight on top of a cable car. Richard Burton does a fine job as Smith, especially in the scene the truth is revealed. He is ably supported by Clint Eastwood as Schaffer and Mary Ure as Mary Ellison; the rest of the cast is pretty solid too. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to anybody looking for an exciting wartime adventure.