Okay. So here's where the movie's disingenuous. It's behaving like a 50s war movie based on an historical battle, what with the scrolling text, James Robertson Justice's sonorous narration and the newsreel clips. There's a crafty ambiguity to the stuff about "myths and legends". It's not that these characters were depictions of historical figures whose heroism was 'legendary'. They're mythical in the sense that they are fictional!
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
The voice of James Robertson Justice- he might have made a good M.
I agree! As a young child one of my favourite films was the Ealing production Scott of the Antarctic. James Robertson Justice was one of the central characters of that film. I always found him a memorable screen presence.
Has anyone seen the similar set up with the massive guns which were trained on the south coast of England en route between Calais and Le Touquet? Very scary
Okay. So here's where the movie's disingenuous. It's behaving like a 50s war movie based on an historical battle, what with the scrolling text, James Robertson Justice's sonorous narration and the newsreel clips. There's a crafty ambiguity to the stuff about "myths and legends". It's not that these characters were depictions of historical figures whose heroism was 'legendary'. They're mythical in the sense that they are fictional!
The score by Dimitri Tiomkin is a highlight for me. He was one of the great composer of the mid 20th century. Besides this film I tend to associate him with Westerns, particularly ones directed by Howard Hawks like Red River and Rio Bravo.
Gregory Peck is rather Bond-ish. His heroism has too much genuine decency for Bond, and he doesn't womanise, but he has many other qualities in common with Bond.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
So many fine actors in this...Anthony Quayle is another favourite of mine. He was also involved with secret intelligence work in real life as far as I know.
'Mission: Impossible' might have derived some of its basic concept from this dialogue about how "it can't be done".
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
superadoRegent's Park West (CaliforniaPosts: 2,656MI6 Agent
Hadn't really paid attention to the prologue until now and there were more details to the mission that I realized, such as the entire objective of the Germans was to force Turkey to join their side.
"...the purposeful slant of his striding figure looked dangerous, as if he was making quickly for something bad that was happening further down the street." -SMERSH on 007 dossier photo, Ch. 6 FRWL.....
The set up of Stanley Baker as 'The Butcher of Barcelona' proves to be a clever red herring, given that we later see that he's reached a point in his career where he's weary of killing.
Critics and material I don't need. I haven't changed my act in 53 years.
Comments
Navarone doesn't exist, but it was filmed on Rhodes.
I agree! As a young child one of my favourite films was the Ealing production Scott of the Antarctic. James Robertson Justice was one of the central characters of that film. I always found him a memorable screen presence.
A bit too plummy for M, maybe... but certainly in the right territory!
I wonder how many people were fooled by this.
Bloody awful Australian bloody accent.