The Guns of Navarone (1961)

Directed by: J. Lee Thompson | 158 minutes | action, drama, war, adventure | Actors: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, Anthony Quayle, James Darren, Irene Papas, Gia Scala, James Robertson Justice, Richard Harris, Bryan Forbes, Allan Cuthbertson, Michael Trubshawe, Percy Herbert, George Mikell, Walter Gotell

Skillfully made and exciting war film that rightfully has a status as a classic. Almost every year the film is broadcast on Dutch and foreign television in the liberation month of May. The film is based on the book by thriller author Alistair MacLean and is by far the best film adaptation of a work by his hand. (Runners up are ‘Where Eagles Dare’ and ‘Ice Station Zebra’).

The film is cleverly put together and knows how to bring all the ingredients of an old-fashioned adventure film into the limelight in the right dosage. A well-planned story full of action, humor and tension provides more than two and a half hours of top entertainment. Despite the “historical” introduction, the story is based on fiction, which is a shame because it’s such a fantastic story.

According to the story, three thousand (wounded) British soldiers are trapped on the island of Keros and they must be evacuated. The only option is through a narrow strait, within range of the cannons. The mission assigned to the command team is therefore under great time pressure. The undisputed leader is Mallory, played by Peck in one of his best roles. He creates a complex character with few words and is the rock in the surf. He is capably supported by a bunch of race actors. For example, Quinn plays with great verve the Greek Colonel Stavros, who wants to take revenge on Mallory after the war, but is now breeding Germans at his side. Niven, an officer himself during World War II, is the sarcastic Corporal Miller, who refuses or forfeits all promotions because he only wants to carry out orders and give no more orders. The interaction between these three is truly world class. The superb cast is further complemented by Quayle as the hapless Major Franklin and the premature Baker as “Butcher” Brown, who has had enough of his deadly knife skills. Singer/actor James Darren (who may also use his vocal abilities) plays the fiery Spyros Pappadimos, who wants revenge for the death of his father. His sister Maria, played by Irene Papas, is equally fervent, but that’s because she falls deeply in love with the taciturn widower Stavros. Gia Scala is also very strong as the mysterious Anna, who was tortured by the Germans and has not spoken a word since. Against his instincts, Mallory develops feelings for her, which only complicates matters further. To make matters worse, the team is constantly being chased by the Germans, so much so that the suspicion of betrayal within the group rears its head.

In a small role at the beginning of the film, Richard Harris with – then still – fiery red hair, passes by as a feisty Australian Air Force officer, who spit about sacrificing his men in a pointless aerial bombardment of the guns.

Director Thompson only slows down a bit at moments that are needed to relax and shows himself a skilled action director in the more exciting scenes. There are plenty of them: from the inspection of the boat on the way to the island, the ascent of the steep cliffs on Navarone, the breakneck feats to stay out of the hands of the occupiers, the nasty interrogation scene by an SS officer (Mikell) and entering the fortress to get to the cannons, everything is equally skillfully and stylishly put together. Some special effects are not quite up-to-date, but a moan who pays attention to that. ‘The Guns of Navarone’ has become almost a perfect war movie. Too bad it didn’t actually happen.