It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
I saw it in the theatre- I remember liking it, almost as much as Puppet On A Chain, but I probably need to see it again for a proper adult opinion...
Looking forward to your review.
I'll look out for the film, I still have A Bridge Too Far on Bluray to watch which I bought a few months back, Hopkins was great in that movie.
Didn't need to grow on me! Will have to watch it again sometime soon - only this time on DVD/Blu-ray. Shame they didn't make more than one film with Hopkins' character.
Watched Puppet on a Chain a couple of months ago. The boat chase was the highlight of that one, if you ask me! Have a few Alistair MacLean novels lying around. Wonder if Puppet on a Chain is one of them.
I have that dvd too. It's a movie that BBC would show early Saturday evening! Hopkins is very good in it as is the great Robert Morley.
Love the main theme too.
It somehow didn't feel like a standalone film. As if the Calvert character would have benefitted from a sequel, at least - which was their intention, of course. If the film had been more successful, I wonder if this could have been a 70's Harry Palmer to the Bond series.
I don't know why exactly, but the ending of the film always sends a chill down my spine. I find it very cool that Calvert stands his ground:
"To quote a late friend of mine: It's what I do best."
I was of course only thinking comparison-wise, with both being gritty, less glamorous equivalents to Bond. The differences between Palmer/Calvert are there, of course. The most interesting thing about those two characters perhaps, is the men who portrayed them. Hopkins and Cane aren't your usual B-actor who might have starred in a Eurospy film (at that time)!
Quite liked the ending. Leaves you wanting more, of course.
___________
Apart from the wartime MacLean films, and When Eight Bells Toll/Puppet on a Chain; what are best films to watch, based on the MacLean books? Can't remember that many. Death Train and Night Watch are the only ones I remember - mostly because Brosnan starring in them.
What I regret is that what I consider as McLean's best novel, his first one, HMS Ulysses, was never made as a movie. I think it would have been a classic.
Other films based on MacLean's books I recommend are The Satan Bug, a great spy thriller, and only to gain experience on some of his work, try Ice Station Zebra. It bears an ensemble cast and a very big budget production quality, but it isn't as exciting as you'd think. Patrick McGoohan of the Danger Man and The Prisoner fame stars in it as the cryptic British spy opposite Ernest Borgnine and Rock Hudson.
Agreed. It's definitely a great book.
You, sir, beat me to it.
Noted! Can't remember watching any of those films. I do actually have The Hostage Tower book, but haven't read it. Didn't know Maud Adams and Britt Ekland starred in the film!
The ending at the castle wasn't that gritty, no. The setting in Scotland probably added a few notches to the overall grittiness, as well. I guess with a setting in the French Riviera for example, the film wouldn't feel any more gritty than Dr. No. Think they made good use of the locations in When Eight Bells Toll.
Interesting you should mention the soundtrack. Was just about to do a search for it!
Will have to check out The Satan Bug and Ice Station Zebra. I've had the latter on my to-watch list for quite some time, but have yet to see it.
You know, Kurt Russell one of those actors that, if he's in a film, it generally means it's worth your time. This is no exception! I should've also mentioned Oliver Platt, who I've also recently seen in another movie. Good comedic actor.
Capt. R.F Scott, March 29th 1912
Scott Of The Antarctic (1948)
John Mills stars as Capt. R.F Scott in this account of Scotts doomed Terra-Nova expedition to the South Pole that ended in disaster. I'm going to be honest, before watching Scott Of The Antarctic, I knew next to nothing about this expedition. I knew two things, 1) it ended in disaster, and 2) Oates' famous last words (“I am just going outside and may be some time”). I suppose the mark of a good film of this type, is that it has made me want to know more about the expedition.
Space Cowboys
There's also 'Fear is the Key', an enjoyable thriller with a great Roy Budd soundtrack and it has an epic car chase in it!
More action-packed than the first, funnier and gorier, it was an absolute blast for the 2 hours runtime. A lot of hilarious self-aware jokes (even some aimed at Disney and the DC Universe, some very unexpected cameos, and with all due respect to Ryan Reynolds, but Josh Brolin as Cable totally stole the show - can't wait for Sicario 2 next month. And be sure to stay for end credits - even more fun to be found there. The soundtrack was an absolute killer too. Whether the next film will be Deadpool 3 or an X-Force film, I'll be there day one for it.
Agreed.
Edge of the seat stuff all the way through.
I haven t seen it yet, but my son said it was ok and better than the first.
We're all the sons and daughters of @Thunderfinger.