Watch Where Eagles Dare
- M
- 1968
- 2 hr 35 min
-
7.6 (63,883)
Where Eagles Dare is a 1968 war movie produced and directed by Brian G. Hutton. The film is set during World War II and is based on Alistair MacLean's 1967 novel of the same name. It features an all-star cast led by Richard Burton as Major Jonathan Smith and Clint Eastwood as Lieutenant Morris Schaffer. The story is set in the winter of 1943 and is about a group of commandos who are on a mission to rescue an American general who is being held captive in a German fortress in the Bavarian Alps. The catch is that the fortress is almost impregnable, and the only way to reach it is by cable car. The team is led by Major Smith, a British intelligence officer, and Lieutenant Schaffer, an American army officer.
The movie opens with a plane crash in the Alps. Out of the wreckage, a small group of soldiers emerges, including Major Smith and Lieutenant Schaffer. They are on a secret mission to rescue General Carnaby, who is being held captive in a remote castle. The commanders of the mission are two high-ranking British officers, Admiral Rolland and Colonel Wyatt Turner, who brief the team on the mission and its objectives.
After they parachute into Germany, the team splits into two groups. One group sets off to lay a false trail through the mountains to divert the Germans' attention, while the other, led by Major Smith and Lieutenant Schaffer, infiltrates the fortress by posing as German soldiers.
Once inside the castle, the team encounters numerous obstacles, including a number of German soldiers, double-crossing spies, and treacherous terrain. Major Smith and Lieutenant Schaffer must use all of their ingenuity and combat skills to complete their mission and escape with the general.
Where Eagles Dare is a film filled with intense action and suspense. The storyline is compelling, and the cast delivers excellent performances. Richard Burton is convincing as the cool-headed Major Smith, while Clint Eastwood brings his signature tough-guy charm to the role of Lieutenant Schaffer. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable, and their scenes together are a highlight of the film.
In addition to the main cast, the movie also features several veteran British actors, including Michael Hordern, Robert Beatty, and Patrick Wymark. The film's score, composed by Ron Goodwin, is also noteworthy, with its stirring trumpet fanfare and rousing choral sections adding to the movie's epic feel.
One of the most impressive aspects of Where Eagles Dare is its attention to detail. The production team went to great lengths to recreate the setting, with much of the movie being filmed on location in Austria. The castle used in the film, Schloss Adler, is an actual fortress in the Tyrolean Alps, and many of the interior sets were built to scale to create a realistic sense of the castle's layout.
Overall, Where Eagles Dare is an exciting and well-crafted war movie that has stood the test of time. It remains a classic example of the genre, thanks to its combination of great acting, thrilling action, and meticulous attention to detail. If you're a fan of war movies or action-adventure films, then this is one that you won't want to miss.
Where Eagles Dare is a 1968 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6 and a MetaScore of 63.