MAIN TITLE Arts and entertainment
Article Title The Guns of Navarone film reiew
The guns of Navarone was a 1961 movie about a British commando team that is sent
on an almost impossible mission of destroying a massive German gun emplacement after
crossing occupied Greek territory. This film was directed by J. Lee Thompson and
had some of the biggest stares of the day in it. This movie was based on a well known
1957 novel about World War Two by Scottish writer Ail-stair MacLean.The sweeping
landscape photography and several cultural touches truly captured the beauty and
flavor of Greece and its proud people. Even today, the people of Greece, hold this
film in high praise.
It starred Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn. The
plot tells of an Allied commando team sent to destroy a seemingly impregnable German
fortress that threatens Allied naval ships in the Aegean Sea, and prevents 2,000
isolated British troops from being rescued.
The film opens with an aerial view of
the Greek Islands, and a narrator setting the scene The year is 1943, and 2000 British
soldiers are holed up on the island of Kheros in the Aegean near Turkey. Rescue by
the Royal Navy is impossible because of massive guns on the nearby island of Navarone.
Time is short, because the Germans are expected to launch an assault on the British
forces, to draw Turkey into the war on the Axis' side. Using air strikes in trying
to dislodge these guns prove fruitless, so a team of commandos has been assembled
to try and go in and destroy these monster emplacements. Lead by Major Roy Franklin
(Anthony Quayle), they are Capt. Keith Mallory (Gregory Peck), Andrea Stavros (Anthony
Quinn), a Colonel in the defeated Greek army, Corporal Miller (David Niven), an explosives
expert, Greek-American street tough Spyros Pappadimos (James Darren) and "Butcher"
Brown (Stanley Baker), an engineer and expert knife fighter.
They sail across the
Aegean Sea disguised as Greek fisherman. After blowing up a German patrol boat Malloy
confides in Miller that Stavros blames Miller for the death of his wife and children
and intends to kill him after the war. After the ship that they are on capsizes during
a violent storm Franklin is badly injured and later the injuries lead to gangrene
after they had to climb a steep cliff. One of the central points of this film is
to carry Franklin to safety despite the apparent problem that Franklin's injuries
will slow them down. Malloy lies to Franklin about the mission. Soon afterwords they
are attacked by German soldiers and Andrea is left behind with his snippier rifleto
help in their escape. They then end up meeting with the local resistance fighters,
Spyros's sister Mania [Irene Papas] and her friend Anna [Gia Scala].
But throughout
the next couple of days their mission is always delayed by the onslaught of German
soldiers who always seem to know where they are at. They are finally captured and
escape, but it was necessary to leave Franklin behind so that he could get medical
attention. They then discover that their explosives, that they had saved from the
ship wreak, had been sabotaged. Miller figures out that Anna is the saboteur and
Marie shoots her as a price that she has to pay for being disloyal. It's a touching
scene that almost leaves you feeling sorry for Anna because of the reason that she
betrayed them.
The final scenes have the team spilitting up to achieve their objective.
All of them escape to a waiting boat except for Pappadimos and Brown who had given
their lives creating a distraction.The guns and fortifications are destroyed in a
spectacular explosion.Stavros, who has fallen in love with Maria, decides to return
to Navarone with her and shakes hands with Mallory, seemingly having given up his
plan to kill him.
The fans of Gregory Peck were not disappointed when this film was
released. There is plenty of action and the ways that the characters, as diverse
as they were, seemed to fit together made this one of the most enjoyable war films
that were ever produced. Even most of the Germans portrayed were more realistic of
everyday human being instead of the usual sub human beast that are often seen in
other movies.
About the Author
Andrew Conway is an avid author,writer and a classic movie buff. If you love watching movies, classic sitcom's or just listening to great music, then visit: http://www.ultimate-free-downloads.com