WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL
UK, 1971, 94 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Hopkins, Robert Morley, Nathalie Delon, Jack Hawkins, Corin Redgrave, Derek Bond, Ferdy Mayne, Maurice Roeves.
Directed by Etienne Perier.
When Eight Bells Toll is based on a novel by Alistair Mac Lean. In the late 1960s, MacLean’s? stories became very popular, especially with the Richard Burton- Clint Eastwood Where Eagles Dare. Many of his novels were then filmed including Puppet on a Chain, Caravan to Vaccares.
Anthony Hopkins has the opportunity, early in his screen career, to be an action hero. He is well supported by a British cast of character actors including Jack Hawkins and Corin Redgrave.
When Eight Bells Toll is similar to many of the James Bond films. Robert Morley is the equivalent of M. However, it is very much British-style action with tongue in cheek.
French director Etienne Perier made Bridge to the Sun in 1961 and Zeppelin soon after this film. They were his only British films in a fifty-year career as a director in France.
1. The film versions of Alistair Mac Lean's novels? Popularity? Adventure ingredients, mystery, the associations with the sea? The place of this film in the tradition?
2. The qualities of British production, stars? Special effects? Location photography? The James Bond film type score?
3. The atmosphere of the sea? Ships? MacLean's knowledge of the sea and its intricacies?
4. The plausibility of the plot? Insurance, gold bullion, robberies, the disappearance of ships and their sinking? The terrorizing of a Scottish town? The Navy and the ability of one man to break the gang? The elaborate procedures of the gang, their method, blackmail? How plausible for the sake of the adventure?
5. Anthony Hopkin’s style as a James Bond/Alistair Mac Lean hero? The introduction to him and his examination of the ship and the finding of the dead agents? The explanation of his navy background, attitude towards authority? His friendship with Hunalett? The encounter with Uncle Arthur and the clashes? His plans, their
execution?
6. The sending of radio messages? His presence with Hunalett in Scotland? Their investigating the town, the countryside? Clashes with the police? The Skouras yacht and the people on it and their mysterious behaviour? Hunalett's death and its effect on Calvert? His violent revenge and killings? and other characters' comment on this? His use of the helicopter to search the area? The hostility at the castle?
7. The attack and the death of the pilot? Calvert's narrow escape by staying under water? The encounter with Uncle Arthur on the yacht? The final plans, Charlotte's swimming to the boat - and the romantic liaison? Calvert and the ultimate plan, the sailing of the ship, the encounter with the smugglers transporting the gold? The discovery of the truth? The final shoot-out? A paperback hero? Audience admiration, identification?
8. Uncle Arthur and Robert Morley's style? His official position, his preoccupation about eating, the Robert Morley style dialogue? The friendship with Lord Charnley? The investigation, his presence on the boat, his participation in the adventure? A suitable comic foil to the hero?
9. Charlotte and her mysterious presence, her attraction? Her seeming innocence, swimming to the boat? The revelation of the truth? A likely villainess? Her husband and his control on the yacht? Audience suspicions of Skouras? Lord Charnley and his villainy?
10. The character portrayal of Skouras and the explanation of his sailing in the area? Lady Skouras and her imprisonment? The discovery of so many people in prison in the castle, their release?
11. The mystery and the revelation of Lord Charnley and Charlotte as villains? How plausible? Calvert's decision to let Charlotte go free with the gold bullion?
12. The various adventure ingredients - sailing, killings, the helicopter attack, the final shoot-out? how well staged?
13. The world of espionage, robberies? Morals and law? The administration of law and vengeance? Audience judgment on the action heroes in such films? The nature of their heroism?
