VALLEY OF EAGLES
UK, 1951, 85 minutes, Black and white.
Jack Warner, John Mc Callum, Nadia Gray, Christopher Lee.
Directed by Terence Young.
Valley of Eagles is a neat routine thriller of the early '50s. Starring low-key British leads Jack Warner and John Mc Callum, it is the work of the writer director Terence Young. In the '60s he was to move into big-budget films with several of the James Bond films including From Russia with Love and Thunderball. The nuclear espionage is still of interest and the use of Swedish and Lapland back grounds and anthropology adds an original touch to the film. The musical score is by Nino Rota, who was to do many excellent scores in the '60s and '70s especially that of Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet and the Fellini films.
1. An entertaining thriller? In the '50s, now?
2. Small budget thriller, British production, the conventions of the chase thriller, espionage?
3. Black and white photography, the use of Scandinavian locations and atmosphere, special effects - especially avalanche, wolf chases, falcon hunts? The contribution of the score?
4. The plausibility of the plot? Scientific investigation, nuclear power, experimentation in the '40s and '50s., espionage? As seen in the cold war period? In retrospect?
5. Ahlen as hero? John Mc Callum's British style? His scientific work, his neglect of his wife, his trust in his colleague? His integrity? His impatience at the disappearance of his formula and of his friend and wife? His impetuous investigations? His antagonism towards the police? Working with the police? His reaction during the chase? The encounter with the Laplanders and their way of life, the comparison of civilisation and so-called savagery? The encounter and friendship with Carla? The destruction of the reindeer, deaths? The rediscovery of his wife and friend? His discovery of the truth? The handling of the crisis with the avalanche? How changed would he be for his future work?
6. The contrast of the women? Ahlen's wife and her regret at his neglect, her love for him, the collaboration with his friend, the escape, the abandoning of the car, the guides and moving through the snow? The confrontation with Ahlen at the end? The death in the avalanche? Carla and her education, her bonds with the Lapps, the death of her grandfather, her care with the children, prayers and psalms, her devotion to Ahlen, the taking of his wife's photograph, the happy ending?
7. The police inspector and his skill, investigating the countess? Working with Ahlen, moving through the snow, with the Laplanders? His contribution to the case?
8. The villain and his friendship., his escape, the train sequence, the background of the plane crash? Moving through the snow? Illness? Desperate escape and the avalanche?
9. The picture of the Laplanders? Their way of life, the reindeer, the wolves? The group in the special village and their silence? Their fear of the snow? Their freedom at the end? How authentic the atmosphere, interest in their way of life?
10. The background of the Nobel Institute, scientific investigation.. nuclear risks, espionage? The conventions of the investigation? The dangers of the chase?
11. The various crises especially in the Valley of the Eagles? The memorable sequences of the villagers and their falcon-hunting, the threat of the wolves? The impact of the avalanche?
12. Basic themes of right and wrong, good and evil, integrity, progress and civilisation versus primitive ways of life, savagery? The image of human beings? A romantic adventure thriller?
