49 replies to this topic

[DLibrasnow]

That's right, after years of searching for this hidden gem, the Region 2 DVD release of Alistair MacLean's WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL (1971) arrived in my Maryland mailbox today and, for once my memories have not let me down - it's fast paced, fun and as entertaining as I remember it from British TV years ago.

Far suprerior to the 007 movie of that year (Diamonds Are Forever) and of any year actually, WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL recounts the investigation by a British secret agent into the hijacking of gold bullion ships off the coast of Scotland. We have (a very young looking) Anthony Hopkins as Calvert (the secret agent), Robert Morley as his boss and Charles Gray (providing the voice for cancer stricken Jack Hawkins) as the sinister villain (though nobody seems to be quite as they appear in this story).

This movie simply oozes with that Bondian touch, beautiful women, exciting action, witty dialogue and a tense, intelligent, suspenseful plot (based on MacLean's book, with a screenplay by the author himself).

If you have not yet checked this out...you really are missing out big time. I have not had two hours of spy action fun like this in many years.

I'd be interested in hearing what other people have to say about this classic action adventure,

[Mister Asterix]

[mra]Thanks for the pointer, DLib. I

[Qwerty]

Definitely sounds like another good one to try out.

[Genrewriter]

Sounds very interesting,is this available in Region 1? I've always enjoyed MacLean. Where Eagles Dare is good too.

[DLibrasnow]

I wish it was available in Region 1. This though was one instance in which having a region-free DVD player definately paid off. I saw the movie years ago on British tv and kept looking out for it in Region 1. So far though it is only available in Region 2.

I also like MacLean books (and he did screenplay duties on this one, as he did with WHERE EAGLES DARE).

Region 2 is a treasure trove for MacLean adaptations on DVD with PUPPET ON A CHAIN, THE SATAN BUG and FEAR IS THE KEY available (the latter two German releases - with English audio tracks) and I recently purchased CARAVAN TO VACCARES (with Michael (Drax) Lonsdale) from a Region 4 retailer.

[Tarl_Cabot]

Sounds cool. I just finnished 'The Bourne Supremecy'.It'll be nice to see a decent Spy thriller I've never seen. Ever seen (Alistair Mclean's)"Bear Island"? I always wanted to but I can't find it.

[DLibrasnow]

I have been similarly frustrated trying to track down BEAR ISLAND Tarl. I remember seeing it when I was younger on television, and being a little bored by it actually. Still, it's MacLean so I will snap it up as soon as I spot it - no matter which region it is in.

[Tarl_Cabot]

I remeber the trailor from about 1980 or so...alot of movies that "bored" me as a kid might be preety good now.

[DLibrasnow]

I remeber the trailor from about 1980 or so...alot of movies that "bored" me as a kid might be preety good now.

Oh exactly. I have definately been on the look out for it.

[Tarl_Cabot]

btw darren, what's Bear Island about? Can you give a brief outline?


One of my other favorite spy thrillers is at Best buy for $10. 'The Eiger Sanction'. I'll get it soon.

[DLibrasnow]

Its about a Nazi submarine that is found in the Arctic and some nonsense about Nazi gold. Very little I remember about it except a speech that Donald Sutherlands character gives at the end (can't say too much without giving away too many of the movies surprises). By all accounts the movie bares little resemblence to the novel

I also have THE EIGER SANCTION...I always enjoyed that one too.

[Qwerty]

I wish it was available in Region 1. This though was one instance in which having a region-free DVD player definately paid off. I saw the movie years ago on British tv and kept looking out for it in Region 1. So far though it is only available in Region 2.

Hmpf. Hopefully it'll go on 1 soon then.

[DLibrasnow]

It deserves to be in region 1 too...sorry Devin. I was accidently sent two by the retailer so it looks like ebay is going to get its first listing from me. Unless of course a fellow CBNer wants it.

[DLibrasnow]

One piece of good news for fans of Alistair MacLean in Region 1 is that the classic ICE STATION ZEBRA is coming available to DVD in January in region 1. Of course you can also catch ICE STATION ZEBRA commercial-free in widescreen for free later this month on TCM.

[Spoon]

If Anthony Hopkins really pulled off a convincing Bond-like role, perhaps it speaks well for the current candidates of the "talented, serious actor/not terribly physically menacing" stripe, most notably Jude Law.

[DLibrasnow]

Well Hopkins' Calvert is much more brutal than 007 and is referred to as a "b*stard" more than once in the movie. The Bondian feel comes across most strongly in the music, editing, plot and manner in which the action is portrayed. Of course there are also two beautiful women - one goodie and one a baddie.

[spynovelfan]

Sounds like a must, and thanks for the pointer. I read a lot of Maclean's books when I was 12 or 13. Of course, Brosnan starred in all those Alistair Macfake TV movies before becoming Bond. And Where Eagles Dare always seems to me like a second cousin to a Bond movie: Burton's laconic character, especially (and that great scene where he impersonates a Nazi!) seemed very Flemingesque, as did much of the action - all that snow. I watched it back to back with OHMSS a couple of years back - they go very well together.

[DLibrasnow]

Well WHERE EAGLES DARE is one of my all-time favorite movies, but MacLean's knack for the well thought out spy thriller really came together most successfully in WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL. In fact after watching the movie again last night , the book I turned in with for the night was - you guessed it - 'When Eight Bells Toll' by Alistair MacLean

[DLibrasnow]

Anyone have any info on PUPPET ON A CHAIN? I just purchased the Region 2 DVD from Amazon UK

[Bon-san]

Cool post, D'lib. I LOVED reading When Eight Bells Toll, and never knew there was a film. I must find this.

I am a huge Maclean fan. I've read many of his books, and I agree with you that When Eight Bells Toll may be his all around best (although I really loved the literary Where Eagles Dare, as well).

Personally, I thought the cinematic Bear Island was great. I saw it in the theatre when I was a lad, and have been longing to see it again ever since.

[DLibrasnow]

Thanks Bon-san, it has been a long, long time since I saw BEAR ISLAND, but I remember being let down a little when I saw it on TV. At that time though action, humor and special effects were what I looked for in a movie and I remember the movie being different from the book I had read (at that time) just recently.

[DLibrasnow]

Cool post, D'lib.  I LOVED reading When Eight Bells Toll, and never knew there was a film.  I must find this.

I am a huge Maclean fan.  I've read many of his books, and I agree with you that When Eight Bells Toll may be his all around best (although I really loved the literary Where Eagles Dare, as well).

I do think that WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL is MacLean's best all-around work and certainly the movie with Hopkins and Morley is the best movie adapted from one of his books. This comes from someone who not only loves the classics ICE STATION ZEBRA, GUNS OF NAVARONE and WHERE EAGLES DARE but also his less-illustrious efforts such as FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE and GOLDEN RENDEZVOUS.

I am actually quite surprised that the movie WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL is not better known on these boards. If there was ever a MacLean adaptation that cried out for attention from the James Bond 007 crowd, that is it.

[Blofeld's Cat]

That's right, after years of searching for this hidden gem, the Region 2 DVD release of Alistair MacLean's WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL (1971) arrived in my Maryland mailbox today and, for once my memories have not let me down - it's fast paced, fun and as entertaining as I remember it from British TV years ago.

Region 2 is a treasure trove for MacLean adaptations on DVD with PUPPET ON A CHAIN, THE SATAN BUG and FEAR IS THE KEY available (the latter two German releases - with English audio tracks) and I recently purchased CARAVAN TO VACCARES (with Michael (Drax) Lonsdale) from a Region 4 retailer.

I have been similarly frustrated trying to track down BEAR ISLAND Tarl. I remember seeing it when I was younger on television, and being a little bored by it actually. Still, it's MacLean so I will snap it up as soon as I spot it - no matter which region it is in.

One piece of good news for fans of Alistair MacLean in Region 1 is that the classic ICE STATION ZEBRA is coming available to DVD in January in region 1. Of course you can also catch ICE STATION ZEBRA commercial-free in widescreen for free later this month on TCM.

Anyone have any info on PUPPET ON A CHAIN? I just purchased the Region 2 DVD from Amazon UK

Great thread Darren, and thanks for the headup on these Maclean releases - I'd buy almost anything by/from him on DVD.

The only thing I can vividly remember of PUPPET ON A CHAIN is the boat chase through the Amsterdam canals. It's better than the chase in Live And Let Die IMO.

Not sure I'd get THE GOLDEN RENDEVOUS because when I went to see in the theatres (it only lasted about 2 weeks I think) the audio was sooooo loud. I don't know if it was the soundtrack itself or whether it was the cinema house audio, but man, that movie gave me a headache at the end, and it was very confusing and slow to boot.

Not sure I want to get BEAR ISLAND either. It was so-so, but as the novel is my all-time favourite Maclean I was terribly disapointed in it.

I'd get BREAKHEART PASS only becase I'm a huge Charles Bronson fan, even though it's a so-so flick.

[DLibrasnow]

Thanks Brett. I also have BREAKHEART PASS on DVD, that was an easy buy for me. Like you I will pick up almost anything on DVD that has the Alistair MacLean name attached to it. My favorite novel is WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL and I personally just wish that MacLean had written more Calvert books that could have been turned into movies because I find Calvert a much more interesting character than James Bond.

I don't recall any audio problems with GOLDEN RENDEZVOUS when I saw it on TV years ago.

[DLibrasnow]

The only thing I can vividly remember of PUPPET ON A CHAIN is the boat chase through the Amsterdam canals. It's better than the chase in Live And Let Die IMO.
[/color]

I've heard that from a number of people actually - that the boat chase in PUPPET ON A CHAIN is one of the best ever put to film.

[DLibrasnow]

So what is everyones favorite MacLean adaptation? For me obviously it's WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL!

[Blofeld's Cat]

Probably WHERE EAGLES DARE.

RIVER OF DEATH is at the very bottom of all Maclean adaptations. An abomination!

[DLibrasnow]

Agreed...it's been a long time since I saw RIVER OF DEATH, but it certainly did not impress me much.

Just today I saw the Region 4 DVD release of CARAVAN TO VACCARES. I thought it was rather slow compared to most MacLean adaptations but it was great to see Charlotte Rampling and Michael Lonsdale in a movie. I thought the scene where Bowman was being laughed at (Ketchup monsiuer) was a real blast.

[Blofeld's Cat]

Just today I saw the Region 4 DVD release of CARAVAN TO VACCARES. I thought it was rather slow compared to most MacLean adaptations....

Agreed, but I'll still get it when I can.

I'm a collector, of sorts, of movie tie-in novels and I've got all the published Macleans, as far as I know.

[DLibrasnow]

Well the release of CARAVAN TO VACCARES I got was the Region 4 release which I believe can play in most PAL regions (but not NTSC - North America and Japan), Is your part of the world a PAL region or NTSC?