49 replies to this topic

[Blofeld's Cat]

The local format is officially PAL, but all TVs, both locally made and imports, are duel system anyway, and the DVD players are sold as all-region players.

[DLibrasnow]

Ahh then you have no worries. Over here in the US, ALL TVs are NTSC, but most region-free DVD players have a PAL-NTSC converter built into them that allows you to watch a PAL DVD on an NTSC television.

A Godsend really because most of my favorite DVDs are PAL.

[hartley_bond]

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

Two Mycrofts and the man who should've been Watson, all in one film. I gotta check it out.

[DLibrasnow]

It's my favorite spy movie hartley_bond. I have watched it a number of times since starting this thread.

[Blofeld's Cat]

In THE JIGSAW MAN directed by Terence Young (staring Michael Caine, Laurance Olivier & Robert Powell) Charles Grey plays the head of MI5 (I think it's MI5) who is gay and wears a wig (shades of Blowers in Diamonds Are Forever). When he takes it off in a scene he tells Powell's character that his head looks like a "large, round, shiny !" ( = male sexual appendage starting with the letter "p")

[DLibrasnow]

I have the movie on DVD but I don't remember that Brett...I'll have to check it out.

[Blofeld's Cat]

I have the movie on DVD but I don't remember that Brett...I'll have to check it out.

I'm surprised you missed it Darren.

The scene is in a bedroom and my immediate thought was that Gray's character and Powell's character were lovers, but that isn't so as the scene comes to an end.

[DLibrasnow]

Well I wasn't paying too much attention to it.

[DLibrasnow]

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

Two Mycrofts and the man who should've been Watson, all in one film. I gotta check it out.

Saw THE STUDY IN TERROR for the first time in the last couple of weeks Hartley so this comment now makes sense to me

[Blofeld's Cat]

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.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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.

I saw Puppet On A Chain again last night. The boat chase isn't as good or better than the one in Live and Let Die. How perceptions can change over time, but it's a good chase all the same.

[Jackanaples]

From all that's been said, I'd say this movie sounds right up my alley. Just ordered the dvd from Amazon UK. Really looking forward to seeing it.

My favorite Alistair MacLean movie adaptations are THE GUNS OF NAVARONE and WHERE EAGLES DARE. I also like ICE STATION ZEBRA and BREAKHEART PASS. Hell, I even have a soft spot for the not very good GOLDEN RENDEZVOUS.

[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....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

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

I lucked upon a VHS copy of this movie yesterday in a charity shop. Only cost $2.00 too.

For such an old copy the tape was in surprisingly good condition, which can not be said for the picture quality. Pretty poor transfer, reflecting a pretty poor movie. Too slow and boring throughout with the hero seemingly having a permanent smirk that irked a lot. Did Charlotte get her gear off? I don't know as I dozed off a couple of times.

The climax was a dud...

Spoiler

The hero being assaulted by clowns in a bullring before being saved by Michel Lonsdale.

Spoilers are probably unnecessary for this flick, but I guess any MacLean fan should get to see this for themselves, and feel the author turning in his grave.

[jrcjohnny99]

Interesting stuff;
it always suprised me how much Maclean film adaptations varied so wildly in quality; especially given that his books are mostly pretty solid...

I havenst seen "Bells" in years, i really must check that out again..
my fave, like many , is 'Where Eagles Dare' and almost perfect adaptation and Burton at the very top of his game; I really like Guns of Naverone and have a soft spot for Breakheart Pass;
I havent seen any of the others in years tho remember really enjoying Puppet on a Chain...

[Blofeld's Cat]

I also managed to track down a VHS copy of Puppet On A Chain a little while ago. Much better than Vaccares which was directed by the same person. In fact, according to IMDb Geoffrey Reeve has only directed 5 movies and 3 of them were MacLean adaptations.

I've changed my mind about the boat chase in Puppet too, it's NOT better than the one in Live and Let Die, although it is pretty good despite the odd blooper or two during it.

[Mark_Hazard]

I've noticed that a number of people think that Where Eagles Dare is the best adaption of an Alistair MacLean novel, well it can't be. Where Eagles Dare was written by MacLean as a screenplay for the film, with the novel coming afterwards - even though the novel was published in 1967 and the film arriving in 1969. To find out all about this great film, get your hands on a copy of Cinema Retro "Movie Classics" Special Edition issue number 1, which is all about this great film.

http://www.cinemaret...TREMENDOUS.html

[Von Hammerstein]

I never got to watch When Eight Bells Toll, but I can't believe nobody mentioned The Satan Bug.

[Mr. Blofeld]

nobody mentioned The Satan Bug.

Gah! Sounds like an evil twin of The Love Bug...

[Von Hammerstein]

nobody mentioned The Satan Bug.

Gah! Sounds like an evil twin of The Love Bug...

It's about an agent trying to retrieve a vial of a lethal virus stolen from it's lab.

The Black Shrike was good one as well, about a spy infiltrating an organization that's collection rocket scientists for nefarious purposes.

[Blofeld's Cat]

I never got to watch When Eight Bells Toll, but I can't believe nobody mentioned The Satan Bug.

Yep, not a bad movie, but far from John Sturgis' best. Set in the US instead of the book's UK locations. Great score by Jerry Goldsmith.

[Jackanaples]

I've noticed that a number of people think that Where Eagles Dare is the best adaption of an Alistair MacLean novel, well it can't be. Where Eagles Dare was written by MacLean as a screenplay for the film, with the novel coming afterwards - even though the novel was published in 1967 and the film arriving in 1969. To find out all about this great film, get your hands on a copy of Cinema Retro "Movie Classics" Special Edition issue number 1, which is all about this great film.

http://www.cinemaret...TREMENDOUS.html

I buy CINEMA RETRO regularly, and was interested to see that there was a new issue out. When I saw that the entire 80 pages was devoted to one of my favorite action/adventure movies I nearly squealed. The WED special is fantastic. Anyone who loves the movie needs to pick it up.