When Eight Bells Toll (1971)
Overview
In a vein similar to Bond movies, a British agent Philip Calvert is on a mission to determine the whereabouts of a ship that disappeared near the coast of Scotland.
Cast
Anthony Hopkins
Philip Calvert
Robert Morley
Uncle Arthur
Nathalie Delon
Charlotte
Jack Hawkins
Sir Anthony Skouras
Corin Redgrave
Hunslett
Derek Bond
Lord Charnley
Ferdy Mayne
Lavorski
Maurice Roëves
Lt. Williams - Helicopter Pilot
- Similar Movies
- Reviews
- Videos
CinemaSerf
Alistair Maclean always could pen a good a crime thriller, and his adaptation of his own novel lends much to this, otherwise, rather lacklustre production. It stars Anthony Hopkins as an agent who is despatched by Robert Morley ("Sir Arthur") to investigate the loss of a ship off the Northern coast of Scotland. Once he arrives in this remote coastal community, he quickly discovers his task to be quite perilous - something is amiss. Shortly afterwards, he encounters the cruising millionaire "Sir Anthony Skouras" (Jack Hawkins) and open hostility towards him begins. Sadly, neither Morley nor Hawkins are anywhere near their best in this, and though Hopkins - and the writer - do manage to build a gentle head of steam with the plot, the film is almost a dreary as the weather conditions. It just doesn't really ever manage to get going. There are too many implausibles in the plot - and the ending, complete with a crossbow and a blow-torch just didn't quite work. The score is a bit too overpowering (and the main theme repetitive) and is relied upon much too heavily to augment, even create, what tension and suspense there is. It's still a good watch, but more for some super underwater photography, and some nice Caithness scenery than for anything else.
