Hi -

It looked like we were getting a little off topic on "The Sea Chase," so I thought I'd bring this around to the proper focus.

"The Guns of Navarrone" has lots of little bits to relish. I have seen this movie numerous times and I still feel the tension as the munitions lift comes down to trigger the big blowup. I always look forward to the look on the German soldier's face when the toy mouse activates. :lol:

The only negative thing about this movie is at the beginning when the damaged aircraft are trying to land. The planes are so obviously models (even one is standing still, which would be outrightly impossible) - I think you can even see cables attached to one. Did the budget get constrained to the point the producers had to resort to the cheapest method possible. Even movies in the 40s and 50s had miniatures look more realistic. :angry:

Cheers - Jay :)

:cowboy: Hi Jay, I never noticed that in this movie and will have to look for it next time I watch it. I do think they did a pretty good job in using correct German uniforms instead of that awful 1950's look that was used for "German" uniforms. The vehicles used for the most part were good and the look of the "Guns" was good. One thing that cannot be beat was those who made up that movies excellent cast.

This one is one of my top favorite Gregory Peck films. Best regards-TRK. Since the weekend is here, I think i'll dig it out and rewatch it while eating pizza.

Alright Ringo -

Sounds like a good way to spend part of the weekend.

If I recall correctly, since it has been years since I read David Niven's "The Moon Is A Balloon," during the scene where Peck berates Niven for having sat on the sidelines - right after the girl is shot and killed, Niven said he was terribly sick (flu or cold) during the shooting of that scene and didn't know how he got through it.

Jay :rolleyes:

Hi Jay

The scene you mentioned is the one I was talking about earlier it is one of my favourites. I always wished John Wayne made a war movie like this because he would have fitted into it nicely just as Clint did with the similar movie 'Where Eagles Dare'.

Stanley Baker is a good solid actor and he does quite well in this movie although he is killed a little too easily at the end. Roland regarding Carl Foreman is that the man whom John Wayne helped get shipped out of the USA(Or at least played some part) after writting the screenplay for High Noon. I dont consider Naverone to be completely anti war but it does deal with some significant issues and on a whole it is an excellent movie.

:agent:

:cowboy: Hi Jay, yep, I have to catch up on eating pizza, I think i'm about 4 or so behind my regular pizza allowance. :) I think Papa John's has a buy one get one free special going on. I have not read Niven's book but I heard it was really good though.


David Niven probably was able to get through shooting that scene because he played several Chess games with Anthony Quinn. Gave him a chance to rest.

TRK.

HI Robbie

In the case of Stanley Baker. If I remember right in one scene he hesitates to kill a guard and someone steps in and does it for him.

If you are a trained killer as he was and suddenly decides that he doesn't want to be a trained killer anymore as he did, then your heart nor head isin't, and concentration and of more importance, the edge goes. I think this is what happened to Stanley Baker, and also perhaps a death wish as a way of release from what he was expected to do.


Regards

Arthur

Originally posted by arthurarnell@Jan 22 2005, 03:45 AM
HI Robbie

In the case of Stanley Baker. If* I remember right in one scene he hesitates to kill a guard and someone steps in and does it for him.

If you are a trained killer as he was and suddenly decides that he doesn't want to be a trained killer anymore as he did, then your heart nor head isin't, and concentration and of more importance, the edge goes. I think this is what happened to Stanley Baker, and also perhaps a death wish as a way of release from what he was expected to do.


Regards

Arthur

13913


My favorite Stanley Baker role was Lt. Chard in "Zulu".

Stumpy

That is a great movie, Baker seemed to enjoy playing troubled characters I remember seeing him in one movie in which he lost his hand and had to retire from boxing and in order to make money he was temped into a life of crime.

Arther you are correct Baker went to Peck early in the movie 'I've killed a hundred germans and they keep coming theres no end of them'. What I am a little confued with is there was one man in the boat that him and the girl capture. He sneeks up on the man a knifes him but what exactly happens then that Baker ended up getting killed.

:agent:

"Guns" won the Oscar for Best Special Effects.

As for the anti-war comments in the film: When it first came out, it was something completely new, actually the start of a new warfilm-subgenre: the "commando"-film which was en vogue thereafter. We might look at it differently today because so many others came along after that, a strong anti-military-film like Dirty Dozen might not have been made without "Guns" showing the way. It's really a bunch of subordinent specialists who aren't so much interested in the outcome of the war but in their personal matters: THAT's what was new then. Before that, Hollywood hat created the so-called "unit"-film, which was a propaganda product during the war: it always dealt with an unit and teamwork for the higher goal. Something the commando film completely lacks.

In the Fifties, Foreman couldn't have made the same film with the same dialogue in Hollywood. I don't remember MacLean's novels, both "Guns" and the sequel, being that anti-military, just strong, simple hero-stories. Foreman added the critical elements. The one line in "Guns", spoken by Peck on the boat, changed the direction of war-films, about having to be as nasty as the enemy to win, but: What happens when we wake up one morning and find out we're even nastier than the enemy?

Hi All -

"The Guns of Navarone" (kick me - I finally got the spelling right :headbonk: ) can be enjoyed for its entertainment element as well as for the social commentary.
Stanley Baker was indeed a fine actor. His portrayal in "Zulu" was exceptional. He also played the villain in "Zorro" (1975) "Zulu" was also noteworthy for its introduction of Michael Caine.

Cheers - Jay :)

BTW, you won't find an island called Navarone (or Navarrone, for that matter ^_^ ) on the Greek map. But if you ever take a trip to Rhodes, take a better look: They still call one of the shooting locations the "Anthony Quinn Bay" today. The beautiful old city was the background for the castle scenes.

Hi Itdo -

I was aware that Navarone was fictitious, but did not know of any of the actual locations for shooting the movie.
Does anyone know if that cliff face that the guns were entrenched in was an actual edifice or was that a case of movie magic and models. It certainly looked real.

Cheers - Jay - :)

Was The Bridge on the River Kwai the first major anti-war film?

Hi Itdo -

I was aware that Navarone was fictitious, but did not know of any of the actual locations for shooting the movie.
Does anyone know if that cliff face that the guns were entrenched in was an actual edifice or was that a case of movie magic and models. It certainly looked real.

Cheers - Jay - :)

Yes Jay, there never was a guns of Navarone mission. The full-scale guns were in the studio in London, while all the shots of the cliffs were models. It's a shame because although I enjoyed the movie when I was 13, there are too many very obvious studio sets and the cast were a bit old.

I believe Stanley Baker's character may have killed himself.

Stumpy

That is a great movie, Baker seemed to enjoy playing troubled characters I remember seeing him in one movie in which he lost his hand and had to retire from boxing and in order to make money he was temped into a life of crime.

Arther you are correct Baker went to Peck early in the movie 'I've killed a hundred germans and they keep coming theres no end of them'. What I am a little confued with is there was one man in the boat that him and the girl capture. He sneeks up on the man a knifes him but what exactly happens then that Baker ended up getting killed.

:agent:

after baker stabs him he leaves the knife in him and places both his hands over the germans mouth to stop him from calling out. the german pulls the knife out and into baker.
p.s. zulu is one of my all time greats

Oh, I always thought he committed suicide.

Zulu was another major anti-war film. It would have been interesting to see Wayne make a movie with Stanley Baker, although I know they wouldn't have got on.

as far as i know DUKE got along with everyone as long as they acted professional, showed up on time and knew their lines.

Yes but Sir Stanley was very far to the Left and an active socialist, as reflected by most of his films. He didn't get on with Dirk Bogarde who was a Conservative.

A bit of a paradox there accepts an Knighthood from the Queen whilst being a dedicated socialist.

Duke got on with anyone regardless of their politics who were professional and did their job. It takes two to argue over politics and Im sure if politics were brought up in the conversation he would accommodate a debate.


Mike

Stan accepted a knighthood in his friend Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson's controversial resignation list in 1976. He died from pneumonia in Spain before he could make the journey to Buckingham Palace, aged 48. He released a statement saying he had accepted the award because it was for his acting career, and because he hoped it could help the British film industry.

Sean Connery, also very left-wing, accepted a knighthood some years ago. In fact I believe he complained about not getting one.

DUKE put politics aside when it came to friendship.
kirk douglas
roscoe lee browne
to name a few were friends to the end.
he had no trouble working with rock hudson and all hollywood knew he was gay. they may have disliked his views,but admired the man.because he respected others points of view.

great action film