When Eight Bells Toll (1971)

Director:

Etienne Périer

Writer:

Alistair MacLean (screenplay)

Release Date:

23 August 1971 (Norway)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Mystery

Plot:

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. |

Plot Keywords:

Robbery | Husband Wife Relationship | Britain | Male Female Relationship | Marine Biologist

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	...	Helicopter Pilot
Leon Collins	...	Tim Hutchinson
Wendy Allnutt	...	Sue Kirkside
Peter Arne	...	Imrie
Oliver MacGreevy	...	Quinn (as Oliver Macgreevy)
Jon Croft	...	Durran
Tom Chatto	...	Lord Kirkside
Charlie Stewart	...	Sgt. Macdonald

Also Known As:

Alistair Maclean's When Eight Bells Toll (UK) (complete title)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1971) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (video rating) (1990) | UK:A (original rating) | USA:GP

Filming Locations:

Brown's ironmongers shop, Tobermory, Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Towards the end of the film Calvert fires a rocket powered grappling-hook to help scale the cliff. This is clearly attached to a box of thin twine which is shown rapidly emptying as the rocket head upwards. When the hook lands and catches onto the base of a cannon, the twine has magically evolved into a 1 inch thick rope which Calvert then uses to climb the cliff.

Quotes:

Uncle Arthur: [Discussing the work involved in dealing with the bullion robbers] I have to deal with insurance agents. Grubby little men in raincoats with dandruff.
Philip Calvert: Well I don't have dandruff. Sir.
Uncle Arthur: Yes, I don't think there's any need to demonstrate your contempt for authority quite so early.

When Eight Bells Toll 1971

It's important that films such as this be recognised as breaking away from the 60's bond fayre, and that they introduced a gritty reality all of their own. Bond indeed could never say 'bastard'. Even though he really was. Bond films strayed from the books,which as period literature remains quite good. Where as EBT was reasonably similar to what the author wanted to get across. A man in a dangerous situation, dealing with ruthless adversaries,who kills without hesitation. Very military, very straight to the point. Bound to upset the Vicars wife at the local tea party. But he wouldn't care, he would sooner be elsewhere, Pursuing the enemy, where ever they hide in the class system, tap, tap, he's slotted, move on. A perpetually restless individual, as Mr Hopkins no doubt was at that point in his life. Drowning his frustrations in alcohol when off duty (as does every professional?) I am off to Scotland this month, to the Kyle of Lochalsh. To me as a teenager this was a significant film in my development, as well as the book. In a politically correct world, where cynical reality can only be found in 'spin', a world in which the late author could only bemoan; I find solace in this film. Where people actually disprove of my children playing with their toy guns and reading Commando magazine; in the comfortable cities which refuse to recognise the reality of living and surviving in the Hebridies; Please take me back to 1971!. These old values are as strong as ever and this films principles and values remain the same to this day.

Alan David Noorkoiv.