Where Eagles Dare

19681968
MM
2h 38m

Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, and Mary Ure in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Trailer for this wartime classic

Play trailer2:19

Action Adventure War

Allied agents stage a daring raid on a castle where the Nazis are holding American brigadier general George Carnaby prisoner, but that's not all that's really going on.Allied agents stage a daring raid on a castle where the Nazis are holding American brigadier general George Carnaby prisoner, but that's not all that's really going on.Allied agents stage a daring raid on a castle where the Nazis are holding American brigadier general George Carnaby prisoner, but that's not all that's really going on.

See production, box office & company info

See more at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 3 nominations

Videos1

Where Eagles Dare

Where Eagles Dare

Clint Eastwood in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Clint Eastwood in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Richard Burton, Ingrid Pitt, and Mary Ure in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

"Where Eagles Dare," Richard Burton 1969 / MGM

"Where Eagles Dare," Clint Eastwood 1969 / MGM

"Where Eagles Dare," Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton 1969 / MGM

"Where Eagles Dare" Ingrid Pitt 1968 MGM

Ingrid Pitt in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Clint Eastwood and Ingrid Pitt on the set of "Where Eagles Dare"

"Where Eagles Dare" Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Elizabeth Taylor, Ingrid Pitt 1968 MGM

Elizabeth Taylor visiting husband Richard Burton in England during the making of "Where Eagles Dare"

Director
- Brian G. Hutton
Writer
- Alistair MacLean(story) (screenplay)
All cast & crew
See more cast details at IMDbPro

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During World War II, a British aircraft is shot down and crashes in Nazi held territory. The Germans capture the only survivor, American Brigadier General George Carnaby (Robert Beatty), and take him to the nearest S.S. headquarters. Unknown to the Germans, the General has full knowledge of the D-Day operation. The British decide that the General must not be allowed to divulge any details of the Normandy landing at all costs, and order Major Jonathan Smith (Richard Burton) to lead a crack commando team to rescue him. Amongst the team is an American Ranger, Lieutenant Morris Schaffer (Clint Eastwood), who is puzzled by his inclusion in an all British operation. When one of the team dies after the parachute drop, Schaffer suspects that Smith's mission has a much more secret objective. —Dave Jenkins <david.jenkins@smallworld.co.uk>

world war two british intelligence british traitor cablecar castle 223 more

Taglines
- They look like Nazis but . . . The Major is British . . . The Lieutenant is American . . . The Beautiful Frauleins are Allied Agents!
Genres
Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
- M
Parents guide

Trivia
In the scenes where Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood climb the steep fortress walls, Burton moves with ease, while Eastwood is clearly working hard physically. This was due to the fact that Burton, who was a hard-drinker, a chain smoker, and out-of-shape by that point, chose to ride a crane (made invisible by special effects) up the wall, whereas the health-conscious Eastwood was actually climbing the wall. Burton had already been diagnosed with bursitis, possibly aggravated by faulty treatment, arthritis and dermatitis.

Goofs
When Major Smith goes into the Bier Keller, he is wearing an officer's peaked cap. He takes it off and places it on the table and we never see it again. (Apparently, it was stolen from the set during the lunch break.)

Quotes
[Smith and Schaffer are observing the Castle of Eagles fortress, and a nearby military base]
Lt. Morris Schaffer: If I'm not mistaken, that's an army barracks over there.
Major John Smith: No mistake, Lieutenant. This the headquarters of the Wehrmacht Alpenkorps.
Lt. Morris Schaffer: Oh, swell. Do you have any other surprises I should know about?
Major John Smith: I thought you knew, Lieutenant. Why do you think we were chosen for his mission as if not to make social contact?
Lt. Morris Schaffer: You mean we're gonna go down there? Mingle with the German Army?
Major John Smith: Of course. Why do you think we're not dressed as German sailors?
Lt. Morris Schaffer: We'll be recognized as strangers.
Major John Smith: Training troops come and go all the time. What are six new faces among 600 new faces?
Lt. Morris Schaffer: Look, Major, this is primarily a British operation. I'm an American. I don't even know why the hell I'm here.
Major John Smith: Lieutenant, you're here because you're an American.

Alternate versions
The original release running 158 minutes had an Intermission and Entre'acte that have been skipped from many video releases (including the DVD release from Warner), resulting in a 155 minute version. This has induced a fade-out and fade-in of the music in the scenes preceding and following. The intermission was originally placed after Lt. Schaeffer sets the explosives in the interrogation room.

Connections
Edited into The Loch Ness Horror (1982)

Top review

9/10

A great wartime thriller

Where Eagles Dare is simply wonderful. Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood are in terrific form as leaders of a mission deep behind enemy lines. Their job: to infiltrate a mountain top castle and rescue an imprisoned American colonel. There's actually more to the mission than that, but to give away the twists would be to rob anyone who hasn't seen the movie of some wonderful surprises.

The snowy backdrop is perfectly captured. The action sequences (of which there are many) are brilliantly staged, especially the fight atop the cable car, and the bus chase at the end. Each character is well cast, with Burton, Eastwood, Ure and Hordern giving commanding performances. Best of all is the little-known Derren Nesbitt who oozes menace and charm as a nasty Nazi soldier.

I've seen this film countless times and it never tires me. It has so many twists and turns and well-execute sequences that it is gripping every time you watch it. There's really no other way to say it - you need to see this film and see it soon!

helpful•57

19

barnabyrudge
Jan 10, 2003

Release date
- March 12, 1969 (United States)
Countries of origin
- United Kingdom
- United States
Languages
- English
- German
Also known as
- Orlovsko gnijezdo
Filming locations
- Burg Hohenwerfen, Burgstraße 2, 5450 Werfen, Austria
Production companies
- Gershwin-Kastner Productions
- Winkast Film Productions
See more company credits at IMDbPro

Budget
- $7,700,000 (estimated)
Gross US & Canada
- $7,100,000
Gross worldwide
- $7,100,435

See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

Runtime
2 hours 38 minutes
Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1

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Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, and Mary Ure in Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Top Gap

By what name was Where Eagles Dare (1968) officially released in India in English?

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