The Eiger Sanction (1975)

Classical art professor and collector Dr. Jonathan Hemlock, who doubles as a professional assassin, is coerced out of retirement to avenge the murder of an old friend.

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Hal Dresner (screenplay), Warren Murphy (screenplay) (as Warren B. Murphy)

Stars:

Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Vonetta McGee

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Clint Eastwood	...	Jonathan Hemlock
George Kennedy	...	Ben Bowman
Vonetta McGee	...	Jemima Brown
Jack Cassidy	...	Miles Mellough
Heidi Brühl	...	Mrs. Montaigne (as Heidi Bruhl)
Thayer David	...	Dragon
Reiner Schöne	...	Freytag (as Reiner Schoene)
Michael Grimm	...	Meyer
Jean-Pierre Bernard	...	Montaigne
Brenda Venus	...	George
Gregory Walcott	...	Pope
Candice Rialson	...	Art Student
Elaine Shore	...	Miss Cerberus
Dan Howard	...	Dewayne
Jack Kosslyn	...	Reporter

Storyline

Dr. Jonathan Hemlock (Clint Eastwood) is an art history professor and collector who finances his hobby by performing the odd sanction (assassination) for an obscure government bureau. He is forced to take a case where he must find out which of the members of a mountain climbing team is the Russian killer he has been given as a target by joining an expedition to climb the treacherous Eiger.

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Plot Keywords:

mountain | mountain climbing | climbing | professor | mountain climber | 

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Taglines:

Revenge atop a Swiss Mountain... one of his team is a killer but who?

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Source author Rod Whitaker (Trevanian) scorned this movie as "vapid", and blamed the production for "the death of a promising young climber."

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Goofs

After Dewayne is killed, his swollen and bloody lip from the beating given to him by Hemlock the day before is missing, even though it was still present at the resort just minutes before the chase in the desert where he is shot.

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Quotes

Miles Mellough: For what I want in this world, I would even sell out my dear mother.
Jonathan Hemlock: How true!

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Alternate Versions

An early cut of the movie showed, in detail, a man slitting Henri Bach's throat, reaching in, and retrieving microfilm that he had just swallowed. This was deemed too graphic, so the scene was edited to its current version.

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Connections

Referenced in Mr. B's Lost Shorts (2001)

User Reviews

A very risking and dangerous movie to make.

I love this movie, Like Play Misty For Me this is a different kind of Clint Eastwood movie which is not a western or a cop movie. This is an espionage thriller with a surprise ending. He plays an assassin who comes out of retirement to avenge the death of his friend. In order to catch the unidentified killer he must participate in a mountain climbing expedition which the killer is also participating. Clint really took a big chance while making this movie. He did all the dangerous mountain climbing stunts. If I was directing and starring in a movie I wouldn't do a stunt that is dangerous. I urge Clint Eastwood fans to watch this movie, they won't be disappointed.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German

Release Date:

21 May 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Eiger Sanction

Filming Locations:

Eiger, Bernese Alps, Switzerland

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$14,200,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Malpaso Company, Jennings Lang, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1