6.4/10
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89 user 47 critic

The Eiger Sanction (1975)

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

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Writers:

(screenplay), (screenplay) (as Warren B. Murphy) | 2 more credits »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
... Jonathan Hemlock
... Ben Bowman
... Jemima Brown
... Miles Mellough
... Mrs. Montaigne (as Heidi Bruhl)
... Dragon
... Freytag (as Reiner Schoene)
Michael Grimm ... Meyer
Jean-Pierre Bernard ... Montaigne
Brenda Venus ... George
... Pope
... Art Student
Elaine Shore ... Miss Cerberus
Dan Howard ... Dewayne
Jack Kosslyn ... Reporter
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Storyline

Jonathan Hemlock 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. Written by John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

EASTWOOD is the man . . Eiger is the location . . and the sanction - is a licence to kill! See more »

Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

21 May 1975 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

La sanction  »

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Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$14,200,000, 31 December 1975
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Westrex Recording System)

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

According to local climber and mountain guides, when looking out and down the Eiger north face from the excavation tunnel's opening for the first time, Clint Eastwood cringed back onto safe ground saying "Let's get the sh..t out of here!" See more »

Goofs

In the sequences on the North Face Hemlock's trousers regularly change from brown corduroy knee britches to black/ blue long pants. See more »

Quotes

Art Student: I've never felt this close to art before.
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock: How nice.
Art Student: But I have a problem.
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock: How terrible.
Art Student: If I don't keep my "B" average, I'll lose my scholarship and I don't think I'll do well on your final exam. I've gained a while new feeling about art but sometimes you can't put your true feelings down on paper.
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock: How true.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Horror Business (2005) See more »

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User Reviews

 
Overlooked Eastwood gem!

This movie is highly unusual and possibly even unique in Clint Eastwood's career, either as actor or director.

In "The Eiger Sanction" he plays Dr. Jonathan Hemlock, a character completely unlike any other he has played. Dr. Hemlock is, in fact, the very antithesis of the typical Eastwood character.

Although he hides a secret past, Hemlock displays a highly cultured knowledge of fine art and jazz in both his professional and personal life. He possesses as highly refined a taste for beautiful women as he does for the most beautiful works of art.

Eastwood is both a philosopher and a lover in this film. He is also a humorist. But there are no glib one-liners here. In fact, this one film probably contains more dialogue for Eastwood than he has done for any other character he has played in his career.

Eastwood is the quintessential strong, silent type. As anyone knows who has seen him as a gunfighter hero, whether in the Old West or in the big city. In "The Eiger Sanction," he is a different kind of gun- fighter. His character is not drawn on the swift, total retribution exacted by the Man with No Name. Instead, it is drawn on the suave, debonair charm of James Bond. Jonathan Hemlock possesses the same cultural refinement and cosmopolitanism that the Bond character does. In fact, Hemlock and Bond are at work and at home in the same element: international espionage.

I suspect this is why the casual fan of Clint Eastwood typically detests this movie. Clint Eastwood appears to be miscast. But I'd say he pulls it off admirably, showing the viewer a side of himself which is rarely seen and exhibiting his versatility as an actor.

The story itself is better than average and the movie rates two and one half stars.


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