Force 10 from Navarone (1978)

During World War II, several oddly assorted military experts are teamed in a mission to raid and destroy a bridge vital to enemy strategy.

Director:

Guy Hamilton

Writers:

Alistair MacLean (novel), Robin Chapman (screenplay)

Stars:

Harrison Ford, Robert Shaw, Edward Fox

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Shaw	...	Mallory
Harrison Ford	...	Barnsby
Barbara Bach	...	Maritza
Edward Fox	...	Miller
Franco Nero	...	Lescovar
Carl Weathers	...	Weaver
Richard Kiel	...	Drazak
Alan Badel	...	Petrovitch
Michael Byrne	...	Schroeder
Philip Latham	...	Jensen
Angus MacInnes	...	Reynolds
Michael Sheard	...	Sgt. Bauer
Petar Buntic	...	Marko
Leslie Schofield	...	Interrogation Officer 1
Anthony Langdon	...	Interrogation Officer 2 (as Antony Langdon)

Storyline

Mallory and Miller are back. It seems that there was traitor with them at Navarone, whom they thought was executed. But it seems that not only was he not executed, and he was not a traitor but a German spy. Intelligence believes he made it to Yugoslavia and is now with the Partisans. So, Mallory and Miller being the only ones who can positively identify him are sent along with a unit called Force 10, which is led by Colonel Barnsby, who objects to their presence. It seems that Force 10 has a mission of their own which Mallory and Miller know nothing about. When their plane is shot and most of the team is killed, they mistakenly believe that some of the locals they meet are Partisans but in reality are German Allies, so they are taken prisoner, and have to convince the German commander that they are not spies or else they will be killed.

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Plot Keywords:

partisan | german army | collapsing bridge | booby trap | prison guard | 

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Taglines:

The Odds Against Them Were 10,000 to 1...But What the Hell!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | War

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Croatian Serbian

Release Date:

8 December 1978 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alistair MacLean's Force 10 from Navarone

Filming Locations:

Brigde on the River Tara near Djurdjevica Tara, Zabljak, Montenegro

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$7,230,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$7,230,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Navarone Productions, American International Pictures (AIP)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min 126 min (restored)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo

Color:

Black and White (archive photographs in opening credits) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character of Miller, played by Edward Fox in this sequel, was called Corporal Dusty Miller in the original The Guns of Navarone (1961) and was played there by David Niven. In this sequel, Miller has now been promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.

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Goofs

When Force 10 is taken to the "partisan" camp and the so-called "partisans" reveal themselves to be Chetniks (German allies), they turn their caps around to hide the communist red stars they were wearing as a disguise to reveal their Chetnik insignia, including the group who met Force 10 initially. However, none of those Chetniks had any insignia on the backs of their caps at the first rendezvous.

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Quotes

Barnsby: Now, look. Our experts have been studying that bridge for weeks, and they say it'll blow. I don't know where you learned your job, but I'm talking about the best construction engineers in the business!
Miller: Yes. Well, they're probably experts at building things, whereas I'm an expert at blowing them up, and you can take it from me that one would need a good eight hours to make a decent job on that bridge.

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: SOMEWHERE IN ENGLAND 1943

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Alternate Versions

The 2009 MGM Blu-ray has newly generated opening credits adding a new opening credit "Samuel Z. Arkoff and Oliver A. Unger present". This credit is over a black background and then the usual graphical credit background begins with the credit for "Robert Shaw". However, due to this addition the music begins earlier and thus the progression of the images and music is not the same as in previous versions without the new credits. There is also an addition to the "co-produced by John R. Sloan" credit which now has "Anthony B. Unger" credited underneath.

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Connections

Referenced in James Bond Stars (2002)

User Reviews

Not a classic, but a solid WWII flick

World War II has spawned so many stories, films, books, songs, TV shows, from garbage to genius, that one could easily spend an a lifetime absorbed in them. Here is a basic WWII movie that tells a very straight forward story about a small group of soldiers trying to blow up a bridge in enemy held territory. It doesn't try to be Bridge on the River Kwai, another film where a small group of special forces travel (on foot I might add) to destroy a bridge important to the enemy forces.

On the plus side is that the action takes place in Yugoslavia, not the setting of too many war movies made in Hollywood, so that gives this some interesting moments (how many movies have Croatian Chetniks in them?). Also, Robert Shaw, good in anything, and Edward Fox have a great rapport, trading lines with impeccable timing. It would be easy to believe they are lifelong friends in real life the way they portray their characters. Harrison Ford gives a solid performance as a young overachieving officer, helping the subplot of the new blood clashing with the old veterans. Barbara Bach is beautiful, but not much other reason for her to be around. Carl Weathers actually gives a nice performance as the rebellious black soldier, implausibly brought along by weirdly improbable circumstances. Facing the fact that the Armed Forces were segregated during WWII, it seems like the makers wanted to have a black included in the movie and had to make up some way to do that, coming up with a ridiculously contrived way to have him along. It's unfortunate they couldn't come up with something better because, though Weathers is likable and his character brings something to the party, they way they did it undermines the plotline.

The action is okay, though the payoff at the end, clever as it is, ultimately fails because of the special effects--they just weren't that well done; they seemed like they came from a grade b movie.

If you've seen some WWII movies like A Bridge Too Far, Kelly's Heros, Battle of the Bulge, the Devil's Brigade, or Where Eagles Dare and liked them, definitely give this one a try. Not a classic, but a decent addition to the crowd.