On G List of Movie Reviews

(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)

---

The Guns of Navarone (1961)

Rate: 1
Viewed: 1/12

1/12: I read the book The Guns of Navarone.

Seeing the film, I was like, "What the...?" In fact, it's not even The Guns of Navarone but a made-up story.

First of all, right at the beginning, don't ever, ever show the Guns of Navarone. Once they've been sighted, the film dies. Second, when a book is already good, the director should try to improve on it. What happened in the film is a major revision of the entire thing. Think of The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Third, never cast Gregory Wood and Anthony Quayle (my goodness, has he worked a day in his life?) as die-hard characters. They show no credibility whatsoever. Instead, Lee Marvin should've been the face. Fourth, there were no women in the book, yet for the film, there's a love story going on. Why? Fifth, everybody looks too damn good...fresh and healthy every single day. They even shave, too. Sixth, when Gregory Wood's character said he hadn't climbed in five years, I guess "forearm pump" isn't a concept.

All in all, I would rather watch Where Eagles Dare over The Guns of Navarone.

---