{"id":87755,"date":"2022-10-02T17:35:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-03T00:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=87755"},"modified":"2022-10-03T09:44:52","modified_gmt":"2022-10-03T16:44:52","slug":"guns-of-navarone-the-1961","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=87755","title":{"rendered":"Guns of Navarone, The (1961)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;The only way to win a war is to be as nasty as the enemy.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Poster-200x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-87757\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Poster-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Poster-85x128.png 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Poster-180x270.png 180w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Poster.png 629w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring World War II, Major Roy Franklin (Anthony Quayle) leads a skilled commando unit &#8212; consisting of a former mountaineer (Gregory Peck), a demolitions expert (David Niven), a Greek colonel (Anthony Quinn), an engineer (Stanley Baker), and two female resistance agents (Irene Papas and Gia Scala) &#8212; in attempting to bomb a pair of gigantic, Nazi-owned guns on the Greek island of Navarone.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Anthony Quayle Films<\/li>\n<li>Anthony Quinn Films<\/li>\n<li>David Niven Films<\/li>\n<li>Greece<\/li>\n<li>Gregory Peck Films<\/li>\n<li>Military<\/li>\n<li>Nazis<\/li>\n<li>Richard Harris Films<\/li>\n<li>World War II<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis top-grossing film of 1961 &#8212; based on a <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Guns_of_Navarone_(novel)\">1957 novel by Alistair MacLean<\/a>, with a screenplay by Carl Foreman &#8212; was helmed by J. Lee Thompson, and featured an international cast of actors generally considered too old for their roles, but nonetheless convincing as a motley group of specialists brought together for a seemingly suicidal mission. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-87774\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Papas-Peck-Quinn.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The action is nicely paced throughout, with tensions between characters emerging quickly, and an added eventual plot twist of a traitor in their midst. Meanwhile, there are ample Nazi baddies to hiss at. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-87773\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Nazi-Baddies.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The film was shot both in studio and on location (on <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Rhodes\">the island of Rhodes<\/a>), and the title (fictional) guns themselves are truly a sight to behold. As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3695guns.html\">DVD Savant points out<\/a>, the film&#8217;s &#8220;immediate legacy can be seen in the best of the James Bond films, where 007 similarly squirrels his way into outrageously grandiose vaults and fortresses.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-87770\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Big-Guns2.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Given that this is a film best seen to be enjoyed, I won&#8217;t say much more about it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> Interestingly, Alexander Mackendrick was originally hired to helm this film, but was fired due to &#8220;creative differences&#8221;. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine performances by the ensemble cast &#8212; particularly David Niven as Cpl. Miller<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-87763\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Niven.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Good use of location shooting (merged with studio footage)<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-87766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Ships2.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Numerous exciting action scenes<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-87767\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator-1536x653.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Guns-of-Navarone-Elevator.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nYes, as an engaging Hollywood epic. Listed as a film with Historical Importance in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Good Show<\/li>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0054953\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3695guns.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/21984\/the-guns-of-navarone#articles-reviews\">TCM Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/review\/52855\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1961\/06\/23\/archives\/screen-a-robust-dramaguns-of-navarone-is-at-two-theatres.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The only way to win a war is to be as nasty as the enemy.&#8221; Synopsis: During World War II, Major Roy Franklin (Anthony Quayle) leads a skilled commando unit &#8212; consisting of a former mountaineer (Gregory Peck), a demolitions expert (David Niven), a Greek colonel (Anthony Quinn), an engineer (Stanley Baker), and two female resistance agents (Irene Papas and Gia Scala) &#8212; in attempting to bomb a pair of gigantic, Nazi-owned guns on the Greek island of Navarone. Genres,&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=87755\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=87755"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87830,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87755\/revisions\/87830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=87755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=87755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=87755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}