Overview: Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn and David Niven are Allied saboteurs assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable German-held island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.

Blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman (High Noon, The Bridge on the River Kwai) was determined to re-establish both his name and credibility after spending most of the 50’s working in anonymity. To accomplish this, he decided to bring Alistair MacLean’s best-selling novel, THE GUNS OF NAVARONE, to the screen.

Supported by an all-star cast and produced on a grand scale, the film was an enormous success, receiving seven 1961 Academy Award nominations (including Best Picture) and winning for Best Special Effects. Although Foreman achieved his goal, it was MacLean who would wind up the true beneficiary; his novels became the source for many high adventure screen epics, including Ice Station Zebra and Where Eagles Dare.

However, it is THE GUNS OF NAVARONE that remains not only the best of the MacLean adaptations, but one of the greatest action/adventure spectacles ever produced.

Blu-ray Verdict: With 2,000 Allied Troops stranded on the Greek Island of Kheros with the imminent possibility of a German attack, the allies enlist Captains Keith Mallory (Gregory peck) and Andrea Stavros (Anthony Quinn) to lead a ragtag group on a last ditch effort to destroy the fortified gun emplacement on Navarone and clear the way for an allied rescue, not only dealing with the superior numbers of the German army but also the equally dangerous elements.

Released in 1961 to commercial and critical success, The Guns of Navarone marked the first adaptation of Alistair MacLean’s books to film and its success inspired a number of other MacLean adaptations. With its intrigue rich plot, commanding performances by Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, and David Niven, The Guns of Navarone is one of the quintessential war adventure films.

The movie is absolutely massive in scope and ambition with Navarone almost a character unto itself. Filmed on location in Greece J. Lee Thompson does a great job capturing the look and feel of Greece and utilizing the location to great effect. The action sequences are well staged with impact and scale that results in many tense confrontations throughout the film. While the film’s technical aspects are impressive, there’s also a good amount of substance supporting them.

While the film’s plot is a standard sabotage mission, the journey getting through the mission is rich with character based intrigue, suspicion, and drama that makes for compelling story telling. Our cast is filled with strong characterizations that all play well against each other and isn’t afraid to operate in shades of grey.

The Guns of Navarone is a thrilling adventure that keeps the tension going until the explosive final act. While certain scenes can run a bit long, the movie packs a strong visceral punch on a grand scale that makes the film more than worthy of recommendation; especially now, given it has just been released as a most glorious SteelBook (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital) edition.

4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS:
Main Title Progression Reel (HD 2:43)
Trailer (HD 3:42)
Audio Commentary featuring director J. Lee Thompson
Audio Commentary featuring historian Stephen J Rubin
Forging the Guns of Navarone
Ironic Epic of Heroism
Memories of Navarone
Epic Restoration
A Heroic Score
Great Guns
No Visitors
Honeymoon on Rhodes
Two Girls on the Town
Narration-Free Prologue
Message from Carl Foreman