The Guns of Navarone
Posted by ArmedGeek on Monday, July 19, 2010 in Movies
All the odds were against them. They were betrayed. Their supplies and armaments destroyed. The element of surprise had disappeared. And yet, these brave men risked their lives to save a nation. Success was measured only by destroying the Guns of Navarone…they succeeded.
The Guns of Navarone is one of my favorite WWII movies. While a bit less known than The Great Escape or Patton it is every bit as good a movie.
I’m not a big fan of Gregory Peck. No matter what he’s in, he always comes off as a total prick. That works to his advantage in this film though. If you’ve not seen it, I highly recommend it.
Update: WAMK has a caption contest up!
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You name three of my fav war movies! And GofN is a really great one. I even liked the sequel, although it is not of the same … caliber (heh).
I have to disagree with you on Peck. Great actor, IMHO. See him in To Kill A Mockingbird, or Moby Dick.
- but to each their own -
Don’t get me wrong, I think he was a good actor, there was just always something about him that made me think of him as a prick. Could be his looks, I dunno.
Ah, you got me there, that one had slipped my mind. Its been a while, but I think you’re right, not much asshole vibe there.
Peck can be cold. I guess that could be taken to be prickish. And he does often play cold (G of N) or tortured (Moby D) characters.
Peck was also cold and awesome in 12 O’clock High, the quintessential movie about the B-17 campaign in WWII. Yeah, prickish is the word.
I love this movie. I didn’t care much for the sequel, even with Ford in it.
Maybe because his last name is PECK?
AG….why do you think Peck made a GREAT Ahab!!!
And I have to agree with “The Guns of Navarone” pick. One of the best war movies made.
A lot of people do not realize “The Great Escape” is actually a true story.
One of my favorite movies with Gregory Peck is Big Country, and not just because Jean Simmons was in it.
Some of my favorite movie scenes are from Big Country, including the one where Burl Ives’ character is forced to shoot his own son to prevent him from committing a cowardly and treacherous act.
Now, for a confession: I’ve actually never seen The Guns of Navarone.
(ducks before Aggie throws something)
But it is on my list to watch one of these days.
Yep. Great Escape was based on a real escape.
Draco – did you know that Donald Pleasence (the Forger) and several others were actually POWs during WW2?
I will always think of Pleasence as Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Gawd, he made a fine Evil Villain!
Curtel Friar –
I liked the line where the cowboy proudly asks Peck, “Didja ever see anythin’ bigger’n Texas?”,
Peck calmly replies, “The Pacific.”
Never seen it. I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.
Always thought of the GofN in the same breath as “Where Eagles Dare”. Both great “wartime adventure” movies.
still, I am a sucker for the old Wayne flicks: The Longest Day, In Harms Way, The Flying Leathernecks, The Fighting Seabees, and They Were Expendable.
I’ve only seen Where Eagles Dare once, but Guns of Navarone seems more realistic than Eagles .. less Hollywood-ish.
I’ll give Where Eagles Dare another look. Should be easy since it is part of my collection.
Allistar MacLean wrote the book that inspired the movie, as well as the sequel with Han Solo in it. Also did Where Eagles Dare. Dude seemed to churn out a war book every 53 minutes or so. Good reads whilst on the beach on summer vacation..
Also, caption contest over at WAMK (since Aggie hasn’t done one here in awhile). Bring your “A” game, kids..
http://wherearemykeys.typepad.com/where_are_my_keys/2010/07/caption-contest.html
Sorry about my absence, y’all. Been extremely busy
fending offvisiting with my MIL, and having out of town guests, and not to mention painting and cleaning!Aggie, for some reason I’m hearing the lyrics from that old 70′s perfume ad in my head when I read your last comment..
I can bring home the bacon
Fry it up in the pan
And never let you forget you’re the Man..
By the way, I’ll be in Austin next week, San Antonio the week after. Anywhere near your parts?
Yeppers…I live right north of SA!! Shoot me an e-mail here as to your particulars. I’ll try to remember how to access it…
Flick also had the highly underrated Stanley Baker in it.
Great in Michael Caine’s first movie–Zulu.