When Eight Bells Toll (film)

In July 1966 Kastner and his producing partner Jerry Gershwin had purchased five screenplays from MacLean: Where Eagles Dare, When Eight Bells Toll, and three other unnamed ones.[2]

In November Kastner announced they would make the film as part of a 14-film slate over two years. Among the 14 movies were Maclean's Where Eagles Dare, which was a big hit in 1968, leading to high expectations for When Eight Bells Toll.[3]

Kastner saw When Eight Bells Toll as a combination of The Guns of Navarone, Gunga Din and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. "There was a strong character and a great adventure in there," said Kastner.[4]

MacLean elected to adapt his novel for the cinema himself, and kept the adaptation close to the novel.[5] The story is very close to the source text, and features some of the same witty dialogue. Some of the twists in the ending have been changed, however, and a shootout replaces MacLean's original Agatha Christie-style summation.

Producer Elliott Kastner hoped that the film would be the first of a series of spy adventures films featuring MacLean's Philip Calvert character by capturing James Bond series fans after the anticipated demise of that series (Sean Connery was believed to be planning to quit the Bond role, and some thought that the Bond series would end after his departure). [6]

The director was a Belgian, Etienne Perier who had done low budget films. Kastner later said hiring him was "probably the one mistake" he made on the film.[7]

Kastner says he raised the budget by ringing "a guy I read about in Fortune magazine and I went and saw him and said 'I need one point eight million dollars to make this second Alistair Maclean project.' And he heard me out and he wrote the damn cheque."[8]

Hopkins was paid £8,000.[9]

Kastner wanted a Celtic actor to play the hero Calvert, having had a big success with Richard Burton in Where Eagles Dare. "I saw the agent Calvert as a very exciting characterisation," said Kastner. "A lot could be done with him. But I didn't want a Tony Curtis. I didn't want a star. I wanted a classical actor. A real actor."[10]

He considered Michael Jayston and Anthony Hopkins for the role. Hopkins, then best known as a stage actor for his work at the National Theatre, was chosen on the basis of his performance in The Lion in Winter.[11]

Hopkins says he turned down the role at first, worried about being an action star. "It seemed too fast for me," he said. "I could hear myself saying, 'Now wait a minute'. Then when I had finally overcome my fright I said to myself 'I'd be mad to turn this chance down.' I didn't."[12]

Kastner wanted Hopkins to lose weight for the role. Bond film stunt arranger Bob Simmons helped him slim down to become a convincing Royal Naval officer trained as a commando and frogman.[13]

Filming started in September 1969[14] and went for sixteen weeks. It was done partly on location in Scotland with studio work at Pinewood.[15]

The main helicopter used in the film is a Westland Widgeon painted in Royal Navy Rescue helicopter colours.

During filming Hopkins fell in love with one of Kastner's assistants, Jennifer Lynton, and left his wife and child for her.[16]

When Eight Bells Toll performed poorly in cinemas in the US, although it was more popular in Europe[17] and was the 11th most popular film at the British box office in 1971.[18][19]

Kastner said the film "tripled its money" but admitted it was a disappointment.[20]

The Guardian described the film as, "All thoroughly silly but routine rather than rotten".[21]

Connery returned to the Bond role and appeared in the successful Diamonds Are Forever, and the Bond series producers decided to continue the series when Connery left. The projected Phillip Calvert series was cancelled.