When Eight Bells Toll

Watch: When Eight Bells Toll

5/26/19711h 34m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ Danger runs deeper than the sea bed! ~

Overview:

Phillip Calvert is a British Treasury secret service agent assigned to stop the ruthless pirating of millions in gold bullion off the western coast of the Scottish highlands. His search takes him to the small port town of Torbay on the Isle of Torbay where numerous fishing boats, yachts and people have been mysteriously disappearing. A trail of deceit and subterfuge leads him to Cypriot tycoon and shipping magnate Sir Anthony Skouras and his beautiful wife, Charlotte aboard their luxury yacht anchored off the coast, who may hold the answers to the truth.

Director:

Étienne Périer

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$1,800,000.00

Revenue:

$5,400,000.00

Key words:

based on novel or book
scotland
secret agent
ship hijacking

Cast

Anthony Hopkins

~ as ~

Philip Calvert

Robert Morley

~ as ~

Uncle Arthur

Nathalie Delon

~ as ~

Charlotte

Jack Hawkins

~ as ~

Sir Anthony Skouras

Corin Redgrave

~ as ~

Hunslett

Derek Bond

~ as ~

Lord Charnley

Ferdy Mayne

~ as ~

Lavorski

Maurice Roëves

~ as ~

Lt. Williams - Helicopter Pilot

Leon Collins

~ as ~

Tim Hutchinson

Wendy Allnutt

~ as ~

Sue Kirkside

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 2 year(s) ago
6
Alistair Maclean always could pen a good a crime thriller, and his adaptation of his own novel lends much to this, otherwise, rather lacklustre production. It stars Anthony Hopkins as an agent who is despatched by Robert Morley ("Sir Arthur") to investigate the loss of a ship off the Northern coast of Scotland. Once he arrives in this remote coastal community, he quickly discovers his task to be quite perilous - something is amiss. Shortly afterwards, he encounters the cruising millionaire "Sir Anthony Skouras" (Jack Hawkins) and open hostility towards him begins. Sadly, neither Morley nor Hawkins are anywhere near their best in this, and though Hopkins - and the writer - do manage to build a gentle head of steam with the plot, the film is almost a dreary as the weather conditions. It just doesn't really ever manage to get going. There are too many implausibles in the plot - and the ending, complete with a crossbow and a blow-torch just didn't quite work. The score is a bit too overpowering (and the main theme repetitive) and is relied upon much too heavily to augment, even create, what tension and suspense there is. It's still a good watch, but more for some super underwater photography, and some nice Caithness scenery than for anything else.