Anthony Hopkins as an action hero?!? Yes, it is very real with the adaptation of Alistair MacLean’s When Eight Bells Toll. Kino Lorber’s new Blu-ray special edition.
The Film
Sir Tony, you continually surprise me. Whether it’s wonderful and positive social media posts, current artistic choices made, you’re becoming an American Citizen, or your earlier career choices like When Eight Bells Toll.
When Eight Bells Toll finds Hopkins as a cool-as-ice government agent trying to find billions in gold bullion that disappeared off the coast of Ireland. The locals are straight out of Straw Dogs with their unwelcoming nature to Hopkin’s Phillip Calvert. Like many of novelist Alistair MacLean’s work, there is a slow burn to everything until the third action-filled act. However, here is slightly different at as Calvert goes on many excursions that do not go according to plan which action or adventure ensues.
Two of the film’s strengths are the brevity and levity that everything proceeds at. MacLean’s work is always fairly dour affairs and here there’s a bit of lightness, especially with Hopkins’s dry wit, and the “Englishness” of the entire piece. Coupled with the breezy sub-100-minute runtime doesn’t make everything long in the tooth or insufferable as MacLean’s clockwork-like precision often dictates.
Part of the film’s allure is its shot-on-location visuals and action scenes. There is helicopter and scuba diving set pieces that truly do feel dangerous and are excellently produced by the cast and crew. In fact, the helicopter work is some of the best this reviewer has seen. Director Étienne Périer keeps everything moving with a lean economical style. Cinematographer Arthur Ibbetson’s work with Périer is wonderful and shows the lost art of someone who understands widescreen compositions for maximum impact.
When Eight Bells Toll is dad cinema at its finest. Best watched on a Saturday afternoon, standing in front of the TV, beer in hand.
The Transfer
I’m unsure if this is a new transfer or one that’s just given more space with updated compression tools leading to a healthier more verbose transfer. The image hasn’t a scratch or blemish. The widescreen cinematography is wonderfully reproduced here allowing for the filtered image to look as sharp as it does beautifully diffused. Another win for Kino Lorber.
The Extras
They include the following;
- NEW Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell and Screenwriter/Producer Cyrus Voris
- Theatrical Trailer
The all-new Audio Commentary by Filmmaker/Historian Steve Mitchell and Screenwriter/Producer Cyrus Voris discusses how Mitchell showed Voris this “working class Bond” as the film opens. Some of the details include how at the time Alistair MacLean was a huge author and many of his novels turned into books – including a discussion of the various books-to-movies that had come out at the time of this release; producer Elloit Kastner reasons for purchasing the novel and making it into a feature; a discussion of the work and personal history of star Anthony Hopkins; the casting what if’s for Calvert; the work of cinematographer Arthur Ibbetson; the action and Hopkins approach to the stunt work; the work of director Étienne Périer – though Kastner wanted Brian Hutton because of the success of Where Eagles Dare; a discussion of budget and contracts to make the film; the box office results – and success even though it was precieved as a failure; a larger discussion of the differences between Bond films and this one; the plan for multiple Calvert films that never occurred – and a discussion of those possible plans; a larger discussion of the social/caste structure that affects this film not only how the film is cast but the film as scripted; a larger discussion throughout about author Alistair MacLean; a larger discussion of the various actors that appear; a larger discussion of the various locations the production used; and much more. The commentary is an informative delight with Mitchell and Voris providing not just facts and anecdotes from the production but quotes from those involved.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for When Eight Bells Toll (2:50); Juggernaut (2:54); Masquerade (3:00); The Ipcress File (3:07); The Eiger Sanction (2:50); The Groundstar Conspiracy (2:37); Number One of the Secret Service (2:33); That Man Bolt (2:32); The Secret Ways (1:05); The Satan Bug (2:13); Breakheart Pass (3:07); Force 10 from Navarone (1:45)
The Final Thought
When Eight Bells Toll may shock you how good it is. Kino delivers another surprise Blu-ray edition. Recommended.