Give me a spy movie, a caper movie, a war movie and a non stop action thriller all rolled up into one big package and I'd be a very happy man indeed. Thing is, that package already exists in the brilliant Alistair MacLean adaptation of Where Eagles Dare.
First, take a simple premise of an expert team of German speaking allies who are being dropped into Austria to rescue an an American General before he can be tortured into giving up the plans for the next major phase of the Allies counter-attack. Make the first hour a tense thriller, with the hero (Richard Burton) sneaking around behind his team's back, enemy undercover agents killing his men off one by one, and all the edge of your seat uncertainty as to whether they can covertly gain access to the enemies stronghold, a mountaintop fortress. Then there's the caper antics of the middle half hour as Burton cons both the good guys and the bad guys into thinking he's on their side to obtain his real objective; information.
Finally, when Burton loyalties come down on the good side of the coin, it's a full hour of fights, firefights, explosions, leaps, falls, chases and an iconic cable car fight until they escape to freedom. Phew. Oh, and tack on the end a final revelation as the last part of Burton's meticulous con is laid bare. Brilliant.
Eastwood is cool as the American soldier along for the ride but this is Richard Burton's show all the way. He's tough, charming and magnetic to the point you're never quite sure what side he's on....or care either. The caper plot means this isn't just an adventure movie, but it's also a battle of wits as Burton seeks to deceive EVERYBODY else in the movie. Brinkmanship is groovy.
Finally there's Ron Goodwin's ever present score which underscores the tension and the action perfectly. It might not be the most serious or most important World War II movie in existence, but I'd wager it's the most fun.
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