The film went on to become the second highest-grossing film of 1961 (Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment)
If you’re looking for a good World War Two film to watch this weekend, there is certainly no shortage of choice. Over the years, dozens of classics have been made, with many still proving popular with viewers today.
But one film from the 1960s continues to stand out from the crowd. More than 60 years on, people are still recommending it to others and calling it one of the greatest war films ever made. It has also earned impressive ratings of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and 86% on its audience Popcornmeter.
The World War Two epic stars Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn (Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment)
The film in question is The Guns of Navarone, a 1961 World War Two epic starring Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn.
Based on Alistair MacLean’s bestselling 1957 novel, it follows an Allied commando team sent on a dangerous mission to destroy a heavily defended German fortress that threatens Allied naval operations in the Aegean Sea during World War Two.
Without giving too much away, the story centres on the team’s high-risk mission and the challenges they face as they try to complete one of the most important operations of the war.
Directed by J. Lee Thompson and written and produced by Carl Foreman, the film was a huge success with both audiences and critics when it arrived in cinemas in 1961.
It went on to become the second highest-grossing film of the year. It also received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay, before winning the Oscar for Best Special Effects.
Dimitri Tiomkin also won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score.
A sequel, Force 10 from Navarone, followed in 1978.
The film continues to attract glowing reviews from viewers more than six decades later.
One person wrote on Rotten Tomatoes: “Best World War II film ever made, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks. It is full of unrelenting suspense, great dialogue and phenomenal plot twists.”
The Allied commando team has to destroy a heavily defended German fortress (Image: Sony Pictures Entertainment)
Another added: “Classic war film that ranks as one of the best ever produced, thanks to a top-notch cast and direction that doesn’t shy away from the harsher side of war.”
A third wrote: “One hopes a thrilling story such as this happened during WWII. It’s a classic war film, mixing action, patriotism, suspense and human emotions into a must-see experience.”
Someone else commented: “Masterpiece. A WW2 classic that I have seen lots of times, but it never gets boring.”
Alongside Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn, the cast also includes Stanley Baker, Anthony Quayle, Irene Papas, Gia Scala, Richard Harris and James Darren.
The Guns of Navarone can be bought or rented on Prime Video.