When Eight Bells Toll Backdrop Blur
When Eight Bells Toll Poster

When Eight Bells Toll

"Danger runs deeper than the sea bed!"

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.

Top Cast

  • Anthony Hopkins

    Anthony Hopkins

    Philip Calvert

  • Robert Morley

    Robert Morley

    Uncle Arthur

  • Nathalie Delon

    Nathalie Delon

    Charlotte

  • Jack Hawkins

    Jack Hawkins

    Sir Anthony Skouras

  • Corin Redgrave

    Corin Redgrave

    Hunslett

  • Derek Bond

    Derek Bond

    Lord Charnley

  • Ferdy Mayne

    Ferdy Mayne

    Lavorski

  • Maurice Roëves

    Maurice Roëves

    Lt. Williams - Helicopter Pilot

  • Leon Collins

    Leon Collins

    Tim Hutchinson

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.

Rating

5.7 / 10
61 Reviews
1 Popular

1 Reviews

  • CinemaSerf
    CinemaSerf
    6 May 29, 2023

    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.

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