WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL - Walter Stott

When Eight Bells Toll (1971) is an action adventure thriller directed by Etienne Perier and based on a novel by Scottish author Alistair MacLean.
Anthony Hopkins plays an agent who is sent to investigate the hijacking of five cargo ships in the Irish Sea, tracking the latest hijacked ship - the Nantesville, carrying £8 million in gold bullion - to the Scottish Highlands and the sleepy port town of "Torbay".
Anthony Hopkins is naval secret-agent Philip Calvert. Posing as marine biologists, Calvert and his partner Hunslett (Corin Redgrave) find something fishy and hostile among the Scottish inhabitants.
Robert Morley plays Sir Arthur Arnford Jones (Uncle Arthur). Jones is a stuffy bureaucrat who doesnt like Calvert's brash and arrogant manner. Almost a more comic version of "M" .
Jack Hawkins as Sir Anthony Skouros plays a rich and smooth Greek tycoon, who lays anchor off the coast in his luxury yacht, may be the culprit behind the pirating of the gold bullion. Hawkins was voiced over by Charles Gray, (who also appeared in two Bond movies "Diamonds Are Forever" and "You Only Live Twice") as he had a voice box owing to his throat cancer.
"Music is pretty good for a 70's score, with a brash theme that crops up anytime our hero is running or flying around which is a significant part of the time its the sort of music which would not have been out of place in an episode of 'The Professionals'."

Trivia: Bond film stunt arranger Bob Simmons was employed by the film and worked with Hopkins to slim him down and make him convincing as a Royal Naval officer who was commando and frogman trained.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Anthony-Hopkins
• Robert-Morley
• Nathalie-Delon
• Jack-Hawkins
• Corin
• Redgrave
• Derek-Bond
• Ferdy-Mayne
• Maurice-Roeves
• Where-Eagle-Dare
• Guns-of-Navarone
• Zeppelin

[MatlockJack]

This one of the best films ever made, but the fist fight in the Highland Graveyard is nothing but a priceless piece of camp.

[Soundtrackcollector]

Great comments ...well observed information.

Thanks.

[Gazmax1]

This is a fantastic video and a brilliant theme from a much loved film from my childhood. I can't thank you enough for putting it on.

[Soundtrackcollector]

Thanks for a great comment.

[Cool2BCeltic]

Sir Anthony Hopkins as the Milk Tray Man!

[awlcvl]

One of the best films with Anthony Hopkins in; its a great story, great location and well performed by all. Hopkins was also good in the BBC film Across the Lake where he plays the late Donald Cambell. Great music too!

[rankingtrevor]

Strange seeing Hopkins so young. He is a marvellous actor, I have yet to see him mess up in his roles even in his old age he is brilliant. Watch 'Fracture' 2007, if you think I lie!

[takeadayofff]

After reading the description and watching the video I won't need to download the movie :-)

[MatlockJack]

@dirkwestwood

After he's just rolled downhill to the gravestone, I had to think about that for a moment!

[dirkwestwood]

@MatlockJack "we'll be watching you!""I hope you learn something!"

[randomdave30]

Anthony Hopkins never had a glamorous, film-star appeal about him but always brings an intense, dangerous edge to his roles.

[RJM1011]

Thanks for this one more GREAT job from you.

You should be making film trailers for a living.

[JollyRodders]

@spideyfreak55 Most DVD players in the U.K will play NTSC format videos. You've just got to make the player multi region which usually means pushing a few buttons on the remote. I just received a DVD of "Talvisota The Winter War" in NTSC format from Korea...It's hard to get in PAL...and it plays great. I've heard that US players don't usually play PAL DVDs though. I don't know if that's true. If they do order a copy from Amazon etc.

[JollyRodders]

@arflix Probably. They kept the lines in when it was shown on T.V in the U.K. Same as the dogs name in the Dambusters...It isn't politically correct nowadays but they keep it in the film and don't bleep it out. The British telly audience is probably less sensitive than in the US.