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The Guns of Navarone

Play trailer 3:41 Poster for The Guns of Navarone 1961 2h 37m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 25 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
In 1943, a small commando team is sent to destroy huge German guns on the Greek Island of Navarone in order to rescue Allied troops trapped on Kheros. Led by British Major Franklin (Anthony Quayle), the team includes American Mallory (Gregory Peck), Greek resistance fighter Stavros (Anthony Quinn) and reluctant explosives expert Miller. Facing impossible odds, the men battle stormy seas and daunting cliffs. When Franklin is injured, Mallory takes command, and personal enmities spill over.
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The Guns of Navarone

The Guns of Navarone

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Critics Consensus

Bolstered by a cast of memorable stars and an impressive sense of scale, The Guns of the Navarone fires with vivid characterization and entertaining spectacle.

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Critics Reviews

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John Gillett Sight & Sound Above all, the film lacks a firm controlling hand which would have ironed out passages of incoherent editing and made the climax really tell. Feb 11, 2020 Full Review Arthur Ryel-Lindsey Slant Magazine David Niven is the subservient but stylish chemist Miller, rounding out a film that ranks among the best war movies. Rated: 3.5/4 May 7, 2007 Full Review Allison Rose FlickDirect With great action scenes, solid dialogue and an interesting plot, The Guns of Navarone is an excellent example of what war movies were like over 60 years ago. Rated: 4.5/5 Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Christopher Lloyd The Film Yap An old-school war picture, where men are men, women are tough (but not too tough!) and the Nazis are hiss-able bad guys. Rated: 3.5/5 May 2, 2022 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Beautifully paced, this 156-minute classic allows enough time for character development, plot complications, and several exciting set-pieces. Rated: 4/4 Nov 13, 2021 Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins The finale is a touch overdramatic, but the film is nonetheless a first-class war epic. Rated: 8/10 Aug 24, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Claudio C The Guns of Navarone (1961) One of the Best War-Action Films Ever Made (11,990 – 21 Jul 1998 / 14 Jan 2002 / 14 Aug 2020 / 14 Oct 2025 – by Claudio Carvalho) In 1943, the British Navy is not able to rescue 2,000 soldiers trapped in the Island of Kheros since two powerful German cannons on the top of the Navarone Island are sinking the Allied vessels. After a failed aerial attack, the Allied command decides to send a six-men team disguised as fishermen to Navarone to blow-up the guns. The squad is commanded by Maj. Roy Franklin (Anthony Quayle) and composed by Capt. Keith Mallory (Gregory Peck), who is an experienced mountain climber, and his former partner Col. Andrea Stavros (Anthony Quinn); the explosive expert Cpl. John Anthony Miller (David Niven); the engineer CPO ā€œButcherā€ Brown (Stanley Baker); and the Greek assassin Spyros Pappadimos (James Darren), who was born in Navarone. They sail during the night and after an encounter with a German patrol boat and a storm in the sea, they arrive to Navarone and Capt. Mallory needs to climb a cliff face during a heavy rainy night to proceed their mission. Will they succeed in their mission? "The Guns of Navarone" is one of the best war-action films ever made by the cinema industry. The suspenseful plot is engaging from the very beginning, with witty dialogs. The direction of J. Lee Thompson is superb, and the cast is a dream team. The action scenes are impressive even in the present days and after watching this film several times. The viewer does not feel the 2h 38 min running time. My vote is ten. Title (Brazil): "Os CanhƵes de Navarone" ("The Cannons of Navarone") My Blog: https://maniacosporfilme.wordpress.com/ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 10/15/25 Full Review Isaiah Y A must-watch film for any fan of war movies. Great performances by Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/21/25 Full Review Matthew G One of the most unrealistic, poorly written, ridiculously acted moveies about WWIi ever. Actually comedic. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 03/20/25 Full Review Vitor O This pic about a group of saboteurs (leaded by an excellent Gregory Peck) with the mission to destroy the famed Guns of Navarone so the Allied Navy can rescue 2.000 British troopers is one of the best WWII adventure pics of all time, and is especially a great exemple of a war epic of the 60's. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/15/25 Full Review Steve G Awesome cast, unrelenting suspense great dialogue,good plot twists. They don't give Oscars for ensemble casts, but Anthony Quinn deserved a supporting for his performance Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/11/25 Full Review Narciso R Can't believe Nevin was second banana, corporal. Great movie, very realistic. NRJ. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Read all reviews
The Guns of Navarone

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Movie Info

Synopsis In 1943, a small commando team is sent to destroy huge German guns on the Greek Island of Navarone in order to rescue Allied troops trapped on Kheros. Led by British Major Franklin (Anthony Quayle), the team includes American Mallory (Gregory Peck), Greek resistance fighter Stavros (Anthony Quinn) and reluctant explosives expert Miller. Facing impossible odds, the men battle stormy seas and daunting cliffs. When Franklin is injured, Mallory takes command, and personal enmities spill over.
Director
J. Lee Thompson
Producer
Carl Foreman
Screenwriter
Alistair MacLean, Carl Foreman
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Highroad, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Open Road
Genre
War, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 22, 1961, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
May 7, 2013
Runtime
2h 37m
Sound Mix
Stereo, Mono, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround
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