No other type of film defines the action genre quite like the "guys on a mission" movie. With a minimum of plot development and characterizations, these flicks dive right into the adventure from the get-go. Yet 1968's Where Eagles Dare, starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood, proves that this sub-genre isn't without its share of brains as well as brawn. The story isn't based on run-and-gun theatrics but stealthness, white-knuckle intensity, and an approach that might result in some dull moments but keeps the film gripping.

Where Eagles Dare begins in the midst of World War II, when an airplane carrying an American general with vital information about a second Allied front sweeping through Europe crash-lands in Bavaria. The Nazis  kidnap the general and take him to the Schloss Adler, an isolated castle fortress serving as headquarters for German forces. To rescue the

Richard Burton, Ingrid Pitt,

Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure

As the men parachute behind enemy lines and proceed on their delicate and dangerous mission, it's evident to viewers that there's more to the assignment than is revealed. Someone is killing the commandos one by one, and Smith's secret meetings with a blonde beauty (Mary Ure) indicate that there's something else at stake besides the life of an American officer.

One can't condemn Where Eagles Dare for being an impatient film. Director Brian G. Hutton and screenwriter/author Alistair MacLean (who penned the film's script and novelization at the same time) took their sweet time in pacing out the story, a move that works both for and against the picture. Instead of coming across as a standard action movie the careful storytelling serves to enhance the importance of the mission at hand, and the plot comes across with a true sense of urgency.

It's obvious no matter how experienced these commandos are, fulfilling their objective will be no walk in the park, and the filmmakers relay this with a number of intense sequences in which time really is of the essence. Such leisurely plotting results in a few occasional patches where I wished the characters would pick up the pace and move on to the next phase of the mission.

Also, for a film that depends quite a bit on twists to perk up the plot, Where Eagles Dare seems incredibly nonchalant when it comes to introducing them. I don't expect the flick to hold viewers by the hand and fully explain itself, but it has a tendency to underplay the twists to a fault. So don't be surprised if you find yourself wondering what's going on when certain characters change loyalties at the drop of a hat (and sometimes back again).

The action in Where Eagles Dare remains exhilarating, especially the team's climactic escape from the castle. The cinematography captures the right mood for this mostly snowbound adventure. The characters remain a little thin, but the performances are a-okay. Burton brings the right amount of authority to his role, and Eastwood's tough guy persona is a welcome addition to the cast.

A more consistently action-packed "guys on a mission" flick is The Dirty Dozen. But if the works of Tom Clancy are more your speed, then Where Eagles Dare might be the flick for you. Elements of action, espionage, and international intrigue come together under its roof, and although there are the scant few leaky patches, it manages to hold itself together very well.

Director: Brian G. Hutton

Writer: Alistair MacLean

Cast: Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Patrick Wymark, Michael Hordern

Rating: PG (violence)

Classic Movie Guide Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Run Time: 158 minutes

Studio: MGM

Format: Color, widescreen

Photo credits: MGM