WHEN EIGHT BELLS TOLL ‘Main Title’ – Walter Stott (HQ)
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.
I just watched a hacked version of this movie. Noticed that the hunslett line “cheers you mad bastard” and the last line of the movie “you’re just a professional bastard” were cut from the version. are they in the PAL DVD?
Proper ‘old school’ adventure film.
‘No bloody biscuits…’ Priceless.
You can probably hack your DVD player to play different regions. Just google the brand of your player and include the word “hack.” I was able to do this with my DVD player.
Really,REALLY wish the people who own the rights to this film would finally wise up and release it on a U.S. region compatible DVD!! Oh well I guess they just don’t need the money!!
Thanks for your comments.
It’s back on Film4 this afternoon 2:25pm, by the way.
Believe they’re not true to the cinematic originals.The impact of the harpoon and crossbow is sanitised, plus the bloodsplash of the stranded bad guys in the water.
I’ve seen all those scenes from daytime screenings (film 4 & more4)
Great comments …well observed information.
Thanks.
This video definitely includes 2 scenes routinely cut from daytime viewing:-
1) The Harpoon shot (during the finale)
2) The castle crossbow shot (close to the finale)
The TV version also censors the boat collision and subsequent sniping at the stranded bad guys by Hopkins – not sure if included here.
This one of the best films ever made, but the fist fight in the Highland Graveyard is nothing but a priceless piece of camp.
Got to agree, and the quality of films was also better back then too in some instances, now people just re make
Sir Anthony Hopkins as the Milk Tray Man!
Funny how the music in the old films is much better than anything today, isn’t it…
Thanks for a great comment.
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.
Was thinking of mentioning Angela in the trivia.
Thanks for puttting me on to the Scott connection …great information!
Nice, nice. Wally Stott did a lot of those cool arrangements on the Scott Walker records. Later had a sex change and became Angela Morley.
No problem …I’m glad it took you back!
Thanks for the support.
An absolute crackerjack!
I was trying to get the music to this film earlier this year and couldnt find it anywhere.
Youve also managed to include all the bits they cut out on the telly. Excellent job, many thanks for posting it!