The Guns of Navarone (1961) with Mark

Sean is joined by his mate Mark to discuss one of Mark's favourite films: The Guns of Navarone (1961); One of the best adventure films ever made.

It gets very philosophical.

Discussion Points:

-Mark was also introduced to older films by his Dad.

-The strength of every single character.

-Mark was impressed by the set-up of the film.

-The brilliant scene with the exhausted, battered Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command pilots.

-The lack of vilification for those making the difficult, near-impossible decisions in wartime.

-The challenge of having morals in war.

-The Oscar-winning special effects and how well they hold up.

-The personal conflict between the characters, particularly Mallory and Franklin.

-Sean's terrible note-taking returns (because he enjoys the film so much).

-The myth of the 'clean' Wehrmacht.

-The sheer insanity of war and the sheer insanity of trying to apply rules to it.

-The iconic traitor scene.

-Dispensing with airs and graces in wartime.

-Sean prefers matte paintings to terrible CGI.

-The best lift scene in cinema.

-Surprising Wallace and Gromit trivia.

-The bittersweet climax of the film.

Raised Questions:

-Does your Dad influence your taste in films?

-What happened to writing in films?

-Why did they 'bin off' the first Director?

-Why Stanley Baker took such a small part?

-Did you know they cast a pop singer?

-Can you win the war but lose yourself in the process?

-Can the whole machine function with a faulty piece?

-What is one of the most over-used sounds in film history?

-Who stepped on the Birthday Cake?

-Did you know 'rat' incendiaries were actually used in the Second World War?

-Why don't they make films like this anymore?

Mark's Recommendations:

-Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022).

-Pork Chop Hill (1959).

Shout-outs:

-The Decision Reel podcast.

Thanks for Listening!

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