Yeah, it would be hard to imagine anyone today with the same combination of toughness and intelligence.
Paul Newman originally rejected the script for The Eiger Sanction, and then Eastwood picked it up. I don't think that Eastwood thought much of the script (which is shallow and disjointed in places), but he loved the idea of realizing it visually, with everything authentic and nothing faked. I also suspect that he was attracted to some of the cynical, subversive geopolitical commentary that actually pushes The Eiger Sanction closer to The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (Martin Ritt, 1965) than to James Bond. And, yes, it was impressive for Eastwood, who at that time was the world's leading movie star, to be willing to commit himself to climbing like that when he had no real experience. Dougal Haston, a veteran climber who worked on the film, reportedly told Eastwood and his associates, "You're out of your f*c&8ng minds," when informed of their plans. Eastwood risked his life on one of the world's most dangerous mountains, and a crew member named David Knowles died during the production thanks to a sudden rock slide. Knowles was a 26-year old veteran climber who had scaled the Eiger twice, so he wasn't taking any unusual risks. Unfortunately, he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, a place where Eastwood had been a few minutes before. Eastwood (who also directed) considered canceling the production in the wake of Knowles' death (he reportedly started to cry), but the other climbers urged him to continue because the risks epitomized their way of life.
And I agree, The Eiger Sanction, is not a great film that comes together perfectly, but it has enough going for it to make it appreciable. I write about it some here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072926/board/flat/4201608?d=latest#latest
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DirkPitt007
18 years ago
Yes, I read about Knowles and how Eastwood was ready to halt production out of respect for Knowles and out of fear for everyone else, which is a very admirable trait.
And actually, I find it amusing how he really didn't think too much of it since Trevanian thought so much of his novel. Frankly, I thought it was entertaining, but it just seems to me that Trevanian thought more of himself and his abilities as a writer. Although, I was disappointed that the film version of Eiger didn't really display the total irony of Hemlock's devotion, how he is very devoted and loyal to the people who betray him the most.
So who knows how The Loo Sanction will work out. I wonder if whomever holds the rights would attempt to pursue Eastwood to direct it at least, or if they just want to distance themselves from Eiger.
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Jerry Goldsmith
1929-2004
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stroppygob
18 years ago
Does anyone else think the story of the "Loo Sanction" would be virtually impossible to catch in a movie?
"The Eiger Sanction" was hard enough to get all the sarcasm, double meaning, and irony into, the Loo Sanction doesn't even have the climbing to hang things around.
It's a parody of the "All American Superspy", and parody on film normally has to be over stated to work, which would kill the flow of Loo.
Or am I alone in thinking this?
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c-huddleston
18 years ago
The Eiger Sanction was almost impossible to film, stroppy. But I agree that Loo would be harder. It was very much of its time (70s) and for so many reasons would not translate well. The character Amazing Grace, for example, never wears clothes. Can't see that happening, and that's one of the easier things...no. And I don't think I could watch it because it would be a mess.
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stirlingwarrior
18 years ago
I would love to know how the scene with Eastwood and Kennedy was done when they scaled that one peak in the earlier part of the film before going to Europe. The one where they sit up there and have a warm beer.
Was it with a helicopter? Couldn't be, because they are close-up, then they pan out.....and out.....and out.....! How in the world did they do that? Kennedy was speaking, so the helicopter's noise, and prop wash would have been readily apparent.
The scenes on the Eiger were equally impressive, but explainable....anyone in the know?
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markadamiec
18 years ago
OK...The scene on top of the pillar in Monument Valley was done by lowering the actors from helicopter by winch, with the pullaway shot done from a helicopter, the noise of which would have been dubbed over by the actors relooping their lines at a later time. As to the scenes on the Eiger, they filmed on the lower levels of the North Face, actors and stuntmen both pulling double duty handling equipment and such...
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