Trailer
Plot summary
In 1943 the Axis powers plan an assault on Keros, an Aegean island holding 2,000 British soldiers, hoping to convince neutral Turkey to join them. The only sea route for a rescue is covered by two enormous radar-directed guns on Navarone, and air raids have failed to knock them out. The job falls to a commando unit led by Major Roy Franklin. Among its members are Captain Keith Mallory, a former spy and expert mountaineer, and Colonel Andrea Stavros of the Greek Army.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- David Niven nearly died from a serious infection after filming in a dirty pool of water for the cave sequence, spending weeks hospitalized; against medical advice he returned to finish his scenes but then relapsed and needed another seven weeks to recover.
- Peter Grant, who later became the manager of the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, appears uncredited as one of the British commandos in the film.
- Anthony Quinn was so impressed with the area where the film was shot that he bought land nearby, and the local government later gave him additional land in gratitude for making the island famous; today the place is called Anthony Quinn Bay.
- Gregory Peck's character was supposed to speak fluent German, but Peck himself could not manage the language convincingly, so voice actor Robert Rietty dubbed all of his German dialogue.
- Original director Alexander Mackendrick left the production just a week before filming began in March 1960, officially due to a severe back ailment, though it was later suggested producer Carl Foreman actually fired him over "creative differences."
- David Niven's role was originally written for actor Kenneth More, but Rank studio head John Davis refused to loan More out to the production, so the part went to Niven instead.
- The film's giant fictional guns may have been inspired by four real 305mm naval guns, 15.85 meters long, that the Germans installed at the Batterie Mirus on the occupied island of Guernsey in 1942.
