A sequel to the classic 1961 adventure-thriller "The Guns of Navarone," "Force 10 from Navarone" was penned by the same novelist, Alistair McLean, and brings back two characters, Mallory and Miller, from the original film. Unfortunately, the similarity ends there, and, like many sequels, the follow-up is less than the original. Still set during World War II, the film opens with special effects scenes that climaxed the 1961 classic and then outlines a mission to destroy a critical bridge in occupied Yugoslavia. However, Mallory and Miller are given a secondary mission: identify and kill the traitor that infiltrated the original team. Mallory and Miller are no longer Gregory Peck and David Niven, but rather Robert Shaw and Edward Fox. The assembled team, which includes a last-minute addition, Carl Weathers, is called "Force 10" and is headed by Harrison Ford as Colonel Barnsby. To add some friction, Barnsby is annoyed that Mallory and Miller have the secondary agenda to execute the traitor, whom only they can identify.
While the premise is not bad, initial events lack credibility; military security is easily breached; far-fetched ruses that dupe the Germans are laughable; coincidence and concealed double loyalties play too great a role; characters join the team without explanation; the team acts casually in the face of death; their capture and imprisonment by the Germans is not taken seriously, while their escape is too facile. However, despite the initial flaws, when the mission to destroy the bridge gets underway, the film comes together, the action escalates, and the suspense rises. While the climactic effects are fairly good, technical questions linger afterwards, and the identity of the traitor is revealed too soon.
Although the film has little to do with the original movie, except for a few introductory scenes and two character names, "Force 10 from Navarone" is fair action entertainment. Directed by Guy Hamilton, who helmed several James Bond outings, and with a cast that includes James Bond alumni Barbara Bach, Richard Kiel, and Robert Shaw, the "Navarone" sequel comes alive in the second half and holds viewer interest from that point. However, classic it is not; while "The Guns of Navarone" withstands multiple viewings, once is enough for "Force 10 from Navarone."
While the premise is not bad, initial events lack credibility; military security is easily breached; far-fetched ruses that dupe the Germans are laughable; coincidence and concealed double loyalties play too great a role; characters join the team without explanation; the team acts casually in the face of death; their capture and imprisonment by the Germans is not taken seriously, while their escape is too facile. However, despite the initial flaws, when the mission to destroy the bridge gets underway, the film comes together, the action escalates, and the suspense rises. While the climactic effects are fairly good, technical questions linger afterwards, and the identity of the traitor is revealed too soon.
Although the film has little to do with the original movie, except for a few introductory scenes and two character names, "Force 10 from Navarone" is fair action entertainment. Directed by Guy Hamilton, who helmed several James Bond outings, and with a cast that includes James Bond alumni Barbara Bach, Richard Kiel, and Robert Shaw, the "Navarone" sequel comes alive in the second half and holds viewer interest from that point. However, classic it is not; while "The Guns of Navarone" withstands multiple viewings, once is enough for "Force 10 from Navarone."