"When Eight Bells Toll" is an early look at British actor Anthony Hopkins. The 34-year-old actor began his career on stage and then started in television, appearing in two different series from 1960 through 1965. His first movie was one made for TV in 1967. He got his big break and the doors opened to stardom when he got the role of Richard the Lion-Hearted in the 1968 movie, "The Lion in Winter," with Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn.
For his many fine roles, Hopkins has received several acting nominations. He has won an Oscar, three BAFTA awards, and two Emmys. He hasn't won a Golden Globe, although he was nominated six times. Still, for all of his acting ability, Hopkins doesn't strike one as the James Bond type. Certainly not for playing a James Bond role.
And that's precisely what he is in this film. Hopkins plays Philip Calvert of British intelligence. Like Bond, he is a commander in the royal navy. He scales a cliff, hangs from a helicopter for a short time, and does scuba diving. There's nothing two strenuous or nail biting about any of these. And, his couple of episodes with fisticuffs are hardly convincing. Still, he adds a little humor to some situations, as James Bond is wont to do.
Robert Morley and Jack Hawkins have supporting roles, but there's nothing special about their characters. Nor is there for any of the rest of the cast. If anything, Morley's grossly exaggerated raised nose and silly persona might almost be taken as a real slam on the British secret service. Indeed, it seems to be run on a shoestring, with hardly any staff. The whole movie has that air about it, as having been a B production, with no frills.
Still, the story is mildly interesting, and the movie has some nice coastal scenery of Scotland. This isn't a movie anyone should rush out to buy, even at a cut-rate sale. But, if it happens to play on TV, it's worth a watch.
For his many fine roles, Hopkins has received several acting nominations. He has won an Oscar, three BAFTA awards, and two Emmys. He hasn't won a Golden Globe, although he was nominated six times. Still, for all of his acting ability, Hopkins doesn't strike one as the James Bond type. Certainly not for playing a James Bond role.
And that's precisely what he is in this film. Hopkins plays Philip Calvert of British intelligence. Like Bond, he is a commander in the royal navy. He scales a cliff, hangs from a helicopter for a short time, and does scuba diving. There's nothing two strenuous or nail biting about any of these. And, his couple of episodes with fisticuffs are hardly convincing. Still, he adds a little humor to some situations, as James Bond is wont to do.
Robert Morley and Jack Hawkins have supporting roles, but there's nothing special about their characters. Nor is there for any of the rest of the cast. If anything, Morley's grossly exaggerated raised nose and silly persona might almost be taken as a real slam on the British secret service. Indeed, it seems to be run on a shoestring, with hardly any staff. The whole movie has that air about it, as having been a B production, with no frills.
Still, the story is mildly interesting, and the movie has some nice coastal scenery of Scotland. This isn't a movie anyone should rush out to buy, even at a cut-rate sale. But, if it happens to play on TV, it's worth a watch.