Another of those long-forgotten Alistair McLean paperbacks I devoured as a boy, this movie dramatisation wasn't the navy lark I half-expected from the title. Instead, it's a routine, if tidily efficient modern-day thriller with a young Anthony Hopkins as a maverick Government agent tasked with finding out why a series of boats carrying gold bullion are disappearing off the west coast of Scotland.
While you can't quite imagine Hopkins as a budding James Bond, in fact for the opening action sequences he's more like the Man from Milk Tray older TV viewers might remember, once he settles into the part, he's a more than capable action hero, with that little bit of extra added intensity which later became his hallmark.
As main support he's surrounded by the experienced Robert Morley as his nagging, bumptious boss, a fish out of water when out in the field and Jack Hawkins as the titled lord inveigled into events beyond his control. There are plenty of action sequences, in the air, on the ground and underwater, a lot of fisticuffs and random killings and a big shoot-em-up finale plus naturally time for Hopkins to bed the gangster's moll.
Being a Scot, I was quite at home seeing the grey, grainy locations and hearing identifiable local accents. Of course there's some leftover chauvinism of the time to be contended with, especially when Hopkins encourages the young daughter of the house to wantonly flaunt herself as a distraction to one of the heavies, but on the whole this was a good old fashioned very British actioner which capably filled its 90 minute running time.
While you can't quite imagine Hopkins as a budding James Bond, in fact for the opening action sequences he's more like the Man from Milk Tray older TV viewers might remember, once he settles into the part, he's a more than capable action hero, with that little bit of extra added intensity which later became his hallmark.
As main support he's surrounded by the experienced Robert Morley as his nagging, bumptious boss, a fish out of water when out in the field and Jack Hawkins as the titled lord inveigled into events beyond his control. There are plenty of action sequences, in the air, on the ground and underwater, a lot of fisticuffs and random killings and a big shoot-em-up finale plus naturally time for Hopkins to bed the gangster's moll.
Being a Scot, I was quite at home seeing the grey, grainy locations and hearing identifiable local accents. Of course there's some leftover chauvinism of the time to be contended with, especially when Hopkins encourages the young daughter of the house to wantonly flaunt herself as a distraction to one of the heavies, but on the whole this was a good old fashioned very British actioner which capably filled its 90 minute running time.