TOMMY'S TOP FIVE FAVORITE CLINT EASTWOOD FLICKS - #1 - CLINT IS AN ART PROFESSOR, MOUNTAIN CLIMBER AND HITMAN, HE HAS AN ASSIGNMENT CALLED "THE EIGER SANCTION" (1975)

 

Clint handles the clapper on the North Face. 

Every movie lover has a film(s) that they never get tired of watching. You could put the thing on a goddamn endless loop and never tire of it. It's likely to be the selection you would take to a deserted island. Eiger Sanction is one such film for me. 

Original reviews were mixed? The action sequences were praised but the plot deemed too shallow. Don't get that one - it's a simple but very effective plot. Clint performs these sanctions for the mob and is summonsed by Dragon (David Thayer, great as usual) to perform a new sanction. Dragon then stabs him in the back and blackmails Hemlock (Eastwood) to perform a second sanction on the Eiger. 

Who will backstab him this time, because the choices increase beyond the climbers now. He's got a foxy Indian chick as a running coach, an ex-friend and assassin (Jack Cassidy, holy sh*t) on his tail, a loudmouthed climbing coach (George Kennedy, really good in this) and an attractive stewardess as a new lover (Vonetta McGee, who was cast at literally the last minute and thank God for that, she's perfect.)

There are so many great things about this film but to me one of the absolute stunners is Jack Cassidy, who was teen idol David Cassidy's father. He conquered Broadway in the 50's and '60's, did a slew (and I mean slew!) of television guest spots in the '70's but very few features. Of those, this role here in Eiger Sanction is his meatiest and one that he should be remembered for. The whole sequence where Clint's decided he's had enough of him and drives him out to the desert is classic. 

Referred to by locals as the "murder wall," Eiger was not an easy shoot. Special cameras and sound equipment had to be designed. Clint was insistent on doing all his own stunts, no double. One day they were wrapping (the scene with the falling rocks) and the AD decided he wanted to get one shot from a certain angle on the rocks and a crew member was hit and killed and the AD badly injured. The most dangerous scene to film for Clint was the last scene where he's hanging from a rope at 4200 feet. The only scene that mostly used stunt doubles was where Clint and George Kennedy climb the Totem Pole rock, George and Clint were then helicoptered to the top for the famous sunset scene, the happiest moment of filming Clint said.

As of this post, Eiger Sanction is VOD only.  4 stars/5

"Johnathon! You're not going to ______?"