The Guns of Navarone

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The Guns of Navarone

1961

2h 36m

War

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

Tomatometer

26 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

10,000+ Ratings

In 1943, a small commando team is sent to destroy huge German guns on the Greek Island of Navarone in order to rescue Allied troops trapped on Kheros. Led by British Major Franklin (Anthony Quayle), the team includes American Mallory (Gregory Peck), Greek resistance fighter Stavros (Anthony Quinn) and reluctant explosives expert Miller. Facing impossible odds, the men battle stormy seas and daunting cliffs. When Franklin is injured, Mallory takes command, and personal enmities spill over.

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Critics Consensus

Bolstered by a cast of memorable stars and an impressive sense of scale, The Guns of the Navarone fires with vivid characterization and entertaining spectacle.

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John Gillett

Sight & Sound

Feb 11, 2020

Above all, the film lacks a firm controlling hand which would have ironed out passages of incoherent editing and made the climax really tell.

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Arthur Ryel-Lindsey

Slant Magazine

May 7, 2007

3.5/4

David Niven is the subservient but stylish chemist Miller, rounding out a film that ranks among the best war movies.

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Pedro Gallego

Espinof

Aug 4, 2026

4/5

There's a lot of ' Seven Samurai ' in its DNA, while at the same time it reinforces a grittier and more morally complex vision of war than had prevailed in the years leading up to World War II. [Full review in Spanish]

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Allison Rose

FlickDirect

Nov 21, 2023

4.5/5

With great action scenes, solid dialogue and an interesting plot, The Guns of Navarone is an excellent example of what war movies were like over 60 years ago.

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Christopher Lloyd

The Film Yap

May 2, 2022

3.5/5

An old-school war picture, where men are men, women are tough (but not too tough!) and the Nazis are hiss-able bad guys.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Nov 13, 2021

4/4

Beautifully paced, this 156-minute classic allows enough time for character development, plot complications, and several exciting set-pieces.

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Robert P

@Superbad 2 days ago

The Guns Of Navarone is 4.5 star Movie!

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Peabarter _

@Peabart Oct 9, 2026

I first saw this when I was about 10 years old on the Sunday night movie. This has been one of my favorite war movies of all time. It's got a tremendous cast with Gregory Peck, Anthony Quinn, and David Niven. I bought the Blu-ray and was pleasantly surprised to find 25 different languages in the Blu-ray including Thai, which my wife and two stepchildren are. This movie was based on the book by Alistair McLean who is an expert at writing entertaining war movies. The movie has it all including, but not limited to a perceived impossible mission, sabotage, and the crew constantly jumping from one mess to another. The classic out of the frying pan and into the fire scenario. I've lost track how many times I've seen this movie and I never get tired of it. It's a tremendous war time adventure, movie to keep you on the edge of your seat with wonderful special effects for when it was made. It's nice to watch movies that are not entirely based on CGI.

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R S

@greyfoot Sep 19, 2026

This film has all the nostalgic stateliness of old Hollywood. Everyone is so civil & astute. Even in disguise & on the run, the women are in full, unsmeared make up. The music isn't suspenseful but grandiose & optimistic. "By God, we'll do our duty" just echoes through the whole script. Everyone has their perfectly-timed diatribes. It's all so cheesy. Zero grit. The novel has its own cheesiness, but you're still better off sticking w/ that.

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Alejandro E

@Alex970 Aug 15, 2026

In the 1960s, there was a spate of action films set during the Second World War. Of all of them, this is one that is well worth watching, thanks to its pace, its cast and the suspense of the final minutes.

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bruce F

@bruce999 Aug 14, 2026

fine acting war drama. is there a spy among them ? one of the best war dramas

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Dominic B

@RT83360345 Aug 14, 2026

They just don't make them like this anymore ;-). Just a different kind of charisma with actors like David Niven and Gregory Peck. Classics are so classy.... (it is a bit long and drawn out, though, minor quibble)

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J. Lee Thompson

Director

Gregory Peck

Capt. Keith Mallory

David Niven

Cpl. John Anthony Miller

Anthony Quinn

Col. Andrea Stavros

Stanley Baker

Pvt. 'Butcher' Brown

Anthony Quayle

Maj. Roy Franklin

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Synopsis

In 1943, a small commando team is sent to destroy huge German guns on the Greek Island of Navarone in order to rescue Allied troops trapped on Kheros. Led by British Major Franklin (Anthony Quayle), the team includes American Mallory (Gregory Peck), Greek resistance fighter Stavros (Anthony Quinn) and reluctant explosives expert Miller. Facing impossible odds, the men battle stormy seas and daunting cliffs. When Franklin is injured, Mallory takes command, and personal enmities spill over.

Director: J. Lee Thompson
Producer: Carl Foreman
Screenwriter: Alistair MacLean
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Highroad, Columbia Pictures Corporation, Open Road
Genre: War, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 22, 1961, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 7, 2013
Runtime: 2h 36m
Sound Mix: Stereo, Mono, Magnetic Stereo 6 Track, Surround

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