Clint Eastwood was on a roll in the seventies. He’d starred in a few major action films, done a turn at directing and then decided to get back into action. The vehicle he chose was THE EIGER SANCTION. Based on the novel of the same name by author Trevanian, it was the first of two novels by the author about a specialized professional assassin trying to leave that life behind him. But situations call on his skill set to return.
Eastwood plays Jonathan Hemlock, a college professor of art, ex-professional mountain climber and ex-government paid assassin. When a courier for the agency he once worked for is killed by a pair of killers Hemlock is approached to come out of retirement by the head of the agency, total albino Dragon (Thayer David). He turns down the job even though the price they are willing to pay is two very rare and highly illegal paintings.
When Hemlock’s previously purchased paintings come up missing he knows who is responsible. He visits Dragon once again. Dragon offers to return the paintings as well as the two new ones along with documentation that the IRS knows of the collection if Hemlock will take the assignment. He agrees but when he finds out the name of the courier who was killed he lets Dragon know he would have done it for free. The victim was an old friend and comrade in arms.
The assignment that only Hemlock is suited for involves a treacherous mountain climb, one that he’d done and failed at in the past: the north face of the Eiger. One of the two assassins responsible for the courier’s death is part of the team climbing. To date they don’t know the identity of the assassin. If Hemlock finds out which one, he is to assassinate him.
To train for the climb Hemlock goes to a climbing school run
by old friend Ben Bowman (George Kennedy). Both had been together on previous
climbs. Not only is he going to help get Hemlock get back in shape for the
climb, he’s going to accompany him on the climb as the team planner.
A bonus of sorts arrives at the same school. Miles Mellough (Jack Cassidy), an ex-ally from Southeast Asia who betrayed him arrives with information about the team. Hoping to trade the information in the hopes of no longer fearing repercussions from Hemlock, Mellough is there to make a deal. Rather than accept he is left in the dessert to die.
Still unsure of just which of the team members is the target the group gathers at the Eiger. The team meets and we are introduced to the potential targets. An arrogant member of the team takes the lead and they discuss how they plan to climb the mountain. The next morning they set off with Hemlock still having no information as to which one is his target. Now he faces not only the most dangerous climb of his life but doing so with a killer on the team. Can he figure out which one it is and stay alive?
The book this film was based on was a huge best seller and deservedly so. Well written and received it was among the best spy books made. That it would attract a star attachment of someone like Eastwood was a natural. The suspense in the film is palpable in the last third as the climbing sequences are not just well shot but had Eastwood doing some of his own stunts as well.
Eastwood chose to direct the film too and it shows how well he was developing in that role. It was only his fourth feature film in that role and he does a remarkable job. The cast he chose to work with is fantastic here. David, who was known mainly for his work on the TV soap DARK SHADOWS adds a great mysterious tone to the film. Kennedy is the workingman’s actor, always coming off as exactly who he plays. Cassidy plays the character of Mellough as a fey gay man, something in today’s world would seem particularly non-PC but would most likely not matter to Eastwood even now. It’s not an insulting performance.
The story is one of the best done. The direction marvelous. The action gripping. In general this is one of the best movies I’ve seen with Eastwood. It didn’t do dynamite at the box office but did respectful business. It should have done more. This is one I know I’ll watch more often than once and keep on the front of the shelf.
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