I caught parts of The Guns of Navarone the other day on TCM. Although not as good as the book (which I recall as riveting), it is a great action picture, albeit a bit absurd. Gregory Peck described it as part love story and part keystone cops. The love story is a bit unconventional, in that:
"David Niven really loves Tony Quayle and Gregory Peck loves Anthony Quinn. Tony Quayle breaks his leg and is sent off to the hospital. Tony Quinn falls in love with Irene Pappas, and David Niven and Peck catch each other on the rebound and live happily ever after."
Like Where Eagles Dare (also by A. MacLean), this small band defeats the entire German army. Peck thought the whole thing so ridiculous that the only way it would work is for the actors to play it with great conviction. That they do.
Perhaps the biggest absurdity comes near the end. Throughout, the buildup has been a small band sent on a near-impossible suicide mission. The repeated catchphrase is that they must “get the job” done and destroy the guns. Now, why the Germans, who are fighting throughout the world, devoted considerable resources to guns in a remote Greek Island is never explained. But even so, they must stop the guns at all costs. They must “Get the job done.”
Here’s the kicker (spoiler alert), the fuses and timers are destroyed by a beautiful saboteur. So, the chemical-genius David Niven must devise ways of detonating the explosive while still giving them a chance to escape. The methods are chancy and may not work, but it’s the only option they have.
Of course, a committed band on a suicide mission should face no such dilemma. If the only thing that matters is to “get the job done,” and if they are locked in with the guns and ammo (as they are), then one man gets left behind with a hand grenade. Boom! Job is done. Man is dead, but there is no uncertainty about getting the job done. But then, one wouldn’t have a Hollywood blockbuster, now would one?