Harrison Ford’s first role after “Star Wars” was this forgotten World War II thriller that deserves your attention

The concept of a “legacy sequel” is often considered modern, but Hollywood has always looked for ways to capitalize on proven successes. The cannons of Navarone was a huge hit that saw a spike in enthusiasm for the World War II adventure genre and garnered seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. When too much time had passed for the original stars Gregory Peck And David Niven to resume their roles, Force 10 of Navarone was intended as a loose sequel that could introduce a new cast and I took advantage of the author’s source material Alistair MacLean. While Force 10 of Navarone didn’t quite reach the critical heights of its predecessor, it featured an appearance of Harrison Ford in his first role after debuting as Han Solo in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

The world may still be recovering from the aftermath of World War II in 1978, but that doesn’t mean Hollywood doesn’t see the creative potential in stories of heroism and exceptionalism. Given the thornier and more complex politics of the Cold War that had left Americans divided over what to think of their government, stories set in the 1940s offered an easily accessible sense of right and wrong. Force 10 of Navarone it was a step back to the first generation of films about the Second World War which were produced in the middle and just after the war itself, and had no ambiguity about what audiences should feel. Although it could have been a thankless drain, Force 10 of Navarone is enhanced by its formidable ensemble.

“Force 10 From Navarone” is a classic WWII adventure

Major Keith Mallory and Staff Sergeant John Miller had originally been played by Peck and Niven respectively, but the sequel saw the roles taken over by Robert Shaw And Édouard Renard. Force 10 of Navarone briefly acknowledges that it takes place shortly after the events of The cannons of Navaroneand Mallory and Miller are given a new mission: to find the elusive German spy, Captain Lescovar (Franco Nero), who betrayed critical information to the Axis powers. Ford plays Lt. Col. Mike Barnsby, an American military veteran who leads his own group of commandos to join the unit. Although there is initially some conflict between American and British perspectives on the war, the soldiers find common ground when it comes time to eliminate any Nazis in their path.

While the original The cannons of Navarone was praised for being a more realistic depiction of what combat was actually like, Force 10 of Navarone has adopted the style of a contemporary action film, and it’s no surprise why; the film was directed by Guy Hamiltona veteran of the James Bond franchise who had directed classics like golden finger And Live and let die. Hamilton was clearly at his best when devising creative sets using visual effects and larger-than-life theatricality, and Force 10 of Navarone is densely packed with stunning scenery. Although an opening heist scene in which Barnsby helps steal a Royal Air Force bomber set the film on a high note, the final explosion of an enemy bridge concluded the story on an equally rousing note. Although the film was still quite respectful of the sacrifices real veterans faced in the war against fascism, it also presented its soldier characters as the type of cool adventure characters who would have cropped up on a TV series in the 1940s.

‘Force 10 From Navarone’ Has an Incredible ’70s Cast

A collective action film like Force 10 of Navarone depends on its casting, and luckily the film featured stars who were well-versed in the genre. Although he died tragically shortly before the film’s release, Shaw gave a captivating, badass performance that took advantage of the hot streak he was in after playing Quint in Jaws. Ford is a scene-stealer playing a smart, risk-taking commando who managed to overshadow the heroes, and his involvement was clearly essential to the success of the film; given how deeply the original inspired Star Wars The trilogy was based on aerial photographs from World War II, so it made sense that younger viewers would want to see Ford in a similar role. Although historical accuracy was not necessarily a priority for Force 10 of Navaronethe film did an excellent job recognizing the contributions of women and minorities to the war; Barbara Bach has a scene-stealing role as a spy who passes critical information to Miller, and Carl Weathers gives a great performance as the only African American member of the team.

Force 10 of Navarone was not a box office success upon its initial release, as audiences were beginning to move away from war cinema, given the growing popularity of science fiction with Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Superman: The Movie, And Star Trek: The Movie. Although it might have seemed odd to see such an old-fashioned film released in the same year as a grittier war epic like The deer hunter, Force 10 of Navarone was unapologetic pulp entertainment that embraced its fast pace and simple execution. Comparing it to The cannons of Navarone may not do him any favors, but Force 10 of Navarone is so distinctive as a work of populist entertainment that it can be considered an adventure film in its own right, even for those who have never seen the original. Although it’s not even close to being the role he’s best known for, Ford gets to say cool lines and brutalize Nazis in Force 10 of Navaronewhich is reason enough to watch it.

Force 10 of Navarone is available for streaming on Tubi in the United States

Release date

August 16, 1978

Runtime

114 minutes

Director

Guy Hamilton

Writers

Robin Chapman

Producers

Olivier A. Unger