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This is a comments thread about FSM CD: Force 10 From Navarone
 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 9:25 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

I've been listening to this triumphant Ron Goodwin score a lot over the past week and it's just delightful--as far as war scores can be delightful. Yes, there's a strong childhood connection with that cast, but something's kept me from enjoying the movie. Maybe it's the dreary cinematography or the lousy quality of the DVD, but Goodwin's score on its own is worth repeated listens. The last time I saw the film, which was about six years ago, I was impressed with the cue that plays when the plane takes off towards the start of the movie. I swore that if there was ever a CD release of the score, I'd snap it up. FSM answered the call and I remain pleased with this fantastic presentation.

It makes me want to break my old Navarone play set out of storage:

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 10:07 AM   
 By:   Tall Guy   (Member)

Wow - I'd have killed for that when I was a kid!

Force 10 isn't half the film that Guns is, but I still enjoyed the uncut version when I first saw it at the pictures - less so the cut version that spared Barbara Bach's, er, blushes.

Great music, more to the point.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 10:08 AM   
 By:   Tall Guy   (Member)

Hang on - just noticed the stars and stripes... what's all THAT about??

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 10:22 AM   
 By:   Chris Rimmer   (Member)

I suppose it's an American playset.

I wish we'd had 'em here when the film came out, I'd have loved one of those.

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 10:33 AM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

I suppose it's an American playset.

I wish we'd had 'em here when the film came out, I'd have loved one of those.


It was originally manufactured by the "Marx" toy company, but the version I have is by "Mego." Still have the box, too. Next time you and The Tall One are in my neck of the woods, I'll let you play with it.

Edit: The Navarone Play Set, I mean.

Looks like Ron Goodwin was the master of the "Military Adventure" film. I should probably get Where Eagles Dare and just endure all those snare drums. wink

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 12:05 PM   
 By:   MusicMad   (Member)

I suppose it's an American playset.

I wish we'd had 'em here when the film came out, I'd have loved one of those.


It was originally manufactured by the "Marx" toy company, but the version I have is by "Mego." Still have the box, too. Next time you and The Tall One are in my neck of the woods, I'll let you play with it.

Edit: The Navarone Play Set, I mean.

Looks like Ron Goodwin was the master of the "Military Adventure" film. I should probably get Where Eagles Dare and just endure all those snare drums. wink


I see the smiley ... when it comes to those snare drums it's difficult to find anything better! And, for me, Where Eagles Dare is Mr. Goodwin's crowning achievement, though I'm tempted to suggest that the album release is a better listening experience (with the score as a superb alternative). His score to Force 10 From Navarone drifts somewhat for me and I struggle to hold attention throughout ... notwithstanding the main theme being very infectious.

As for the film, I enjoyed it ... and still do (our UK DVD release is pretty good quality). It's a shame they couldn't keep more to the book's storyline but there's nothing new in that complaint. I recall that its release was roughly at the time of Superman and remember thinking that - in the cinema - the dam breaking sequence is just so much better ... it was very effective though loses so much on the small screen.

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 12:07 PM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

goodness, Jim, I thought you were THE man....the numero uno Professori of War and 70s Thrillers - but you have Force 10 but not Where Eagles Dare???!!!

Whats going on??

rectify that at once mister - or I'm not coming to your classes any more!!!!


As for the model, that is fantastic.
Wished I'd known - we made our own as kids - the side of the bed was the cliff face and we had 2 railway guns backed up to the edge of the bed with a balsa wood box on top!!

With the curtains shut you couldnt tell the difference between my bedroom and the aegean!!

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 12:10 PM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

PS I agree with MusicMad - the MacLean book was terrific, and had they stuck to that plot and side stories, it wouldve made a brilliant film. I remember seeing the film at the cinema and wondering what the hell it was all about.
In time, I enjoyed it for what it is. But the film isnt Guns of Navarone and the score isnt Eagles.

Still good though!!

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 12:14 PM   
 By:   Ron Pulliam   (Member)

Hang on - just noticed the stars and stripes... what's all THAT about??

I'm not sure what familiarity you have with the Stars and Stripes, but the flag on that play set AIN'T the Stars and Stripes.

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 1:08 PM   
 By:   Chris Rimmer   (Member)

Hang on - just noticed the stars and stripes... what's all THAT about??

I'm not sure what familiarity you have with the Stars and Stripes, but the flag on that play set AIN'T the Stars and Stripes.


Well the flag at the bottom right of the picture sure as hell looks like the Stars and Stripes to me.

It sure isn't the Union Jack!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 1:48 PM   
 By:   Gary S.   (Member)

Speaking of snare drums in Where Eagles Dare, there is a great Pinky and The Brain episode which parodies that movie. The snare drums are played by Pinky as they try to sneak various places.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 2:29 PM   
 By:   Tall Guy   (Member)

Hang on - just noticed the stars and stripes... what's all THAT about??

I'm not sure what familiarity you have with the Stars and Stripes, but the flag on that play set AIN'T the Stars and Stripes.



This is clearly an alternate Guns of Navarone, where the French army is threatening the Aegean and the US army carries out the assault. Not sure of the scale, but I think the Airfix 1:72 figures might have fit it - in which case I'd have substituted the supplied figures for something approximating the book/film.

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 4:02 PM   
 By:   Chris Rimmer   (Member)

I can't quite figure out the scale, but, I think the figures will be 25mm (2 inches)

The mountain is 25 inches tall and it looks like twelve figures laid end to end would reach the top.

I'm also puzzled as to why the troops are French and American, maybe it helped the set sell better.

But, most importantly, "Force 10 From Navarone" is a cracking good war score.

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 4:24 PM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

oh my goodness, I'm swimming in nerd heaven!!

not only do we have experts in Goodwin's Where Eagles dare and Force 10, we also know our way around airfix models, WW2 troops, flags, tanks and, better yet, scale sizes.

I truly am among brothers!!!


"....You're Nicolai, you're the one who betrayed us in Greece..."

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 4:42 PM   
 By:   Bill Carson, Earl of Poncey   (Member)

Small point of accuracy about the model but as we are being ruthlessly pedantic in a schoolboy way - theyre showing there only flak 88s, the German field guns that were used as anti-tank and anti-aircraft with a range of about 14,800m. The guns used in the film (imaginary by the way, no such place as Navarone) were the big 80cm railway guns - I think they were Schwerer Gustav - like naval guns but on railway bases - but a more knowledgable expert on here may put me right.

And I did like the music in G of Nav when the gun crews were putting their hands on their ears!!

 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 8:57 PM   
 By:   Jim Phelps   (Member)

I see the smiley ... when it comes to those snare drums it's difficult to find anything better! And, for me, Where Eagles Dare is Mr. Goodwin's crowning achievement, though I'm tempted to suggest that the album release is a better listening experience (with the score as a superb alternative).

When someone like Fielding or Goodwin use snare drums, I have no problem with it. Even in a war film like Force 10 because it's more a "Boy's Own" adventure with a wartime setting rather than, say, a somber War is Hell (over)use of those ever-present snares which is when I don't care for them.

As for that Navarone play set, I was eighteen and arriving home (parents' house, that is) from work late one night and seeing the box was set to be tossed out and I immediately rescued my cherished childhood toy from the garbage heap. When I moved out a few years later, I took the Navarone set with me...and as I already mentioned, I still have it.

 
 
 Posted:   Dec 8, 2011 - 9:07 PM   
 By:   dan the man   (Member)

I always found Ron Goodwin's march to be just a fine perfect march, from beginning till end, addictive, melodic, alot of energy to it, one of the better ones.

 
 Posted:   Dec 9, 2011 - 12:03 AM   
 By:   MusicMad   (Member)

I can't quite figure out the scale, but, I think the figures will be 25mm (2 inches)

The mountain is 25 inches tall and it looks like twelve figures laid end to end would reach the top.

I'm also puzzled as to why the troops are French and American, maybe it helped the set sell better.

But, most importantly, "Force 10 From Navarone" is a cracking good war score.


Err, I think you'll find that 25mm is approx. 1 inch, not 2.

 
 Posted:   Dec 9, 2011 - 1:08 AM   
 By:   Chris Rimmer   (Member)

I can't quite figure out the scale, but, I think the figures will be 25mm (2 inches)

The mountain is 25 inches tall and it looks like twelve figures laid end to end would reach the top.

I'm also puzzled as to why the troops are French and American, maybe it helped the set sell better.

But, most importantly, "Force 10 From Navarone" is a cracking good war score.


Err, I think you'll find that 25mm is approx. 1 inch, not 2.


Oops!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness somebody here can do maths.

Unlike me.

The figures look like 50mm scale.

 
 Posted:   Dec 9, 2011 - 1:14 AM   
 By:   Chris Rimmer   (Member)

Small point of accuracy about the model but as we are being ruthlessly pedantic in a schoolboy way - theyre showing there only flak 88s, the German field guns that were used as anti-tank and anti-aircraft with a range of about 14,800m. The guns used in the film (imaginary by the way, no such place as Navarone) were the big 80cm railway guns - I think they were Schwerer Gustav - like naval guns but on railway bases - but a more knowledgable expert on here may put me right.

And I did like the music in G of Nav when the gun crews were putting their hands on their ears!!


Quite right Bill, the models shown are 88's, the best anti tank/anti aircraft guns used in WW2.

I don't think two of those would have been much of a threat to the Royal Navy's destroyers.

 
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