The Eiger Sanction

Name: The Eiger Sanction
Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime
Released: May 21, 1975
Duration: 129 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Brenda Venus, Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Heidi Brühl, Jack Cassidy

1975

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Ratings

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5.7

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5.7	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: May 21, 1975 | R

Starring: Brenda Venus, Clint Eastwood, George Kennedy, Heidi Brühl, Jack Cassidy, Jean-Pierre Bernard, Michael Grimm, Reiner Schöne, Thayer David, Vonetta McGee

Summary: A classical art professor and collector, who doubles as a professional assassin, is coerced out of retirement to avenge the murder of an old friend.

Director: Clint Eastwood

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 129 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

There comes a time in some movies when sheer spectacle overwhelms any consideration of plot, and Clint Eastwood's The Eiger Sanction is a movie like that. It has a plot so unlikely and confused that we can't believe it for much more than 15 seconds at a time, but its action sequences are so absorbing and its mountaintop photography so compelling that we don't care. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Eastwood, who also directs and according to studio did his own mountain climbing without doubles, manages fine suspense. His direction displays a knowledge that permits rugged action. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The Eiger Sanction is a long, foolish but never boring suspense melodrama about a college art professor named Jonathan Hemlock (Clint Eastwood), who has a passion for French Impressionists and mountain climbing and an underground reputation as the best assassin in the international spy business. Read full review

Time Out London

Shot in a straightforward adventure style, with Eastwood as the art lecturer cum cold-blooded assassin hired to kill his victim while climbing the North face of the Eiger, the movie is little but a series of nice panoramas and clichéd action sequences. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Unlike his brilliant work in directing westerns, Eastwood falls victim to stodgy pacing and ludicrous acting. The Eiger Sanction does, however, contain some brilliant, breathtaking mountaineering sequences in which Eastwood did his own stunt work. Read full review

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User Reviews

Compi24

Apr 17, 2018

If you've ever wanted to know what a James Bond film starring Clint Eastwood would be like, look no further than "The Eiger Sanction," the actor-director's fourth directorial effort. A surprisingly solid and good time overall, Eastwood's film juggles being an engaging spy thriller, aIf you've ever wanted to know what a James Bond film starring Clint Eastwood would be like, look no further than "The Eiger Sanction," the actor-director's fourth directorial effort. A surprisingly solid and good time overall, Eastwood's film juggles being an engaging spy thriller, a terrific survival/mountain-climbing actioner, an unpredictable whodunit, and a beautiful visual portrait of nature all at once. And though some of the film's "humor" may come off as a bit sour through today's politically sensitive lens, there's still enough in this that ages well enough. Again, the action, the thrills, the twists, and the visuals all hold up. Indeed, it may not be Eastwood's best film, but it is certainly one of his most overlooked.… Expand

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r96sk

Jan 27, 2022

Strong start, limp finish.

I enjoyed the spy elements to 'The Eiger Sanction', sure it's a bit cheesy and could feel like a Bond knock-off in parts, but all in all it was cool to see Clint Eastwood in that role. Unfortunately, while I wouldn't say it's bad, the rest of the film focuses onStrong start, limp finish.

I enjoyed the spy elements to 'The Eiger Sanction', sure it's a bit cheesy and could feel like a Bond knock-off in parts, but all in all it was cool to see Clint Eastwood in that role. Unfortunately, while I wouldn't say it's bad, the rest of the film focuses on uninteresting - due to how dragged out it is - mountain climbing.

It concludes with strong vibes of 1959's 'Third Man on the Mountain', a Disney film that is filled with mountain climbing. Like that aforementioned production, I didn't dislike what I was seeing but it's just not that intriguing to watch for an extended time.

I'm rating this 3* as it's still a solid film, with neat cinematography, but it could've been so much more due to what it sets up initially.… Expand

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