The Guns of Navarone: The forgotten masterpiece that outshines modern war epics
Sixty-five years after its release, The Guns of Navarone remains one of the finest war films ever committed to celluloid, yet it is routinely overlooked in favour of more celebrated contemporaries such as The Bridge on the River Kwai and The Longest Day. Now available on Netflix, this 1961 epic is enjoying a well-deserved resurgence, with modern audiences hailing it as a masterpiece.
Based on Alistair MacLean's 1957 novel, the film draws its inspiration from the Battle of Leros during the Second World War's Dodecanese Campaign. While the characters and events are fictional, the story's roots in British military history give it a particular resonance for domestic audiences who remember the sacrifices of that generation.
What is The Guns of Navarone about?
The official plot summary states: