The Guns of Navarone (****) 1961, Color, 159 minutes. Directed by J. Lee Thompson. Starring Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quayle, James Darren, Stanley Baker, Irene Papas, Richard Harris. If you're reading this magazine you've seen this movie. An eclectic team of six commandos sails into the Aegean to destroy the coastal guns on the island of Navarone, allowing the Royal Navy to resupply the British troops on Leros. It won an Academy Award for best special effects, and a Golden Globe for best picture. Based on one of Allistair MacLean's better books, this is undoubtedly one of the best war pictures made.

When you're watching, conveniently forget such questions as "how did these massive coastal guns come to be guarding some Aegean backwater" and "why doesn't the convoy just sail around the island on the side away from the guns?"

There are some exchanges between Gregory Peck and David Niven worthy of film posterity:

MILLER (Niven): Captain, I'm concerned about this vessel. It's taking on water.
MALLORY (Peck): Why does that concern you?
MILLER: I can't swim.

And...

MALLORY: Are you sure it will work?
MILLER: There's no guarantee, but the theory's perfectly feasible.

And especially, a line that Europa fans can truly appreciate...

MAJOR FRANKLIN (Quayle): No, I'm stupid sometimes. Even when I was a kid, I always took it for granted people wanted to play the games I like, and I'd be furious when they didn't.