Back to Index! Back to Index!
Trivia
ing force behind the film was Richard Burton's stepson, who wanted to see his stepfather in a good old-fashioned adventure movie. Burton approached producer Elliott Kastner for ideas, who asked Alistair MacLean. At that time, most of MacLean's novels had either been made into films, or were in the process of being filmed. Kastner persuaded MacLean to write a new story. Six weeks later, MacLean delivered the script.

At first, Clint Eastwood was reluctant to receive second billing to Burton, but he agreed after being paid $800,000.
Not confirmed

The movie's "Schlo§ Adler" is actually the castle Hohenwerfen in Salzburg, Austria. At the time of shooting the film, the castle was being used as a police training camp.

An accident during one of the action scenes left producer Eliott Kastner and director Brian G. Hutton badly burnt.
Not confirmed

"Oberhausen Airfield" in the picture is the Austrian Aigen/Ennstal military airfield. The exact place of filming is the "Fiala-Fernbrugg" garrison, which is still intact and used by HS Geschwader 2 and FlAR2/3rd Bat. of the Austrian army. The gage where the bus breaks through the fence, has actually never been the maingate - just a small entrance for the personnel. The big rocky mountain in the background (while the take-off is seen from the back) is the Grimming mountains, about 40km east from the "Dachstein", or about 80 km east and 10km South from Werfen.
Not confirmed

Clint Eastwood does have a reputation for being violent in movies, his character in Where Eagles Dare is no exceptionbut, as he kills more people than any other of his characters on film, except one.
Not confirmed

Despite the high body count, the film has a PG certificate (Parental Guidance, meaning it's OK to visit it together with a parent if you aren't old enough to see it yourself).
Not confirmed
Source: Man with no Name

Each bomb carries 11 dynamites.
Not confirmed

The names of the characters in the movie don't always correspond with those in the novell. Here are two examples: In the book, Major von Hapen is a captain named von Brauchitsch and Ted Berkeley is named Ed Carraciola.

During the inquiry of general George Carnaby in the Golden Hall, the German officers drink VSOP Napoleon brandy.

Having been refused to hang off from a cablecar in Austria, Clint Eastwood occasionally referred to the film as "Where Doubles Dare". "Doubles" as in body double/stunt double. Eastwood liked to do his own stunts but the studio wouldn't let him. Similarly, the studio was unimpressed by Eastwood buying himself a Norton motorcycle and racing it round the Brand's Hatch race circuit...
Not confirmed
Source: Man with no Name

'Zum Wilden Hirsch' - the 'Gasthaus' in the village - is German and means ¬To the Wild Deer¬. In Werfen, where the picture was filmed, there is actually a Gasthof with the name 'Zum Goldenen Hirschen'.

Where Eagles Dare is director Quentin Tarantino's favourite movie.
Not confirmed

Clint Eastwood's wife Maggie gave birth to their son Kyle four days before shooting ended in May 1968.
Not confirmed
Source: Man with no Name

Despite the the big use of "Night Scenes" towards the end of the film. None of these were filmed at night! A blue filter was placed over the lens of the camera to make it look like night. On some shots you can clearly see the sun reflecting off the vehicles aswell as shadows from the trees.
Not confirmed
Source: Richard Shelton

he Junkers Ju 52 used in the film was still in use with the Swiss air force at the time. The Swiss also supplied the T-6 Texan trainers posing as "German fighters."
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

The names von Brauchitsch and Carraciola, used in the novel, are the names of two famous (deceased) German Formula 1 drivers.
Source: Tobias

The registration number of the motorcycle is WH 62323

The film made a profit of $7,100,000.00.
Not confirmed
Source: Wikipedia

Steven Spielberg has said this is among his favourite war movies, even quoting the Broadsword calling Danny Boy line.
Not confirmed
Source: Wikipedia

The title derives from Act I, Scene III in William Shakespeare's Richard III: "The world is grown so bad, that wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch".
Source: Wikipedia

Alistair MacLean wrote the script and novel simultaneously over a period of six weeks. For this reason the movie follows the book faithfully.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

Kenneth Griffith was first intended for the Peter Barkworth role.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

This film contains roughly 1472 edits during 151 minutes of action, this equates to an average shot length of about 6 seconds.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

In the scenes where Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood climb the step fortress walls, Burton moves with ease, while Eastwood is clearly working hard physically. This was due to the fact that Burton, who was a hard-drinker and out-of-shape by that point, chose to ride a crane (made invisible by special effects) up the wall, whereas the young, healthy Eastwood was actually climbing the wall.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

Richard Burton wanted Richard Egan to play the Clint Eastwood role.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

The castle, Schloss Hohenwerfen, is today open to the public and is a falconry. Other than the exterior, the only feature that will be familiar to movie fans is the courtyard.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

In a recent Channel 4 (UK) survey of the top 100 war movies Steven Spielberg voted this as his favorite. Mainly down to its sheer "boys own" factor of unreality. He even went so far as to repeat the "Broadsword calling Danny Boy" line.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

The name Mary is given when introduced as Heidi's cousin, is Maria Schenk. Maria Schenk was the middle name of Colonel Claus Philipp Maria Schenk von Stauffenberg who was the chief conspirator in the July 20th plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler. It was Stauffenberg who placed the briefcase with the bomb under the table at the Wolf's Lair.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database

Derren Nesbitt was nearly blinded when the squibs in his chest blew upwards instead of outwards when filming his death scene - his character was filmed being shot in the head and the chest but in the finished film he is only shot in the head.
Not confirmed
Source: Internet Movie Database
Authors | Updates | Site Map | Disclaimer | Contact