The Eiger Sanction (1975)

So the gruff Eastwood has done a film where he portrays an art professor... Though naturally doubling as a professional assassin. Directed by himself. Intriguing. My scepticism feels unbearable. 

Eastwood as a professor really doesn't fit. Not even as a mountain-climbing professor. His gravelling voice and rough demeanour are bad enough, not to mention the fact that he serves his women steaks. But his trademark sneering and unnecessary brutality (in words and action) doesn't really scream "professor". This is 70's Eastwood. He might be a cop, an alcoholic or both. But he's certainly no professor. "Suave" will never be a term to coin Eastwood. 

As for the rest of the cast, it's mainly to provide service to Eastwood, though Vonetta McGee does stand out with a very believable charm. Furthermore it's always nice to see George Kennedy, and he does make a meal out of a rather shallow part. 

The scenery is lovely at times. Naturally as mountain climbing is a big part of what seems to be a plot. Well, actually, the plot itself isn't half-bad. The problem is director Eastwood doesn't really stick to it, and just sums it up with dialogue from the daftest character on show at an opportune time. It seems a bit random which parts of the story take focus at different times of the film, and an older (and better) director Eastwood would have done a better job with the story available to him.

The action is in short supply, bar some fight-scenes, and they are mostly in here to make Eastwood look tough and brutish. But setting up a mountain-climb where one of the climbers is a killer (and we don't know who), is always a great source of suspense, and it works here as well. Quite marvellously. 

So the story is decent, but well hidden. The protagonist is direly miscast if they wanted him to actually have the mannerisms of a professor (and there is no need for him to be script-wise), and the suspense is well executed. The humour is gruff and very macho (also funny for the most part), and John Williams actually wrote a lovely little score. 

6/10