News

With Amazon now in full control of the James Bond franchise, the already lively discourse around who will be the next 007 has gone into overdrive. Former Bond custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson exercised a high level of control over the franchise, and official updates on who will be taking over as Bond have been non-existent ever since Daniel Craig bowed out with 2021's "No Time to Die." As such, fans are beyond eager to hear some sort of news on this front, especially now the franchise is in new hands. Those same fans have continued to bandy about all kinds of names.

We know that "Kraven the Hunter" star Aaron Taylor-Johnson has the backing of former Bond Pierce Brosnan, while some fans are still holding out hope that longtime favorite Henry Cavill might still have a shot. There are so many actors that could replace Craig as Bond,...

This forgotten Alistair MacLean action thriller packs a rare starring role for the young Anthony Hopkins -- he's really good as secret agent Philip Calvert, battling gold thieves in the Scottish Isles. He's got a James Bond attitude in a more down-to-Earth adventure. When Eight Bells Toll Blu-ray Kl Studio Classics 1971 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 94 min. / Street Date March 8, 2016 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Anthony Hopkins, Robert Morley, Nathalie Delon, Jack Hawkins, Corin Redgrave, Ferdy Mayne, Wendy Allnutt, Maurice Roëves, Derek Bond, Leon Collins, Peter Arne, Oliver MacGreevy, Tom Chatto, Del Henney. Cinematography Arthur Ibbetson Film Editor John Shirley Original Music Angela Morley Written by Alistair MacLean from his novel Produced by Elliott Kastner Directed by Etienne Périer

Reviewed by Glenn Erickson

Producer Elliott Kastner stretched Alistair MacLean's brand of military action adventure to James Bond extremes in the expensive, very popular Where Eagles Dare of 1968. Several MacLean adaptations got underway,...