The Eiger Sanction

1975
AA
2h 9m

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

23K

YOUR RATING

Theatrical Trailer from Universal Pictures

Play trailer2:41

1 Video

64 Photos

Action Crime Thriller

Classical art professor and collector Dr. Jonathan Hemlock, who doubles as a professional assassin, is coerced out of retirement to avenge the murder of an old friend.Classical art professor and collector Dr. Jonathan Hemlock, who doubles as a professional assassin, is coerced out of retirement to avenge the murder of an old friend.Classical art professor and collector Dr. Jonathan Hemlock, who doubles as a professional assassin, is coerced out of retirement to avenge the murder of an old friend.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.4/10

23K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination total

Videos1

Trailer 2:41

The Eiger Sanction

Photos64

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
This is the only movie that John Williams has scored for Clint Eastwood. He was suggested by the studio and producers Richard D. Zanuck and David Brown, after Jaws (1975), and because Williams knew that Eastwood was a huge fan of jazz. He did incorporate that style into his score, which also featured a classical, more traditional orchestral sound.

Goofs
In Hemlock's house on the wall over his desk there are pictures of him on various climbs. One of these pictures is of him dangling from the rope by the railway tunnel door at the end of the movie.

Quotes
[Hemlock saves Meier from falling off the mountain]
Anderl Meier: You're very good. I have really enjoyed climbing with you.
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock: We'll make it.
Anderl Meier: I don't think so. But we shall continue with style.

Alternate versions
An early cut of the movie showed, in detail, a man slitting Henri Bach's throat, reaching in, and retrieving microfilm that he had just swallowed. This was deemed too graphic, so the scene was edited to its current version.

Connections
Featured in Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck (2013)

User reviews152

Featured review

Beautiful location photography

Shot on location in the Alps and Zion National Park, the cinematography is first class. This is great large-screen fare.

While not without their hokey apects, the many climbing scenes and story are much more realistic than those of "K2", "Clifhanger", or God-help-us "Vertical Limit".

The spy part of the story certainly has some plot holes, and I purchased a copy of "The Eiger Sanction" by Trevanian just to get some of them straightened out, and got quite a surprise. The movie is much, much more faithful to the original book than the vast majority of Hollywood adaptations. Those holes in the story - well, they're right there in the book, too. Practically the only significant differences between the two are the relationship between Johathon and Wormwood, the final status of Johnathon and Jemima's relationship, and the fact that C2 is - in the novel - so totally inept as an intelligence organization as to be completely unbeliveable, this is somewhat glossed over in the movie. Frankly the differences in all three situations are argueably done better in the movie.