Allied commandos and Greek partisans team to destroy a massive gun emplacement on the Greek isle of Navarone, clearing the way for a naval evacuation of 2,000 isolated troops. This first-rate production is one of the better entries among the spate of big-budget WWII actioners from the late 1950s and early ’60s (besides being a critical success, it was the top-grossing film of 1961). Memorable performances from Peck, Niven, and Quinn make this well worth the price of ission; best is the charged scene (and aftermath) in which demolitions expert Niven, discovering sabotage, delivers a powerful monologue. Followed dubiously in 1978 by Force 10 from Navarone.