Operation Crossbow (1965)(dvd)

Synopsis: The credits here are impressive, the plot is intriguing and the production values impeccable, but they only add up to an average wartime thriller. In common with many blockbuster writers, Emeric Pressburger (co-scripting under the pseudonym Richard Imrie) and his colleagues were confounded by the dual task of telling a ripping yarn and finding enough to do for a big-name cast (that includes George Peppard, Sophia Loren and John Mills).

As a result, the mission to replace German V-2 rocket scientists with Allied boffins is often of secondary interest to the stargazing. However, there is plenty of derring-do, even though director Michael Anderson struggles to find a workable balance between action and chat.

Cast: George Peppard Sophia Loren, John Mills
Runtime: 111 min