When Eight Bells Toll

Infobox Book
name = When Eight Bells Toll
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Paperback cover
author = Alistair MacLean
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series =
genre = Thriller novel
publisher = Collins
release_date = 1966
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages =
isbn = NA
preceded_by = Ice Station Zebra
followed_by = Where Eagles Dare

"When Eight Bells Toll" is a novel written by Scottish author Alistair MacLean and first published in 1966. It marked MacLean's return after a three year hiatus following the publication of "Ice Station Zebra". It combines the genres of spy novel and detective novel, with considerable success. MacLean calls on his own Scottish background to authentically portray the rugged weather, people and terrain of western Scotland.

Plot introduction

The story concerns the hijacking of five cargo ships in the Irish Sea. British Treasury secret agent Phillip Calvert is sent to investigate, and narrates the story for the reader. Calvert manages to track the latest hijacked ship - the "Nantesville", carrying £8 million in gold bullion - to the Scottish Highlands and the sleepy port town of Torbay on the Island of Torbay (patterned after Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull). He boards the ship under cover of night and finds the two agents planted aboard have been murdered. Chief suspect is Cypriot shipping magnate Sir Anthony Skouros, whose luxury yacht - "Shangri-La" - is also anchored in Torbay.

Operating out of his yacht "Firecrest", Calvert is joined by Skouros' wife, Charlotte, and by his boss Sir Arthur Arnford-Jason, known as "Uncle Arthur". Calvert is a typical MacLean hero, world-weary and sometimes cynical, yet ultimately honorable, who must battle bureaucracy as well as the bad guys to solve the crime. Calvert's frantic search for the hijackers and for the hostages they hold takes him over the remote isles and sea lochs and forces him to make allies of some unlikely locals. As is usual with MacLean, the plot twists and turns, not all character are as they seem to be at first introduction, and the double-crosses continue to the very last page.

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

"When Eight Bells Toll" appeared in a 1971 theatrical release directed by Etienne Perier and starring Anthony Hopkins as Calvert, Robert Morley as Uncle Arthur, and Jack Hawkins as Skouros. The story is very close to the novel, and features some of the same witty dialog - not surprising since MacLean elected to adapt this film himself. Some of the twists in the ending have been changed, however, and an explosive shootout replaces MacLean's original Agatha Christie-style summation.

With the absence of Sean Connery thought at the time to be the end of the James Bond films, producer Elliott Kastner intended the film to be the first of a series of Philip Calvert screen adventures. Considered for the role were Michael Jayston and Anthony Hopkins, the latter winning the role. Bond film stunt arranger Bob Simmons was employed by the film and worked with Hopkins to slim him down and make him convincing as a Royal Naval officer who was commando and frogman trained. [Simmons, Bob "Nobody Does It Better: My 25 Years of Stunts With James Bond and Other Stories"Blandford 1987]

The successful return of Connery in "Diamonds Are Forever (film)" and "When Eight Bells Tolls"'s lukewarm box office returns canceled the projected series.

References