Guns dramatizes a British mission to infiltrate a German-occupied Greek island to take out two powerful guns that have been terrorizing Allied ships. The 1961 Best Picture nominee is a bit bloated in the manner of an Oscar-hungry prestige picture, yet it’s a good showcase for Gregory Peck’s charisma. He commands the screen even while sharing it with the likes of Anthony Quinn and David Niven, both of whom play members of the British team. When the Germans start closing in and Peck’s Capt. Keith Mallory must decide whether to sacrifice his own men for the sake of the mission, The Guns of Navarone provocatively explores the nature of leadership during wartime. Peck was the consummate screen hero, but like all actors, he proved most interesting when playing something between a sinner and a saint.
