THE GUNS OF NAVARONE

The acclaimed 1957 thriller upon which this dramatization is based recounts the attempt of a British commando team to penetrate an impregnable Nazi stronghold in the Aegean and destroy its powerful dual canons. This BBC version is far more faithful to the original than the hit film of 1961. Its production values are excellent. In compressing the tale to two hours, however, the producers sacrificed the texture and characterizations that made the original a classic nail-biter. The cast adequately plays the stereotypes the adapters wrote for them. The listener never fully believes that the heroes face arduous effort and deathly peril. For those who like their war dogs tame. Y.R. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 07]