Tim Burton’s All-Time Favorite Movie Is This Underrated Clint Eastwood WWII Thriller

In today’s cinematic landscape, it’s rare to find directors as imaginative as the renowned filmmaker, often hailed as one of the most creative in the industry. Despite many of his recent works being adaptations or based on real events, he always infuses them with a unique creativity that is distinctively his own. This brings us to an intriguing question: What could possibly connect this director with the esteemed Academy Award-winning director and actor, Clint Eastwood? Despite never having collaborated, they share a connection through their favorite films. Some of the director’s inspirations might not come as a surprise, but there is one film that, given his visual style, would likely be unexpected among his comfort films.

When people generally think about Clint Eastwood, they might first recall his numerous western movies. However, he has also made significant contributions to films across various genres, particularly as a director, and even in his early acting years, he demonstrated that he was more than just a grumpy gunslinger cowboy. Despite the fact that Where Eagles Dare is often cited as one of Eastwood’s best films, it is frequently overlooked and doesn’t receive as much attention compared to other movies in his catalog. Nonetheless, the impact it has left on critics like Burton underscores its deservingness for broader recognition from general audiences.

Some of Tim Burton’s Favorite Movies Make Perfect Sense, But One is Quite Surprising

Even Though Where Eagles Dare Is Nothing Like His Own Works, He’s Named as his “Go-To” Movie

Six of Tim Burton’s Favorite Films	Director	Rotten Tomatoes Score
War of the Gargantuas (1966)	Ishirō Honda
The Omega Man (1971)	Boris Sagal
Horror of Dracula (1958)	Terence Fisher
Jason and the Argonauts (1963)	Don Chaffey
Where Eagles Dare (1968)	Brian G. Hutton

Examining an article from a reputable source that highlights the preferred films of renowned directors Katheryn Bigelow and the Cohen Brothers, it’s no wonder Tim Burton’s selections lean towards what one might expect from his distinctive style. With a Gothic storybook aesthetic that seamlessly blends darkness, genuine charm, and enchantment, it’s clear why these movies could have influenced his own cinematic approach. The admiration for stop-motion and practical effects demonstrated in his choices, such as the Japanese Kaiju classic, War of the Gargantuas, and Jason and the Argonauts, renowned for Ray Harryhausen’s VFX work, is evidently a significant influence on his own filmmaking techniques.

Despite being distinct genres with actors at polar opposites, he mentioned the classic “Horror of Dracula” starring Christopher Lee and “The Omega Man” featuring Charlton Heston (who Burton referred to as “the greatest bad actor ever”) among his favorites. Interestingly, it’s in the directorial style of Brian G. Hutton in “Where Eagles Dare” that Burton often revisits, particularly after a tough day.

Burton’s selection of this particular movie as his favorite might seem unexpected, considering it stands apart from all the other films mentioned in both genre and mood. It’s challenging to dispute any director’s personal taste or preferred film genre, but it would be difficult to explain why they’d pick this movie as their favorite among others. What makes this film an enduring classic that still resonates today is something hard for anyone else to deny.

Why Does Tim Burton Love Where Eagles Dare So Much?

While It’s Not the Kind of Film That Burton Usually Gravitates Towards, It’s One That He Always Loves to Revisit

The narrative of “Where Eagles Dare” revolves around a Special Operations Squad, assigned with the objective of retrieving a captured Allied general from the heavily fortified and fictional Schloß Adler castle, controlled by the Nazis. Upon their arrival, however, they encounter an unexpected twist as they discover that their true mission was far different from what they initially assumed. This gripping tale filled with espionage and action is guaranteed to captivate fans of historical fiction or war movies alike.

Given Burton’s deep admiration for the movie, it’s likely that some elements from it influenced the Army during the Korean War sequence in Big Fish. But what is it specifically about this film that draws him back repeatedly as he suggests, remains an intriguing question.

In an essay for a renowned publication, I shared my thoughts on what made “Clint Eastwood and Angelina Jolie’s performances in ‘Snowy Peaks’ so mesmerizing, unlike any other film I’ve seen. For me, it wasn’t just the acting; it was also the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of the snow-capped mountains that set a gripping, tense atmosphere, elevating the suspense to new heights.

Where Eagles Dare is One of the Best Films of Clint Eastwood’s Acting Career

With Impressive Action and Clever Writing, It’s Surprising That It Doesn’t Get Talked About More

Over the past three decades, Clint Eastwood has established himself as a versatile director, garnering acclaim for his varied storytelling across genres such as legal dramas (“Juror #2”), biopics (“Richard Jewell”), and musicals (“Jersey Boys”). Despite being famous for his western roles, films like “Where Eagles Dare” demonstrate that he is capable of much more than just The Man with No Name. In an unexpected collaboration, Eastwood’s intense silence contrasted beautifully with the captivating theatrics of accomplished Shakespearean actor Richard Burton, making their interaction one of the film’s strongest aspects.

Without a doubt, Alistair MacLean’s ingenious script writing played a crucial role in making their performances stand out (adapting his own book with the same title). Unlike many action movies where the plot revolves around the action, MacLean crafted a story that prioritized character development. This approach resulted in rich and multidimensional characters within a narrative that was filled with unexpected twists and turns, generating an intense and suspenseful mood.

Despite not being universally renowned among Clint Eastwood’s films, its action sequences, brilliantly directed by Brian G. Hutton, are a testament to his skill at every turn. What makes this movie stand out is that even Tim Burton found it captivating and thrilling, which underscores the film’s hidden gem status and its true worth as one of Eastwood’s finest performances.

2025-07-07 06:37