When Eight Bells Toll is a 1971 thriller starring Anthony Hopkins, Robert Morley, Nathalie Delon, & Jack Hawkins. The screenplay was written by Alistair Maclean (Guns of Navarone, Where Eagles Dare), based on his book. Anthony Hopkins stars as Philip Calvert, a naval officer working undercover to the catch smugglers who have been hijacking ships containing gold bullion.
The following weapons were used in the film When Eight Bells Toll:
The Single Action Army Colt Peacemaker was held by a Naval Intelligence spy, Baker (Prentis Hancock) in the opening scene at Philip Calvert (Anthony Hopkins) on board of HMS Nantesville, unbeknownst to the latter that the marksman was already dead. The scene plays accurately as in the novel when the opening chapter (told from Calvert's point of view) gives the Peacemaker a backstory and in-depth description.
Inglis Hi-Powers are used by the smugglers. Lavorsky (Ferdy Mayne), head of the hijacking operation, and Captain Imrie (Peter Arne), a member of his crew, use one in the shoot out at the end of the film.
The smugglers can be seen using Sterling Mk. 4 submachine guns. Calvert (Anthony Hopkins) equips himself with a Sterling during the shoot out with the Hijackers at the end of the film. When Calvert enlists the aid of shark hunter Tim Hutchinson (Leon Collins) and his men to confront the smugglers, they arm themselves with Sterlings as well.
FN rifles are used by the hijackers. At one point in the film, Calvert (Anthony Hopkins) is seen with an FN he has taken from a hijacker.The rifles have the flash hider of an L1A1, but the handguards and front sights as would be found on an FN FAL.
When the hijackers try to shoot down the helicopter Calvert is aboard, they are armed with STG-57 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingSIG SG 510-1 Battle RifleError creating thumbnail: File missingHijackers armed with STG-57s move into position before firing on the helicopter carrying Calvert.Error creating thumbnail: File missingWhen the hijackers are actually shown firing the SIGs they appear to be prop guns with simulated muzzle flash, the most obvious clues being the oversized flash suppressors and the fact that the carrying handles are not workable but molded onto the side of the rifle. Based on this, they are possibly the same prop SIG 510s seen in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
