The Eiger Sanction 1975

The Eiger Sanction is a 1972 thriller novel by Rodney William Whitaker, written under the pseudonym Trevanian. The story was made into a film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood in 1975.
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock, art professor, mountaineer, and occasional assassin, is called upon by a secret agency of the U.S. government to perform two more "sanctions" (contract assassinations). He will need to climb the Eiger to complete his task. He goes back into training and eventually climbs the mountain with a team that he believes includes his victim—whose identity he will have to deduce on the mountain. Poor climbing conditions disrupt the climb, and lead Hemlock to the discovery that his target is someone other than he had expected.

Below: How The Eiger Sanction would have opened when seen in UK cinemas with its original AA certificate
To view the original theatrical trailer click below:
             

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Clint Eastwood George Kennedy UK QUAD

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Blu-ray release

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Original UK advertising range double sided press sheet

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Clint Eastwood George Kennedy Original Australian Day bill x 2
The Eiger Sanction 1975 Clint Eastwood George Kennedy Orig US 1 Sheet
The Eiger Sanction 1975 Clint Eastwood George Kennedy Original U.S. Half Sheet Poster
The Eiger Sanction 1975 Clint Eastwood George Kennedy Original Yugoslavian poster

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Clint Eastwood George Kennedy Original Belgium Poster
The Eiger Sanction 1975 Clint Eastwood George Kennedy Original German poster
The Eiger Sanction 1975 DVD with production notes and Original Trailer

Below: The Eiger Sanction 1975 Widescreen 16:9 ENHANCED. At last, an Anamorphic pressing of The Eiger Sanction. Please note: Apart from Universal France and this, the U.S. Region 1 box set; The Clint Eastwood American Icon Collection . These are the only DVD's that I am aware of that include the 16:9 version of the movie. Although the R2 UK Clint Eastwood collection box set states that The Eiger Sanction is 16:9 enhanced, it is NOT. It is the same as the previous edition which is only Letterboxed within a 4:3 full screen.

The Eiger Sanction 1975 German Original film program
The Eiger Sanction 1975 Japan Original mini Poster
The Eiger Sanction 1975 John Williams score CD

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Lobby set x 16 French
The Eiger Sanction 1975 Lobby set x 20 German
The Eiger Sanction 1975 US Mini lobby set x 9 Includes Title Card (not shown)
The Eiger Sanction 1975 Original Extremely rare 35mm Advance teaser trailer in adapted scope

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Original Short U.S. TV Spot 16MM 
            
The Eiger Sanction 1975 10 x 8 Press Stills b/w x 57 + 1 Colour

The Eiger Sanction 1975 Spanish Original Press Sheet, great full colour art to front
The Eiger Sanction 1975 UK Original double sided Press sheet
The Eiger Sanction 1975 U.S. Original MCA Vinyl LP soundtrack by John Williams

The Eiger Sanction 1975 US Original MCA TV press kit, stills, slides, Ad slicks, Music cue sheets etc Packed with material.
The Eiger Sanction 1975 US Original Press Ad slicks short stories and features on the production few cuts
The Eiger Sanction 1975 US Original Press book

The Eiger Sanction 1975 US Original Press book Rare Supplement B version Clint with gun artwork 6 pages
The Eiger Sanction 1975 US Original Production notes dated May 2nd 1975
The Eiger Sanction 1975 x 2 Diff Original Film tie in Paperbacks.

The Eiger Sanction 1975 RR Clint Eastwood George Kennedy Swedish Insert
Below: An example of one of the many great pictures of Clint in The Eiger Sanction
Below: Some great Material from around the world starting with the U.S. Lobby set
Below: A close up example of the U.S. Lobby card
The U.S Insert Poster
Below: The U.S. 60 x 40 Poster
Below: The Spanish Lobby card set
Below: Here is a beautiful 7" vinyl single from Japan featuring the Theme from The Eiger Sanction by John Williams and some striking artwork on the sleeve! The Cat No is D1289
Below: The Very Rare British 1 sheet poster
Below: The Large Italian 2 Folio poster for The Eiger Sanction and the locandina version.
Below: The rare U.S. mini Lobby cards No. 10 and 12

Below: 2 Swedish 1 sheet posters, Original and Re-release
Below: The Eiger Sanction UK Bestsellers edition of the Novel
Below: An original UK Trade Ad
Below: Original Eiger Sanction full page advertisement to tie in with the refurbishment of The Empire, Leicester Square

Below: An original Australian Trade Ad

Below: Some rare shots from The Eiger Sanction

The Eiger Sanction Italian Fotobusta set

Below: Alternative Spanish Lobby cards

Below: Rare Trade ad which also uses a picture from Play Misty for Me

While recently searching the Internet I came across these two great candid shots taken on location in 1974, one featuring Clint and the other, his co-star George Kennedy. Fantastic shots, thanks to the owner for uploading them for all to enjoy.

Original Reviews

Clint Eastwood both directed and starred in this thriller based on a novel by Trevanian. Dr. Jonathan Hemlock (Eastwood) is a professor of art history who formerly had a deadly secret life; he was a hired assassin working with an international intelligence organization. Normally content to collect and study art, Hemlock is forced by blackmail to perform one last hit, or, as the organization euphemistically calls it, a "sanction." The victim will be one of three men attempting a dangerous ascent of the Eiger, a beautiful but punishing mountain range in Swiss Alps.

While Hemlock is an experienced mountaineer and willing to make the climb, he's troubled to discover that he does not know which of the other three men scaling the Eiger is his true target. The supporting cast includes George Kennedy and Jack Cassidy; the latter earned enthusiastic reviews for his over-the-top performance as a flamboyantly gay secret agent. ~

Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Below: A nice Japanese ad for The Eiger Sanction (thanks to Philip McLean)

Below: A rare original 1974 print advertisement which appeared in an entertainment industry trade magazine supplement. This is the original vintage ad from 1974 announcing the forthcoming 1975 film The Eiger Sanction as "IN PREPARATION". Details: Measures approx. 9" x 12" and was printed on thick paper stock. 

Below: A very nice and hard to find fold open die cut synopsis/credits card from Universal

Below: Clint on Location during the filming of The Eiger Sanction

Below: Eiger Sanction production design from art director George Webb

Below: Eiger Sanction French fold open press sheet

Below: Original German Eiger Sanction fold-out insert synopsis

Below: A rarely seen German edition of the paperback and the first I have ever seen that features Clint's image on the cover. My thanks to our friend Steve Sarsgossi for supplying this great image

Below: The Eiger Sanction poster used for the  Bilbao Mendi Festival Dec 12th - 21st 2014

Below: 4 rare shots from The Eiger Sanction

 

 

Below: American Cinematographer Magazine August 1975 with Nice feature on making The Eiger Sanction

Below: Clint behind the camera while working on The Eiger Sanction

Below: 3 great shots from the production, with thanks to Kevin Wilkinson 

 

 

Below: Original press still of Reiner Schöne as Karl Freytag 

Below: Jean-Pierre Bernard as French climber Jean-Paul Montaigne

Below: Front sheet of original Universal press release for reviewers and card

 

Below: The Eiger Sanction Original sheet music by John Williams

Below: A great shot of Clint sharing a joke with Vonetta McGee during the filming of The Eiger Sanction

Below: A nice collection of photos featuring Vonetta McGee on location during The Eiger Sanction

 

 

Below: Clint on a training session looking for George

Below: A rarely seen on location shot from The Eiger Sanction

Below: The rarely seen 'blue' Australian daybill poster

Below: Two Rare Eiger Sanction Turkish posters

Below: An original audio cassette version of original soundtrack

Below: A great photo of Clint with his long time friend Gregory Walcott. 

Walcott (who died in 2015) was a great character, who had starred with Clint in several Rawhide episodes and continued a long association with Clint in films such as Joe Kidd, The Eiger Sanction and Every which way but loose.

Below: A Rare Japanese page showing Clint working with Claudine Auger - her scenes were finally dropped from the film

Below: A very rare UK pairing featuring The Eiger Sanction coupled up with John Travolta's Moment by Moment.

Below: Clint with Jack Cassidy as Miles Mellough, from The Eiger Sanction 

Below: Clint and Vonetta McGee on location for The Eiger Sanction

Below: Here is the full set of 12, U.S. Mini Lobby cards, Thanks to Vince for submitting these

A couple of recently discovered transparencies from The Eiger Sanction