Where Eagles Dare

Supplies are parachuted to a mountainside in the German alps, to be followed by a squad of paratroopers disguised as Wehrmacht mountain troops. Filmed in Imlau, Austria.

The men are on a rescue mission to retrieve a captured American general. As they make preparations in a farmhouse, their leader Major Smith (Richard Burton) leaves them to meet secretly with a British agent. Imlau, Scharten 26.

Smith takes in the view from the farmhouse. Imlau, looking towards the Tennengebirge mountains.

Smith and Lieutenant Schaffer (Clint Eastwood) get their first glimpse of 'Schloss Adler', a Nazi stronghold where the general is being held. Burg Hohenwerfen in Werfen, Austria.

Russell Stainton takes the comparison shot and states that the scene was probably filmed from the road to the Eisriesenwelt Schlaming.

Smith gets a closer view through his binoculars. Burg Hohenwerfen was used as a training camp by the Austrian Gendarmerie until 1987 and is now a museum. It is also to be seen in 'Endless Game', 'Ten Little Indians' and 'The Sound of Music'.

We get a closer view thanks to Russell Stainton.

A helicopter approaches the castle. Viewed from the castle courtyard, Burg Hohenwerfen.

Looking skyward from an alcove in the courtyard.

As the helicopter lands, German troops line up for inspection. Burg Hohenwerfen courtyard.

The courtyard at ground level.

General Rosemeyer (Ferdy Mayne) steps from the helicopter, to be greeted by Colonel Kramer (Anton Diffring). Burg Hohenwerfen courtyard.

The courtyard cleared of troops.

Rosemeyer and Kramer discuss the prisoner they are holding.

Burg Hohenwerfen courtyard.

Rosemeyer tells Kramer he would like to freshen up after his long journey. Burg Hohenwerfen courtyard.

The edge of the courtyard.

Kramer leads Rosemeyer to his quarters. A passage leading down from Burg Hohenwerfen courtyard.

Mark's comparison shot peers down.

The squad reaches a village railway station. This is Werfen Station in the Salzach Valley, Austria.

Mark advises that an additional platform was added in the early 1980s.

Smith and Schaffer approach the main station building.

The comparison shot shows the additional platform.

The camera pans right with Smith and Schaffer as they head off to change their costumes. Werfen Station.

Mark captures the side of the main station building.

Smith waits till the coast is clear to emerge disguised as a German officer. Werfen Station.

The front of the station building.

Smith and Schaffer walk through the station in disguise.

Mark's shot shows the building used as a changing room is no longer there.

They cross the bridge over the river Salzach,

The Salzach river is a tributary of the Inn, which flows into the Danube.

On the other side of the river guards are checking IDs.

No guards here any more.

Smith and Schaffer walk into town in scenes filmed in Lofer, Zell am See, Salzburg, 53km from Werfen.

Mark reproduces the view facing the Parish Church of St. Maria and St. Leonhard.

Smith decides to enter the bar behind him with Schaffer while his men try to gather information. Labelled "Gasthaus zum Wilden Hirschen" for the film, this is Villa Eggar, Lofer.

Mark O'Neill captures the location, and adds "The Villa Egger in Lofer used as the front of the bar in the movie. The plaque between the two lower windows tells us that Burton and Eastwood were joined by Liz Taylor for breakfast at the Villa Egger."

Smith and Schafer enter the bar. Villa Egger.

The entrance to Villa Egger showing few changes.

Smith leaves the bar. Villa Egger.

Mark reproduces the angle.

Smith looks around furtively. Marktplatz, Lofer.

Looking southwest from Villa Egger.

Smith walks through the marketplace.

The view from Mark O'Neill.

The men are arrested but Smith and Schaffer break free and head for a garage where they prepare a means of escape. Looking north on Tauernradweg with Wirtshaus Zum Schweizer hotel to the left.

The view 45 years later.

The captured squad members are ferried to the castle. Facing north on Rudolf Ippisch-Platz at the entrance to the Feuerkogel cable car in Ebensee, Upper Austria.

The aerial tramway to the summit of the FeuerKogel moutain has run from here since 1927.

Smith and Schaffer slip into the complex...

Modern cars are seen at the cable car station.

...climb onto the roof...

Looking down at Rudolf Ippisch-Platz.

...and manoeuvre themselves onto the top of the cable car carrying the captives.

Looking along Langbathstrasse, Ebensee.

Manuel Gurtner advises that here we see an impressive large-scale model of the 'Schloss Adler' built on the MGM-British backlot in Borehamwood against a vast mountain backdrop. To the left below the fortress the brightly lit upper station of the cable car can be recognized.

Inside the castle, Smith and Schaffer come up with a plan to disable the helicopter. Burg Hohenwerfen courtyard.

The doorway here has changed.

While Schaffer takes care of the German pilot, Smith disables the helicopter. Burg Hohenwerfen courtyard.

An empty courtyard.

After the main drama has taken place within, the castle walls, The Germans break down the door to the tower to prevent the squad escaping.

A medieval knight guards the tower for some reason.

German forces rush to the scene. Rudolf Ippisch-platz, Ebensee.

Facing east on Rudolf Ippisch-platz.

The pursuing Germans are at the upper station preparing to shoot at the cable car cabin. FeuerKogel, Ebensee.

A redesigned upper station.

The cable car cabin descends. FeuerKogel, Ebensee.

A modern cabin descends.

Our heroes drop from the cabin into the river to escape. Facing southwest along Langbathstrasse, Ebensee.

A modern cable car cabin positioned over the river.

Smith crashes the escape bus through the doors of the garage. Tauernradweg, Lofer.

The garage is no more.

With Germans in pursuit, the bus heads for the airfield, where a rescue plane has been directed. The Loferer mountains lie ahead, and on the left is "Heimathaus Lofer" 5090 Lofer 40.

The Heimathaus Lofer is home to a manufacturer of musical instruments.

The bus heads for a narrow bridge which is situated off Weissenbacher Strasse, south of Attersee found by Russell Stainton.

Russell captures the bridge as it looks today.

The pursuers start to cross the bridge, which Smith and Schaffer are about to blow up. Weissenbacher Strasse, south of Attersee.

Russell Stainton captures the bridge from ground level.

Oberhaussen airfield, where the rescue plane is due to land, is played by Aigen Airfield near Stainach-Pürgg in the Liezen District of Styria, Austria.

The entrance gate is seen, with the distinctive Grimming Mountain in the background. Aigen Airfield.

Under heavy fire, the bus arrives to meet the rescue plane. Aigen Airfield.