Friday Film - The Eiger Sanction (1975)

This week’s pick takes us high, literally. 

The Eiger Sanction follows Jonathan Hemlock (Clint Eastwood) on a perilous climb of the legendary Eiger North Face in Switzerland. It’s part spy thriller, part mountaineering epic. It's like James Bond would be if it wasn't quite as James Bond-y. You know what I mean?

There’s the tension of espionage, but nothing hits quite like the raw, vertigo-inducing climbing sequences, naturally all done while wearing appropriate attire. If you're one of those menswear nerds who references clothing in films (like we do), you're probably already on this.

The outerwear and climbing kits here are a 70s peak-style masterclass: wool sweaters, leather boots, vintage crampons, and rope-and-carabiner setups that at least to this inexperienced climber, look authentic. It’s rugged, practical, and somehow effortlessly stylish, and something of a departure for Eastwood. 

So for this Friday, grab your warmest jacket, imagine the wind whistling through the Alps, and cue up The Eiger Sanction, if only so you can knowingly nod next time your jacket-obsessed mate refers to it when going on (and on) about his new winter jacket.