The Eiger Sanction - The Script Credits

[treva...@hotmail.com]

Many people at various points of time have speculated as to the back
story concerning the credits for the script of the screen adaptation
of "The Eiger Sanction".

Three people are credited with the screenplay Hal Dresner, Warren
Murphy, and Rod Whitaker.

Of course the movie as filmed was based on a script written by Warren
Murphy (author of the Destroyer series, etc.) which Clint Eastwood
adopted. Warren Murphy at various points in interviews and stories has
expressed his displeasure at having to share the credits.

Most people are unaware that there were two separate scripts predating
the film that were written by Rod Whitaker (AKA Trevanian) and
apperantly one by Hal Dresner as well. These were found unsuitable by
Clint Eastwood and he commissioned Warren Murphy to write the script
as filmed. (As an aside Paul Newman was originally slated to play
Jonathan Hemlock but he backed out of the project and it devolved on
Eastwood).

Upon completion of the film the proposed film credits are published,
if there are objections there are provisions for arbitration. Clint
Eastwood submitted Warren Murphy as the sole screenwriter.

At the time, Trevanian's then-literary agent filed for arbitration
with the Screnwriter's Guild objecting to the sole credit of Warren
Murphy. Hal Dresner seperately filed for arbitration as well. The
Screenwriter's Guild found in favor of both and the screenplay credit
was shared.

The basis of Rod Whitaker's claim was an enhancement of the plot
versus that found in the original novel. In the novel the revelation
of Ben as the double-agent occured in the hospital. In his scripts,
Whitaker changed this plot element and it occured during the mountain
rescue of Hemlock on the face of the Eiger. Warren Murphy largely and
faithfully followed the novel in his screenplay adaptation but he also
incorporated this new plot 'twist'.