The Eagle Has Landed

Name: The Eagle Has Landed
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Thriller, War
Released: April 2, 1977
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Anthony Quayle, Donald Pleasence, Donald Sutherland, Jean Marsh, Jenny Agutter

1977

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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6.5

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6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 4 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Cinema International Corporation (CIC) | Release Date: April 2, 1977 | PG

Starring: Anthony Quayle, Donald Pleasence, Donald Sutherland, Jean Marsh, Jenny Agutter, John Standing, Judy Geeson, Michael Caine, Robert Duvall, Sven-Bertil Taube

Summary: A German plot to kidnap Winston Churchill unfolds at the height of World War II.

Director: John Sturges

Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, Thriller, War

Rating: PG

Runtime: 135 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby

A good old-fashioned adventure movie that is so stuffed with robust incidents and characters that you can relax and enjoy it without worrying whether it actually happened or even whether it's plausible. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Anyone with even a modicum of history awareness knows that Churchill was never kidnaped--which destroys much of the film's suspense. Director Sturges, however, is an excellent craftsman and, with the help of a very good cast, manages to make the proceedings entertaining. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Most performances [in this adaptation of the Jack Higgins’ novel] are first rate with Sutherland exuding great credibility as the Irishman, and Caine thoroughly convincing as the Nazi commander. Pleasence gives a standout lifelike interpretation of Himmler. Read full review

Ian Nathan

Michael Caine as a Nazi and Donald Pleasance as Himmler...what more could you want? Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Sturges turns in a tired study of Cherman and Oirish accents, and little else. Read full review

Gary Arnold

Eagle flops around trying to sustain a premise that defies suspenseful elaboration from the outset. No one with his wits about him believes the conspirators will succeed in capturing or shooting Churchill. More to the point, who would want them to? We're asked to suspend disbelief for the sake of a gimmick that not only insults common sense and general knowledge but also betrays old loyalties and convictions. [26 Mar 1977, p.B5]

Janet Maslin

The movie's only real attempts to drum up excitement involve gratuitous violence. [04 Apr 1977, p.73]

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User Reviews

FilipeNeto

Apr 27, 2020

In this film, we witness a secret military operation orchestrated without the consent of the German high command, with the aim of kidnapping Winston Churchill.

Directed by John Sturges, it is an action film with a few touches of adventure and tells a straightforward but unlikely story aboutIn this film, we witness a secret military operation orchestrated without the consent of the German high command, with the aim of kidnapping Winston Churchill.

Directed by John Sturges, it is an action film with a few touches of adventure and tells a straightforward but unlikely story about a military operation that, of course, never happened in real life. If we start to analyse the script well, we will see that it is full of holes and flaws, but the film was not made to be taken seriously. The film has a boring first half, where we watch several dialogues and preparations and plans. Much of this could have been shortened in time to privilege the action itself and make the film shorter and more fun to watch.

The cast is quite competent and does a good job. Although the film is clearly entertainment and adventure, the actors seem to be totally committed and focused. I especially liked the performance of Michael Caine, excellent as a Polish officer in the service of the Germans, Donald Pleasence as Himmler and Robert Duvall, a German colonel who decides to proceed with a military operation without any authorization to do so. Donald Sutherland also did an excellent job, on a character who is unexpectedly beaten by the beauty of Jenny Agutter's character. The production values are good, with good photography and vivid colours, good action scenes, excellent sound and special effects and a good soundtrack.

The biggest problems are the improbability of the script, which seems totally impossible to believe and may displease those looking for a more credible story, and a very slow first half, which can make many people give up watching the rest.… Expand

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